09/20/11 aw/kb

HAYS, Kan. -- Elisa Waldman, consultant for the Johnson County Community College Kansas Small Business Development Center (http://www.kansas.gov/ksbdc) has been selected as the 2011 State Star of the KSBDC Network and as the Star Performer by the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) (http://www.asbdc-us.org) according to State Director Greg Panichello.

"I am very pleased that Elisa has been recognized by her peers across the state of Kansas for her abilities, impact on the community and as a key team player within the KSBDC," said Panichello. "Elisa is a pleasure to work with and is a wonderful example of the KSBDC team commitment to community and small business."

Elisa was nominated by KSBDC team members. Her supervisor and JCCC KSBDC regional director, Malinda Bryan-Smith, said that Waldman's love of learning inspires her co-workers and her clients.

"Elisa is a team player who is always willing to assist her team members with client needs, training development, administrative requirements and community requests," said Bryan-Smith. "She came to the KSBDC with a strong level of knowledge to assist small business owners, both from an educational standpoint and from that of an actual small business owner. She has a love of learning and continually looks for opportunities to grow as a consultant to small businesses."

The State Star award recognizes individuals who demonstrate excellence in work performance, initiative and/or creativity that results in improved operating efficiency, exceptional assistance to clients and an effort to enhance the image of the KSBDC Network through community relations and programs that bring distinction to the Network. The Star Performer Award is a similar award presented to one individual from each state by the ASBDC. Waldman received the Star Performer award during a reception on Sept. 6 in San Diego, Calif., in conjunction with ASBDC's 31st annual conference. The reception was sponsored by Constant Contact.

Waldman joined the KSBDC Network in 2005. However, her first experience with the KSBDC was as a client.

"In 1996, I became a client of the KSBDC, opening a paint-your-own pottery studio in 1997. In 2000, I started a pottery consulting business and have helped over 100 studios open. After selling my studio, it was a natural fit to join the KSBDC as a consultant. Both my legal background and business ownership experience provide skills that I draw on every day as a consultant," said Waldman.

She graduated with an A.B. degree in social studies from Harvard University and received her Juris Doctor from George Washington Law School. "I truly believe that the role of consultant draws on all of my past educational and professional experience," she said. "I have always been an academic, attending Harvard University and George Washington Law School. I practiced law for several years and also taught law school. While I enjoyed the law academically, I found the practice of law to be lacking in creativity and positive relationship building."

In her reflections on what it means to be nominated and selected by her peers at KSBDC, a focus for her is the relationships.

"It is my teammates who truly understand the demands and rewards of this role, and it is very special to be acknowledged by those who walk in my shoes. I feel so privileged to work for the KSBDC and with everyone throughout the state. Simply stated, the KSBDC is a tremendous program which makes working hard a passion instead of a job," Waldman said.

KSBDC consultants work with start-up and existing business clients. It is through her one-on-one work with clients that she finds the most job satisfaction.

"The work is extremely meaningful because I am able to contribute in a way that directly impacts the business and the business owner," Waldman said. "Without a doubt, the best part of my job is working with clients from so many different industries and diverse personal backgrounds. I learn something new in every meeting which expands my personal and professional skills. I am driven by the proactive, creative and positive nature of the program, the clients and my colleagues."

Outside of work, Waldman enjoys spending time with her husband, Stuart, and their boys, Noah, 8, and Geordie, 6. As a family, they enjoy traveling, swimming, walking their dog, music and art. She also enjoys reading historical fiction and crocheting.

About KSBDC

The Kansas Small Business Development Center Network is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Kansas Department of Commerce. KSBDC is nationally accredited through the Association of Small Business Development Centers by Congressional mandate. KSBDC receives funding from and partners with higher education and economic development organizations to provide Kansas entrepreneurs with no-cost business consulting and resources for starting, maintaining and growing their businesses. The statewide host for the KSBDC is Fort Hays State University. For more information about the KSBDC Network visit www.kansas.gov/ksbdc or call 1.877.625.7232

About ASBDC:

America's Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) Network is a partnership uniting private enterprise, government, higher education and local nonprofit economic development organizations. It is the Small Business Administration's largest partnership program, providing management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their own businesses. With about 1,000 centers across the nation, America's SBDC network provided business consulting to approximately 200,000 clients, training for more than 400,000 attendees, and other forms of management and technical assistance to approximately 600,000 small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs last year.

For more information, please contact Anne Woods, assistant director of marketing and training, Kansas Small Business Development Center, 785-296-6514.