New directors are on the job at two new regional offices in the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center network.
Jack Poff Jr. is director of the center at Arkansas State University Mid-South in West Memphis.
Kyle Davidson is director of the ASU-Mountain Home office.
Both began their new roles the first week of April.
Poff, a Realtor since 2005, has first-hand small business experience and a history of community involvement.
He is active in the West Memphis Chamber of Commerce and Main Street West Memphis and has served on festival and city economic development committees.
“I’m so excited to be a part of the ASBTDC and all that we have to offer small businesses here in our region. Having been a small business entrepreneur for most of my career, I bring a sense of realistic understanding to this role, and I’m so happy to be able to help others achieve success,” he said.
“The ASBTDC has a proven track record of helping their clients achieve results, and I’m looking forward to bringing those results to the region we serve.”
Davidson has an extensive banking background. He was market president for Bear State Bank then a commercial banker with Arvest following the 2018 merger of the two banks. His 20-plus-year career in banking involved lending, operations, and executive management.
“I am beyond excited to be the first director of the Arkansas State University-Mountain Home ASBTDC,” said Davidson. “The new center provides a local presence for delivering confidential, one-on-one services to all types of businesses, all at no cost. Business owners, the ASBTDC exists to help you succeed.”
All ASBTDC offices are affiliated with institutions of higher education.
ASBTDC is a joint partnership of the Small Business Administration, University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business, Health, and Human Services, and now eight other host institutions.
The number will grow to 10 later this year, as UA Fort Smith and UA Pine Bluff are also adding ASBTDC offices in 2021.
The ASU Mid-South office serves Crittenden, Cross, Woodruff, St. Francis, and Lee counties. The ASU-Mountain Home center’s service area includes Baxter, Fulton, Izard, Marion, Searcy, and Stone counties.
The two new offices join the A-State center in Jonesboro and the Henderson State University offices in Arkadelphia and Hot Springs as ASBTDC locations affiliated with the ASU System.
“We are anticipating great things from the addition of the ASBTDC to our campus. Our region is poised to continue to see economic growth, and the support for small business that ASBTDC provides will only enhance that growth,” said ASU Mid-South Chancellor Debra West.
New for 2021: ASBTDC Locations and Service Areas
