What We Do

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a partnership program with the U.S. Small Business Administration.  The SBDC is designed to provide small businesses with the practical assistance needed to survive, grow and prosper.  The SBDC program is a nationwide small business assistance network that links the resources of federal, state, and local government to those of colleges, universities, and the private sector to meet the specialized needs of small businesses.  Our mission is to help new entrepreneurs realize their dream of business ownership and existing small businesses remain competitive in the complex marketplace of an ever-changing global economy.

Counseling

The SBDC offers FREE confidential counseling on business startups, loans and financing, financial statement analysis, marketing, accounting and record keeping, sales, advertising, business planning and management.  Opportunities for business growth, government contracting, exporting, market expansion, and new emerging technologies can be explored.  Counseling services are available for both start-up and existing businesses in retail, wholesale, manufacturing, and service.

  

Training

The SBDC offers free and low cost workshops, seminars and courses geared to the needs of small businesses. Utilizing qualified professionals recruited from the business world, the SBDC provides hands on, expert instruction on various business topics, such as introductory topics for those planning to start a business to more advanced topics aimed at the experienced small business owner.

Information

The SBDC has access to a wide range of information for business success. Let us give you that extra advantage needed in today’s competitive business environment. The SBDC can provide businesses with information concerning contracting with government, international trade, intellectual property protection and technology transfer.

For a complete brochure listing of our service, click here.

  

How Can We Help You

In your first meeting with a counselor, we explore options available to meet your business needs. The SBDC’s professional focus is hands-on counseling, so that you will be guided and trained in the areas of assistance required, rather than doing the work for the client. Together, you and the counselor discuss a plan of action. Further discussions and/or a visit to your place of business by the counselor will help define your objectives and develop a strategy to achieve them.

 

SBDC Staff

For questions relating to SBDC services, general course information/registration and/or to arrange counseling appointments, please contact Barbara Mizell.  For training information, please contact Melanie Northcutt.

Brad Bunt

Director

Brad Bunt has served as the Director of the Kilgore College SBDC since 1991. Here, he has counseled hundreds of businesses on start-up business planning, marketing planning, loan assistance and a host of small business related topics.
Brad has earned the classification of Certified Business Specialist with the Association of Small Business Development Centers. He has earned numerous awards such as, "SBDC of the Year Award" in 1998, 2002 and 2007, Small Business Financial Advocate of the Year in 2010 presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the coveted "National Star Performer Award" in 1999 given by the Association of Small Business Development Centers.
Since 1999, Brad has also worked as the Texas Community Partnership Project Director for the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation based in Washington D.C. and Kyiv, Ukraine.

  

Virgel Conner

Business Advisor

Virgel Conner has been with the Kilgore College SBDC for five years. He has a BBA in Marketing from Stephen F. Austin State University. Virgil has owned a corporation, general partnership, and sole proprietorship and enjoys working with individuals that want to start their own business or needs assistance with their existing businesses. In his spare time he enjoys golfing, football, and landscaping.
 

 

  

Ken Estes

Business Advisor

Ken Estes is a Business Advisor and Senior Business Development Specialist for the Kilgore College SBDC. In this capacity he provides guidance, practical assistance and advice to those with a dream of opening their own small business, or those wishing to expand their current operations. His ultimate goal is to help all his clients' businesses survive, grow and prosper.
A graduate of Texas Tech University, Ken is a former Financial Consultant. He has years of administrative and management experience as the successful owner and operator of his own sole proprietorships, franchise, and corporation.
Ken is active in his local community, and is the proud recipient of numerous awards and special recognition. He’s an Advanced Toastmaster and Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. His many hobbies include travel, camping, hiking, writing, photography, personal development, kayaking, running, cycling, sports, and backpacking.

 

 
 

Melanie Northcutt

Training Coordinator

Melanie Northcutt has served as the Training Coordinator for the Kilgore College SBDC since August 2009 where she holds her Business Development Specialist certificate.  She has a strong background in sales, branch management, marketing and public relations and earned a BBA in marketing and management from Stephen F. Austin State University.  In her free time, she enjoys traveling, shopping, concerts, decorating, reading, selling real estate and spending time with friends and family.  She is a member of the Junior League of Longview where she volunteers for a variety of community organizations and is an active member in the Leadership Longview and Main Street organizations for the Longview Chamber of Commerce.

  

Barbara Mizell

Administrative Assistant