State Small Business Expert Spoke April 24 to GABB

State Small Business Expert Spoke April 24 to GABB

Mary Ellen McClanahan of the Georgia Department of Economic Development spoke about state resources for entrepreneurs and small businesses at the April 24 monthly meeting of the GABB, the state’s only association of professionals who work to facilitate the purchase and sale of businesses and franchises. The GABB meets at 10:30 a.m. at the Atlanta Realtors Center at 5784 Lake Forrest Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30328. The meeting will be preceded by a free networking breakfast provided by Claudia Wilson, Senior Vice President of SBA lending at First Landmark Bank.

Here’s the presentation she made. GABB SB PPT McClanahan

Hear an audio recording of her presentation here.

Mary Ellen McClanahan is Director, Entrepreneur & Small Business and Metro Project Manager of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. In her position, Ms. McClanahan helps find solutions and effective ways to build an entrepreneurial environment to support small business through mentoring, professional development, strategic planning and resource awareness. She also connects with Georgia’s business and community associations so that thousands of businesses, local leaders and practitioners are aware of resources and opportunities. She also directs any size businesses to the specific resources they need.

As an Existing Industry Project Manager within the Metro Atlanta region, she calls on expanding companies making them aware of state resources and incentives and provides assistance with their growth plans and decision-making process. Mary Ellen also works closely with local economic developers with their existing industry support efforts.

During her 20 years with the department, she has helped develop and grow its regional economic development program, the “Entrepreneur Friendly” Initiative and acted as legislative liaison. Prior to that, Ms. McClanahan was the economic developer and president of two rural South Georgia chambers of commerce in Dodge and Sumter Counties.

Originally from Erie, Penn., she has been in Georgia since 1973 and serves on the boards of GEDA (Georgia Economic Developers Association), GACCE (GA Association of Chambers of Commerce Executives), Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection, the DeKalb Workforce Investment Board and Sandy Springs Economic Development Advisory Council. She is a 1997 graduate of Institute for Organization Management, Leadership Georgia and a 2000 graduate of EDI (Economic Development Institute).

The GABB is the state’s only association of professionals who work to facilitate the purchase and sale of businesses and franchises. The group includes business brokers as well as lenders, attorneys, business appraisers, insurance agents, environmental specialists and other professionals. GABB’s member business brokers work with businesses of all sizes to help them through all steps of selling their company: valuation, marketing, financing, and closing. Aspiring business owners also work with business brokers to purchase existing businesses at a fair price.