Cochise College Small Business Development Center Director Mark Schmitt received the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition last month from Arizona Congressman David Schweikert and the United States House of Representatives.
The letter of recognition commends the outstanding contributions made by Schmitt and the Cochise College SBDC to small businesses in Cochise County and the state of Arizona.
Mark Schmitt
“It was a total surprise to me,” Schmitt said. “I am, of course, very appreciative of this recognition, but realize it is the program and support we get from Cochise College and the AZSBDC network to enable us to be a resource and a catalyst for facilitating job creation, capital formation and economic growth in Cochise County.”
The Cochise College SBDC partners with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Association of Small Business Development Centers to provide free resources for business owners in Cochise County, including assistance in planning, marketing, accounting, licensing, technology development, and much more.
“Having been self-employed for 25 years, I understand some of the difficulties in running a small business,” Schmitt said. “I am very conscious that I have been given a tremendous opportunity and with it comes a great responsibility that we take seriously to use the resources available to the SBDC to provide the best possible services and assistance to small business owners every time we meet.”
Previously, Schmitt has been awarded the 2013 Arizona State Star Award, given for extraordinary efforts to achieve and support the goals and mission of the Arizona SBDC Network, and the Cochise College SBDC was awarded the 2013 Center of Excellence in the state of Arizona, given by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
For more information about the Cochise College SBDC, visit www.cochise.edu/sbdc, call (520) 515-5478 or stop by the offices in the Community Outreach Building on the Sierra Vista Campus.