Penn State SBDC hosts statewide growth conference for business consultants and staff

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) recently hosted the annual Pennsylvania SBDC Growth Conference for the first time at the Nittany Lion Inn.  

The three-day conference brought together SBDC business consultants from across the state for professional development focused on emerging business trends, technologies, and resources. Sessions covered topics such as navigating tariff impacts, supporting outdoor recreation businesses, and integrating artificial intelligence into daily workflows. 

The goal of the conference was to provide business consultants and staff with the tools and knowledge necessary to more effectively support their clients, as well as to connect business consultants with different regional resource partners.  

The Penn State SBDC provides one-on-one consulting and educational programs to small business owners in Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, and Mifflin counties. Statewide, the Pennsylvania SBDC network includes 15 centers serving all 67 counties. 

“Small businesses are the backbone of communities and the engine of the economy — they account for nearly half of the state’s private workforce,” said Andrew Read, Senior Vice President for Research at Penn State, who kicked off the second day of the conference. “They reflect the character, values, and creativity of the communities they serve, and are a critical component of our talent ecosystem.” 

This year’s theme, “Driving Growth Together,” underscored the importance of building strong connections and engagement with resource partners across the state. Representatives from Ben Franklin Technology PArtners of Central and Northern PA, the Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC) at Penn State, the Penn State Dickinson Law Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic (EAC), Penn State Extension, and the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP), were just a few of the resource partners that were highlighted.  

“Resilience is one of the key components here – the ability to bounce back and restore critical function in the face of difficulties,” said Brian Kelly, interim state director of the PA SBDC. “How effectively are we supporting business owners to navigate these uncertain times through our 1-on-1 consulting services and group training programs? How well is the PA SBDC working together with our ecosystem partners to make that happen?  We’re not just talking about natural disasters, but major shifts in federal funding, changing labor force expectations, the AI revolution, tariffs, inflation, and macroeconomic uncertainty. In the midst of all of this change, our charge remains more important than ever – to connect our entrepreneurs and small business owners to the appropriate research, resources and guidance they need to make their next critical business decision.” 

Congressman Rob Bresnahan, who represents Pennsylvania’s Eighth District, closed out the second day of the conference. He shared stories about his personal background in small business and his vision for workforce development in Pennsylvania. He also emphasized his strong support for the SBDCs’ statewide impact. 

“Whenever someone brings a business challenge to me, I immediately point them toward an SBDC because of the wealth of knowledge and expertise available,” said Congressman Bresnahan. “When I was a CFO, I wish I had known about organizations like this — it would have made life a lot easier.” 

The conference concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding SBDC staff, followed by sessions on using data-driven insights, crafting effective AI prompts, and building strong relationships with lenders. 

“We were honored to host this year’s conference at the beautifully renovated Nittany Lion Inn,” said Tim Keohane, director of the Penn State SBDC. “The sessions were incredibly insightful, and the opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the state—as well as our valued resource partners—was truly invaluable. We hope to welcome the conference back to Happy Valley in the future.” 

Sponsors of the 2025 PA SBDC Growth Conference included: Customers Bank, Pennie, Enterprise Bank, Regional Development Funding Corporation, the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County, Farm Credit, Pursuit, and the College Township Industrial Development Authority. 

About the Penn State SBDC  

Funding support and resources are provided through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration; by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Community & Economic Development; and in part through support from Penn State. All services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. SBDC services are not available to individuals or entities that have been debarred or suspended by the federal government.  

SBDCs are hosted by leading universities, colleges, state economic development agencies and private partners, and funded in part by the United States Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. There are nearly 1,000 local centers available to provide no-cost business consulting and low-cost training to new and existing businesses. The Penn State SBDC services Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, and Mifflin counties in central Pennsylvania.