New State Director of Small Business Development Center Named

On April 6, Richard Grogan, PhD will become the state director of the NH Small Business Development Center (NH SBDC), according to a press statement from the Small Business Administration.

The NH SBDC, a co-operative program partnership between SBA, the University Of New Hampshire Peter T. Paul School Of Business and Economics and the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development, started in 1984 and has provided assistance in more than 200 communities throughout the state. During its 30 year history, the NH SBDC assisted more than 39,000 NH entrepreneurs representing over 18,000 businesses.

After a national search, a selection committee and the University selected Dr. Grogan, a native of Winston-Salem, NC, to replace Mary Collins, long-term state director of the NH SBDC.

Collins will stay onboard in an advisory role until her official retirement on May 30.

Prior to his selection, Grogan served for over two years as the Keene Regional Manager for the NH SBDC. He has embraced the best practices of business advising and was publicly recognized for these efforts with recent awards including the 2015 NH Union Leader’s 40 Under 40 and the Trendsetters Award in the Monadnock Region.

Prior to joining the NH SBDC Grogan was a professor in the MBA in Organizational & Environmental Sustainability program at Antioch University New England. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Wake Forest University, an MPA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a PhD in Organizational Sustainability from Michigan State University. He possesses a diverse background in a variety of industries including manufacturing, banking and public administration.

“Rich Grogan enters this position with exemplary credentials,” said NH SBA district director Greta Johansson. “His strong and diverse skill set enables him to understand the needs of New Hampshire’s businesses as well as position the Center to meet those needs.”

“The UNH Peter T. Paul College feels extremely fortunate to have attracted such a talented individual with the education, scope of experience and commitment to NH businesses,” said Interim Dean Arnold Garron, dean of the business school. “I am confident Rich brings the knowledge, leadership and energy to grow the SBDC program here in New Hampshire.”

“The New Hampshire Small Business Development Center is a key link for businesses in various stages of their growth here in the state and one of our valued partners,” said Jeff Rose, Commissioner of NH Department of Resources and Economic Development. “Rich brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new position and will be a great benefit for businesses working with SBDC.”

“I am ecstatic to transition into a leadership position in this organization, especially because I feel that we are in a position of strength. We have an amazingly talented staff, and current State Director Mary Collins’ leadership has positioned us well for the future,” said Grogan.

Looking ahead he added, “Entrepreneurship and the growth of small businesses are hot topics right now, and the SBDC, which has been in this business for 30 years in the State, is well positioned to lead the conversation about the growth of this community for the next 30 years and beyond.”