UCDD Looking For New Director of Small Business Development Center

UCDD looking to fill the open director’s position of the Small Business Development Center by mid January.

The director works with small businesses and provides assistance in whatever way they can to ensure business success in the Upper Cumberland region. Tyler Asher had been the Small Business Center Director for more than three years. He is leaving the position for a job with the state. UCDD Executive Director Mark Farley said the position will not be easy to fill.

“Primarily we’re going to look for somebody that has either in the past owned their own business or may currently own their own business and understand what it’s like to have to make payroll or to cover the bills before you take home a paycheck of your own,” Farley said.

Farley said they are looking at real-world experience over education. Farley said the job is mostly about creating and maintaining relationships with small businesses across the region.

“The Department of Labor and Workforce Development has hired him away to help businesses from a labor standpoint, which we are very proud for that,” Farley said. “We think he’s going to do a wonderful job there, but that has created an opening on our end.”

Farley said that even as the search narrows down, he still wants to receive as many candidates as possible.

“We do have a network here in the Upper Cumberland region that we can look at first and foremost,” Farley said. “These are other individuals that are doing a similar type work, but we will look at all options.”

The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field.

“We’ve got a great economy going right now in the Upper Cumberland,” Farley said. “We’ve got a lot of new startup companies, and we’ve got a lot of existing companies that’s been in place for several years. If they want to grow, we want to make sure they have every opportunity available.”