The University of Washington, Bothell has named Barry Weisband as the new director of its Business Development Center (BDC).
Housed within the UW-Bothell business program, the BDC 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. Weisband also will serve as a leader of business development and entrepreneurship educational programs.
“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,“ said Sandeep Krishnamurthy, UW-Bothell business program director.
According to the school, Weisband brings experience gained over a 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 health-care 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 master of science degree 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.
For information on the BDC, visit www.uwb.edu/BDC/.
