January 7, 2010
Weisband chosen as director for UW Bothell Business Development Center
Barry Weisband has been named the new director of the Business Development Center (BDC) at UW Bothell. The BDC, housed within the UW Bothell Business Program, serves small businesses throughout the greater Seattle metropolitan area and the Pacific Northwest.
As the BDC’s director, Weisband will be responsible for outreach, academic program development and oversight of consulting projects between teams of students and faculty members and selected business owners and senior managers. As a leader of business development and entrepreneurship
educational programs, Weisband will maintain the high level of excellence that students, faculty, business owners and senior managers have come to know and appreciate from the BDC. His expertise in building and growing internal and external relationships will bring new linkages and partnerships to the BDC and UW Bothell.
“The BDC is a big part of what we do. We are delighted that Barry is able to join our community and look forward to building deeper relationships with businesses in our region,” says, Sandeep Krishnamurthy, Business Program Director.
Weisband brings experience and wisdom gained over his 25 year career in the business and educational sectors. He has played significant leadership roles at the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and the University of Oregon. In addition to his extensive healthcare marketing and business development expertise, Weisband led the University of Oregon’s Lundquist
Center for Entrepreneurship as executive director. His academic background includes directing the entrepreneurship programs at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. Weisband received his MS in Management and Policy Analysis from Carnegie Mellon University.
Weisband takes over the reins at the BDC from Brooks Gekler, who will continue to serve the business program as Executive-in-Residence, mentor and instructor.
Since its founding in 2006, the BDC has assisted more than 165 business clients, conducted approximately 70 student team consulting projects and 80 one-on-one consulting engagements, providing services valued at more than $900,000 to local small businesses. In 2009, more than 60 percent of clients assisted were women and ethnic minority small business owners and 10 percent were nonprofit business organizations.
To learn more about the BDC, visit www.uwb.edu/BDC/.
