CJ Seitz Announced as Director of WWU’s Small Business Development Center

CJ Seitz has been hired as director of Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in downtown Bellingham.

“We’re excited to hire CJ to lead the SBDC,” said Steve Swan, Western’s vice president for University Relations and Community Development. “Her work was impressive while she served as interim director and she really set the tone for future success.”

Seitz was hired following an extensive search, and served as interim director after former director Jennifer Shelton moved to Seattle last winter to explore new opportunities.

“I’m honored to be able to continue our good efforts and to keep moving  this organization forward,” said Seitz. “We have a talented staff and Western Washington University is a great place to work. I love being immersed in Whatcom County’s innovative business community and helping entrepreneurs to succeed.”

Seitz first worked as certified business advisor for the SBDC from 2005-2009, providing counseling to more than 300 businesses, with that effort generating more than $10 million in new investments and creating more than 300 jobs in Whatcom County.

Prior to rejoining the SBDC team, Seitz served as the Northwest Area director for the Employment Security Department (ESD), for Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties.  Serving for three years during the recent recession, Seitz was responsible for ESD’s service delivery in its Bellingham, Mount Vernon and Oak Harbor centers, serving the region’s job seekers and employers through the WorkSource system.

Seitz has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Western.

Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center is part of the most comprehensive small-business alliance in the U.S., with more than 1,000 active SBDC programs across the country. Western’s SBDC receives support from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Whatcom County, the Port of Bellingham, and the City of Bellingham.

Since 1983, Western’s Small Business Development Center has given back to the business community and helped to shape the economic future of Whatcom County by providing free, confidential advising, technical assistance, and research to business owners and managers in an effort to help businesses thrive.

For more information about the SBDC or its services, contact the center at (360) 778-1762.