Mary Lundeen, a business consultant at the UMD Center for Economic Development (CED), was recently named Minority Small Business Champion by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Minnesota District Office. She, along with eleven other award recipients, will be honored at the Minnesota Small Business Week Awards Luncheon on May 11. This year, Small Business Week is celebrated from April 29 to May 5, 2018.
"I am thrilled that Mary has been recognized for all of her fine work. This award is well deserved," said Elaine Hansen, director of the UMD Center for Economic Development. "Mary has worked diligently with many current and aspiring small business owners, helping them to successfully navigate a sometimes challenging landscape."
Mary has worked in the community for over 30 years. She is a member of both the Duluth and Hermantown Chambers; she is also a Hermantown Chamber Ambassador, a Grandma’s Marathon Volunteer, a past SMDC Endowment Fund Board Member, a United Way volunteer, and a Duluth Public Schools Endowment Fund Board Member. In addition, she volunteers to help cancer patients get to their appointments.
About the UMD Center for Economic Development
UMD Center for Economic Development provides technical assistance to individuals who have an interest in starting or expanding a business in Northeastern Minnesota. Its web address is umdced.com; its phone number is 218-726-7298. Learn more at the UMD Center of Economic Development website.
About Small Business Week
The winners, chosen by the U.S. SBA Minnesota District Office, were selected for their success in starting or helping small business in Minnesota and for their efforts to give back to the community. Each business also received SBA assistance, directly or from SBA’s resource partners, in the form of guaranteed loans, business training and consultation, and more. A small business is defined as having 500 employees or less.
“With more than 500,000 small businesses in Minnesota, we are excited to take this time to celebrate the efforts of a few of the best and brightest,” said Nancy J. Libersky, district director, SBA’s Minnesota District Office. “In addition to all they do to help our economy and create jobs, our small businesses and business champions honored during SBA’s Small Business Week also go above and beyond to give back to their communities.”
Registration is open for the event until May 8, 2018 at https://conta.cc/2uCnW5b.
For more information on Small Business Week, please visit www.sba.gov/NSBW.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start and grow their businesses. It delivers services to people through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov/mn.