The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center kicked off their annual meeting and award ceremony with a welcoming reception from the city of Green Bay and Mayor Eric Genrich. Held June 10-11, 2026, at the historic Northland Hotel, the event featured both national and state awards.
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Milwaukee earned national recognition as this year’s Center of the Year for expertise in financial modeling, leadership in Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s Marketplace conference, and creation of the SBDC Business Lab.
In 2025, the center exceeded its goals by helping clients secure more than $10.6 million in funding. The launch of the SBDC’s Business Lab will help bring even greater impact to the economic development of the area as consultants guide entrepreneurs in building financial budgets and business plans as well as identifying lenders and financial, marketing, and operational needs.
SBDC staff at Northland Hotel
SBDC at UW-Milwaukee team with State Director and Associate Director
Greg Martin, director at the SBDC at UW-Milwaukee said, “We are honored to be presented with this award. This year, during the region’s devastating flooding, our responsiveness showed deep commitment to the business community. As Wisconsin’s largest urban hub, a strong SBDC in Milwaukee strengthens the entire state.”
Gina Ferraro, SBDC Wisconsin State Director, said, “Huge congratulations to the exemplary team at UW-Milwaukee for being named Center of the Year,” said Ferraro. “What makes this center truly stand out is not just the impressive performance metrics, but its deep integration with the community and its commitment to meeting entrepreneurs where they are. We are proud to celebrate their journey of transformation and sustained excellence.”
Ray York, consultant at the SBDC at UW-Green Bay, was chosen by his peers to represent Wisconsin for the national State Star award. In his award nomination, York was described as a true mentor and collaborator who always brings perspectives that offer foresight and deep consideration of future impacts.
Gina Ferraro, SBDC Wisconsin State Director, said, “Ray represents what it means to be a State Star. His performance in 2025 is nothing short of exceptional—serving hundreds of clients while facilitating a record-breaking $31.5 million in capital formation, a milestone that sets a new standard not only for his center but for our entire network. Beyond the numbers, Ray has built and sustained strong partnerships across an extensive network of stakeholders, supporting economic development efforts throughout the region with consistency and care. He is truly deserving of recognition as a State Star.”
Athena Agoudemous, Ray York, Gina Ferraro
The annual event also honored other incredible talent in the Wisconsin SBDC network.
The Innovation in Action award was presented to the SBDC at UW-Madison for their work in creating high impact, scalable tools that expand access to entrepreneurship education and fill gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their work includes launching First Steps to Starting a Business, a free online course that has attracted more than 8,000 global users and Beginner’s Guide to Financial Projections, a free online course to help new businesses estimate their future financial outcomes and determine feasibility of business ideas.
SBDC at UW-Madison team
The Resilience Award was presented to two individuals in recognition of strong, positive contributions in the face of challenges. Jason Geissler, data manager at the Lead Center, assisted the network with a database conversion by hosting multiple meetings and one-on-on support sessions.Stephanie Achten, operations and events coordinator at the SBDC at UW-Madison, was at the hub of WorkDay and other technology innovations and worked collaboratively with multiple campus partners.
Harlie Juedes, center director at the SBDC at UW-Eau Claire, earned the Rising Leadership Award for her exceptional leadership and ability to positively shape the network, and will represent Wisconsin as part of America’s SBDC Annual Conference Rising Leadership program. Participation in this national program provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with and learn from emerging leaders across the country, further strengthening her ability to drive innovation and impact within Wisconsin’s SBDC network.
Jason Geissler and
Athena Agoudemous
Harlie Juedes
Gina Ferraro and
Stephanie Achten
About the Wisconsin SBDC
The SBDC at UW-Milwaukee office is located within the UWM’s School of Continuing Education at 161 West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee. The center provides high-quality consulting and trusted guidance to entrepreneurs across Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington, and Waukesha counties.
The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a nationally accredited statewide network supporting entrepreneurs and business owners through no-cost, confidential consulting and business education. The Wisconsin SBDC Network is a proud part of the Office of Business and Entrepreneurship in the Universities of Wisconsin and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.