Small Business Institute® (SBI) Projects and Awards: Career Viewpoints of Two Entrepreneurs Now in Academia

The impact of professional organizations is well known, and in this paper, we focus on the Small Business Institute (SBI), initially formed out of a federal Small Business Administration (SBA) grant program. Through its evolution, the SBI has remained a steady resource for faculty and administrators to learn and be rewarded for efforts involving hands-on student projects. The organization rewards research and practice revolving around the importance of community engagement and assistance to entrepreneurs and the small business community. We look at two careers that the Small Business Institute has impacted through the eyes of a professor and SBI Director, former SBI Project student contributor, now entrepreneur and part-time faculty member. They used her experience to start a successful business. Implications for careers are discussed.