Scott Manley Named Consultant of the Year

VALDOSTA - The Georgia Small Business Development Center Network named Valdosta State University Small Business Development Center Assistant Director Scott Manley Consultant of the Year at the organization’s annual meeting in late April.

The state-wide network of 18 development centers - which provide educational and technical assistance to the private sector - recognizes one business consultant each year for his or her accomplishments. The organization selected Manley for his expertise and passion working with the business community, the number of professional development opportunities in which he participates, and the outreach programs and publications he produces. The award honors the improvements VSU’s development center made this past year in the lives of business owners in its 10-county service area.

“Small businesses are the heart and soul of America’s economy, and many of them are hurting right now. It’s important for entrepreneurs to know people do care about them, will listen to them, and give them guidance to weather this and other economic storms,” said Manley, who was a small business owner prior to joining the SBDC in 1998. “What’s particularly special to me about this award is that it represents the impact that I am privileged to have through my work. I genuinely love helping people, and I think that shows in what I do and the results the clients get.”

The honor is groundbreaking in that it is the fist time employees from the same development center have received the award in consecutive years. VSU SBDC Director Suzanne Barnett was last years’ Consultant of the Year recipient.

The award was not Manley’s first time at an award podium. In 2006, the nationally recognized expert in QuickBooks and new product development received the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Small Business Development Centers.

Manley earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with emphasis in Management and a Master of Business Administration, both from Valdosta State University. He serves on the Business Advisory Board of VSU’s chapter of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and on the Economic Restructuring Committee for Valdosta’s Main Street program. He has also served as Chair of Section 1533 of the American Society for Quality, on the Board of Directors of the Quitman/Brooks County Chamber of Commerce, and as a founding member of the Small Business Committee of the Thomasville/Thomas County Chamber of Commerce.

“I’d particularly like to thank both Valdosta State University and the Georgia SBDC Network for the support that they give us,” Manley said. “The Small Business Development Center is a wonderful resource for the business community, and we would not exist without the support of our administration, our stakeholders and our clients.”