FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tom Hutton, Office of University Relations, 262-3439
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO A former director of the Oklahoma Native American Business Development Center will lead the Small Business Development Center at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
Matt Barrett, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was hired to direct the SBDC Jan. 1, replacing Luis Saldarriaga.
Barrett most recently served as an assistant pastor for a church in Mt. Pleasant. Earlier, he directed the Oklahoma Native American Business Development Center, where he assisted individuals in starting and expanding businesses and assisted in the human resources duties of a small business, Granite and Marble Innovations.
“Matt brings to the SBDC a desire to help others accomplish their business goals and achieve their dreams,” Venkat Reddy, dean, College of Business and Administration, said. “His variety of experiences and ability to form relationships with ease provide him an excellent foundation for this position.”
Barrett earned a bachelor’s degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a master’s in business administration from Iowa State University.
In Mount Pleasant, Barrett served on the entrepreneurial committee and business improvement committees of the Mount Pleasant Chamber Alliance. He previously served as president of the Minority Affairs Commission in Tulsa, Okla.
The SBDC offers management assistance to current and prospective small business owners, providing a wide variety of information and guidance in central and easily accessible locations. The SBDC is a cooperative effort of the private sector, education, and federal, state and local government.
UCCS, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in northeast Colorado Springs, is the fastest growing university in Colorado and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The university offers 25 bachelor’s degrees, 18 master’s and two doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls about 7,800 students annually.