At a virtual meeting of all 62 Small Business Development Center networks in the national association, the membership elected Linda Rossi, state director of the Vermont Small Business Development Center, to another two-year term on the national board, and the board then elected Rossi as chair for this year. Rossi previously served as both secretary and vice-chair for the national board.
“It’s an incredible honor to serve in this role, and to lead our dedicated board members through times of challenge and great opportunity as we represent our colleagues across the country in advancing the strategic priorities for America’s SBDCs,” Rossi said.
In her role at the VtSBDC, Rossi has led her high-performing team to provide no-cost, one-on-one confidential advising and market-demanded training that has inspired thousands of business owners, start-ups and student entrepreneurs who now thrive in the Vermont marketplace and serve their customers with pride and quality.
A Vermont resident for more than two decades, Rossi joined the program in 2005 as a business adviser. Since that time, she has held the positions of assistant director and associate state director prior to becoming state director in 2013. Prior to her tenure at VtSBDC, Rossi spent 20 years in the private sector as a national project manager for IBM and as a business manager for four start-up and growing small businesses. She also served as an adjunct faculty member in higher education and the treasurer and founding board member of a nonprofit organization.