Northland SBDC Consultants Win Prestigious Awards
High honors for Hagberg, Henagin and Walczak
Owning a small business is often challenging, but it’s a lot less daunting when you have somewhere to turn to for expert guidance. The Northland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides that kind of foundational support for entrepreneurs in northeast Minnesota. This is a team of business consultants who put their hearts and souls into helping small businesses find success. In early September, three of them received high honors for their commitment to this work. The Northland SBDC is hosted by the Northland Foundation and is one of nine regionally based SBDC centers in Minnesota.
Victoria Hagberg, Regional Director, and Christopher Henagin, Business Consultant, were national 40-Under-40 Award recipients, and Curt Walczak, Associate Regional Director, was named the State Star for Minnesota. All three were celebrated in early September during the America’s SBDC Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
“Vicki, Curt, and Christopher are not only smart and hard-working, they also genuinely care about their clients – they believe in our region’s small businesses. It is terrific to see their efforts singled out among their peers nationwide.” — Tony Sertich, Northland Foundation President
One shining State Star
State Stars, chosen by their statewide SBDC networks, are among the best of the best — those who demonstrate exemplary performance, make significant contributions to their networks, and are deeply committed to the success of small businesses, based on their impact on clients, innovative approaches, team spirit, and willingness to go the extra mile. The Minnesota Star is selected from among the nine regionally based Minnesota SBDCs.
Curt has spent the past 23 years as a SBDC business consultant and trainer. In early 2023, he advanced to Associate Regional Director. Curt has developed a number of trainings covering topics vital to businesses and shared his knowledge generously with SBDC staff regionally, statewide, and nationally. He has assisted northeast Minnesota businesses of all different sizes, from one-person operations to larger, more established entities. Curt holds accounting and business management degrees along with certifications as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and Economic Development Finance Professional. He also has 19 years of private industry experience.
Said Andy Donahue, the Minnesota SBDC State Director, of Curt, “He has had a profound impact on hundreds of small businesses and been a trusted mentor to his colleagues. This prestigious award is a testament to Curt’s vast knowledge and his passion for helping entrepreneurs succeed.”
Two inspiring 40-Under-40 winners
The 2024 40-Under-40 Awards were presented to 40 outstanding individuals within the SBDC’s national network of small business consultants, selected by a panel of judges from the America’s SBDC Millennial Interest Group. Nominees may work with any of the nearly 1,000 SBDCs operating across the country. Only 40 individuals are ultimately recognized for their knowledge, innovation, and dedication.
“Vicki and Christopher represent the future of our industry, and we are excited to see the continued impact they will make as they lead us into the next generation of growth and success,” Donahue stated.
Vicki joined the Northland SBDC in 2020 as a business consultant and was promoted to Regional Director in January 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and has 14 years of experience in engineering and project management in addition to her work in community and economic development. Vicki is an Iron Ranger who is passionate about serving her community. She has been part of many local and regional boards related to economic development, workforce development, and more. Just recently, Vicki was appointed to a ASBDC committee that is developing core competencies and curriculum for SBDC advisors nationwide to be considered experts in using AI to assist small businesses.
Christopher came on board as a Business Consultant with the Northland SBDC in October 2022. He is a graduate of the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and The College of St. Scholastica and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. Christopher brings a wide range of professional experience to his SBDC work, as well, having a background that includes human resources, financial advising, and digital marketing. He is also a small business owner, himself! Christopher serves on several regional boards with a strong focused on community development and housing access in the region.
Congratulations to Curt, Vicki and Christopher with appreciation for their great work on behalf of northeast Minnesota people and communities!
More about the Northland SBDC
The Northland Small Business Development Center supports entrepreneurs and business owners within seven northeast Minnesota counties (Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis) and five Native nations (Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (District I), and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (District II).
A group of 18 consultants located around the region provides confidential consulting and business education to facilitate growth for small and mid-size companies and help launch new enterprises, all at no cost to clients. Find out more and sign up for no-charge business consulting.