SPOKANE, Wash. – Allan Peterson, a certified business advisor with the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC), has earned certification as a global business professional through the North American Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE) professional association.
Peterson, in collaboration with the Grant County Economic Development Council, works with small business owners in Grant, Adams and parts of Lincoln counties to help them grow their businesses. In 2010, the SBDC became a key component of Washington’s efforts to increase international trade among the state’s more than 100,000 small businesses.
The SBDC is a cooperative effort of Washington State University, other educational institutions, economic development organizations and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Champion of small business
An SBDC advisor in Moses Lake since 2004, Peterson has an office at the Grant County EDC at 6594 Patton Blvd. NE.
“Allan has long been a tireless champion of small business owners in central Washington,” said Terry Chambers, director of the SBDC international trade program. “The certified global business professional, or CGBP, designation affirms that he is committed to helping his clients take the next step to international trade to grow their businesses.”
Peterson’s certification is a significant accomplishment that demonstrates the expertise and knowledge available to local businesses, said Jonathan Smith, executive director of the county development council.
“Small businesses throughout the area can come to Allan with confidence that they will get the help they need to take their business global,” he said.
Six certified
According to NASBITE, the CGBP designation is a nationally recognized credential that demonstrates competency in international trade, including global business management, global marketing, supply chain management and trade finance. The exam-based process was created in 2005; since then, more than 1,000 global business experts across the country have earned certification.
Peterson joins five other SBDC advisors who have earned the CGBP designation since 2011. Along with more than 25 centers across the state from the Columbia River to the Canadian border, the SBDC also includes two export readiness centers – one in Seattle and one in Spokane – staffed by international trade experts.
Part of export initiative
“The Washington SBDC network is a powerful resource to help both new-to-export and existing exporters grow their markets,” Chamber said. Because one-on-one advising is confidential and free, SBDC clients can be assured that their business advisor is working solely on their behalf. Export is not right for everyone, Chambers said, but more and more small business owners are discovering that it can be a tremendous boon for their bottom line.
The SBDC export readiness program is part of a statewide export initiative sponsored through a grant from the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board, which is administrated by the state Department of Commerce. The export program is also funded through a cooperative agreement with the SBA.
The SBDC also has partnered with the WSU Impact Center to assist with agricultural research and with the International Trade Alliance in Spokane to offer export workshops across the state.
About the SBDC
The SBDC promotes economic vitality within state communities by providing expert business advising, demand-driven training and applied research to existing businesses and entrepreneurs.
For more information on the mission and services of the SBDC, visit the network website at http://wsbdc.org or the new export assistance portal at http://export.wsbdc.org. For more information about the Grant County Economic Development Council, go to http://www.grantedc.com
Contacts:
Allan Peterson, allan.peterson@wsbdc.org, 509-762-6040
Terry Chambers, terry.chambers@wsbdc.org, 509-358-7894
Allan Peterson, allan.peterson@wsbdc.org, 509-762-6040
Terry Chambers, terry.chambers@wsbdc.org, 509-358-7894