West Michigan business center names new regional director

The West Michigan Small Business Development Center has named Ed Garner as its new regional director. Garner is responsible for resource development, coordination and management of the SBDC West Michigan Regional Office, which is located at Grand Valley State University. 

“With a growing number of entrepreneurial resources and programs, the West Michigan region is full of business activity that can be enhanced by the SBDC,” said Garner. 

Before coming to the SBDC in September, Garner served as president and CEO of Muskegon Area First, an economic development corporation in Muskegon.

The community is invited to an open house to meet Garner and the West Michigan team of consultants on Wednesday, November 8, from 3-6 p.m. at Grand Valley’s L. William Seidman Center, 50 Front Ave. SW in downtown Grand Rapids. 

RSVP to [email protected] or call (616) 331-7370.

“We are extremely excited to have Ed as the director of our West Michigan Region SBDC,” said Keith Brophy, state director of the Michigan SBDC. “His knowledge of West Michigan’s unique business ecosystem is an advantage to both the Michigan SBDC and the local entrepreneurs we serve.”

Garner has a bachelor's degree in engineering from Michigan State University and a master's degree in business administration from Western Michigan University. He is also a graduate of the Muskegon Leadership Program, Grand Haven Leadership Connect, and Leadership West Michigan.

Garner joins a team of experienced business consultants creating significant impact in West Michigan. In 2016 the West Michigan Region SBDC provided one-on-one business counseling to 790 area entrepreneurs, resulting in 853 jobs created or retained, and 49 new business starts. Additionally, the West Michigan Region SBDC generated more than $41 million in capital formation.

About the Michigan SBDC

The Michigan Small Business Development Center provides no-cost counseling, business education, information-based planning and technology commercialization services to Michigan’s new business ventures, existing small businesses, growing businesses and innovators. The Michigan SBDC State Lead Center is located in Grand Valley State University's Seidman College of Business in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Entrepreneurs and small business owners may access the services of their nearest Michigan SBDC by calling (616) 331-7480 or visiting www.SBDCMichigan.org.