The Vermont Small Business Development Center, which provides no-cost assistance to hundreds of business owners and entrepreneurs in the state, has named Sara Munro as project coordinator of its Community Navigator Pilot Program.
The recently launched program operates under a “hub-and-spoke” model, with the VtSBDC as the hub, and nine spoke organizations that create collective impact throughout the state for targeted populations, including BIPOC, rural, veterans, and women.
Munro coordinates programmatic activities taking place throughout the CNPP network. With support from diversity, equity and inclusion consultants, she synthesizes the efforts of a team focused on providing professional development that will result in assistance that is more accessible and culturally competent to serve diverse and marginalized populations. Munro also contributes to the mission of VtSBDC by fostering leadership development and community initiatives among the spoke organizations.
“As a business owner myself, I know how isolating it can be if you don’t know what resources are available,” said Munro. “This is especially difficult if you don’t have a network of people to turn to, or if you don’t consider yourself an entrepreneur. I am excited to connect our spoke organizations with people who haven’t traditionally been part the CNPP’s collective services as well as those who want to get started to turn their ideas into successful enterprises.”
Munro is founder and owner of Bay Haven Consulting/Starting Line Media. She holds both bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Vermont. She is a long-standing volunteer with the Junior League of Champlain Valley and member of the Vermont Technology Alliance and Maine Women in Tech.