The Aurora-South Metro Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is ushering in a new era of leadership as Ashvina Patel steps up to become the executive director, taking the reins from Jan. 27 onward and bringing a wealth of experience tailored to the economic tapestry of Aurora, and the neighboring Arapahoe and Douglas counties. As a former business owner herself and previously the business development manager at Academic Impressions, Patel is poised to support the area's entrepreneurs who currently account for close to half of Colorado's workforce.
Patel's strong business acumen and strategic insights will now be at the service of small businesses in the region "I’m thrilled to lead the Aurora SBDC team during a time when nearly half of Colorado’s workforce is employed by small businesses, the backbone of our community," Patel stated, as per City of Aurora. She has not only a professional but also a personal commitment to the sector, her parents were entrepreneurs and she has been a restaurant owner, her new role will benefit from her extensive background in research and strategic planning and a wealth of education highlighted by a doctorate in anthropology from Southern Methodist University.
Apart from her new responsibilities at SBDC, Patel is also recognized for her role as chair of the Aurora Immigrant and Refugee Commission, actively seeking to foster inclusion and boost economic advancement among Aurora's diverse populations. The collaborative recruitment process by the city of Aurora and the Colorado Small Business Development Center Network culminated in Patel's appointment. "Ms. Patel has the passion and skills to further the success of the Aurora-South Metro SBDC team," said Jeannine Rustad, director of the city’s Planning and Business Development Department, as obtained by the City of Aurora.
