Kentucky Small Business Development
Center In the News

Kentucky SBDC to host ribbon cutting and open house for Center of Kentucky Entrepreneurship in Elizabethtown

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (May 3, 2023) – The Kentucky Small Business Development Center will host the ribbon cutting and open house for the Center of Kentucky Entrepreneurship Wednesday, May 3 at 12 p.m. EDT at 1201 North Dixie Highway in Elizabethtown....

May 3, 2023

Kentucky SBDC Celebrates Small Business Saturday

Lexington, Ky. (Nov. 26, 2022) – The Kentucky Small Business Development Center (SBDC), celebrates Small Business Saturday on November 26, as a day to support small businesses and all they do for their communities. The Kentucky SBDC encourages holiday shoppers...

November 26, 2022

Kentucky SBDC’s Elizabethtown office joins new “ecosystem” of business development groups

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (Nov. 14, 2022) – The Kentucky Small Business Development Center in Elizabethtown is joining a new collaborative effort to provide a one-stop small business service center for the region. Officials will soon open a new office alongside other...

November 21, 2022

Ferguson and Phelps named 40 Under 40 for America’s SBDC in 2022

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 14, 2022) – The America’s Small Business Development Center named Kentucky SBDC’s Ryan Ferguson and JC Phelps among inaugural 40 Under 40 Award recipients. America’s SBDC launched the 40 Under 40 Award to recognize outstanding young SBDC staff...

November 21, 2022

Ferguson honored as 2022 Kentucky SBDC State Star

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 14, 2022) – The Kentucky Small Business Development Center recently recognized marketing specialist Ryan Ferguson as a State Star. America’s SBDC directs state offices to award the State Star to a SBDC employee who shows exemplary performance...

November 21, 2022

Kentucky SBDC Honors 10 Small Businesses as Kentucky Pacesetters

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 5, 2022)—The Kentucky Small Business Development Center announced 10 winners of the 2022 Pacesetter awards during the annual Kentucky Celebrates Small Business celebration, held in Frankfort at the Capitol Rotunda. It was the first in-person awards ceremony...

May 10, 2022

KSBDC client Nymbl Systems gains attention at national showcase

February 18, 2019 | By: Natalie Cunningham

LEXINGTON, Ky., – Nymbl Systems founder, University of Kentucky graduate and Kentucky Small Business Development Center client, Josh Lau was chosen as one of 11 SBDC clients from across the country to present at America’s Small Business Development Center’s 2019 Client Showcase and reception in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Representative Steve Chabot of Ohio, ranking member of the House Committee on Small Business, addressed the reception guests.

“The Kentucky SBDC is proud to see Kentucky represented among such an elite group of small-business owners. Small business is the backbone of our economy and we are excited to see our client, Josh Lau, receive the national attention he deserves,” said Kristina Joyce, Kentucky SBDC director.

Nymbl Systems was chosen to present at this showcase for their innovative technology and rapid growth.

“We’re extremely fortunate to visit Capitol Hill and work with the Kentucky Small Business Development Center on our start up,” said Josh Lau.

Nymbl Systems is a Lexington-based software company that meets the needs of prosthetic and orthotic practices. Nymbl simplifies the complicated situation of health care into an easy to use interface that allows the user to spend less time on paperwork and more time serving patients. In the past year, the business has grown from two to nine employees.

KSBDC, part of the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, is a network of 12 offices located throughout the state. The center helps existing and start-up businesses succeed by offering high quality, in-depth and hands-on services. KSBDC is a partner program with the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more information on KSBDC services, visit their website, http://www.ksbdc.org/.

Contact:
Natalie Cunningham, 859-257-0104

Kentucky Small Business Development Center names new director

LEXINGTON, Ky., (Oct. 1, 2018) — Kristina Joyce, who has more than 30 years of experience in entrepreneurship, business analysis and economic development, has been named director of the Kentucky Small Business Development Center.

“KSBDC’s programs reach many in rural Kentucky with unique and essential services,” said Nancy Cox, dean of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “We are happy to be the administrative host for the program and look forward to Kristina Joyce’s leadership.”

The Kentucky Small Business Development Center is a network of 12 offices located throughout the state. The center helps existing and start-up businesses succeed by offering high quality, in-depth and hands-on services. KSBDC is an accredited partner program with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“We are happy to welcome Kristina to Kentucky as the next Small Business Development Center state director,” said Alison Davis, interim KSBDC director and director of the University of Kentucky’s Community and Economic Development Center of Kentucky. “Kristina brings experience both in the public and private sectors as well as a deep knowledge of Appalachia. At the end of the day, KSBDC’s primary focus is on helping individuals create new business and providing support to expand existing businesses across the entire state. With Kristina’s leadership, we are certain the program will continue to build upon a reputation of excellence.”

Joyce earned a bachelor’s degree in art and education from Marshall University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Grand Canyon University. She has completed professional graduate studies from Harvard University Extension School and earned a certified training certificate from the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative.

From 2009 through 2017, Joyce was the state director of the West Virginia Small Business Development Center. During her time as state director, she was elected to the America’s SBDC Foundation, America’s SBDC Board of Directors and the America’s SBDC Accreditation Committee.

Her most recent position was as program administrator for the Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College Entrepreneurship and Business Coaching Center. The Entrepreneurship and Business Coaching Center provides technical assistance and training to ensure that new and existing small businesses and entrepreneurs are being provided the highest level of service to optimize their success rates in southern West Virginia.

Joyce is also CEO for two companies. KJoyce Enterprises LLC is a consulting firm that provides professional advice, training and deliverables in the areas of business development, project planning, strategic execution and entrepreneurship for private, public and academic organizations. KristinaKreative LLC is a creative arts business, specializing in commissions, art instruction, workshop design and delivery.

Her past board appointments include TechConnect WV, West Virginia Regional Contracting Assistance Center, West Virginia District Export Council, BridgeValley Community and Technical College Advisory Board, West Virginia State Curriculum Advisory Board for Career and Technical Education, and West Virginia University BrickStreet Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advisory Council. She has been a member of the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the Central Appalachian Network Entrepreneurship Support Group, Public Relations Society of America, Toastmasters International, Rotary International and various arts associations in several states.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Tamarack Foundation for the Arts.

Kristina has designed entrepreneurship curricula and training programs for Michigan State University, West Virginia University, West Virginia State University and the University of Charleston.

For now, she’s looking forward to working to enhance the prospects for Kentucky’s small businesses.

“Entrepreneurship and small business success is vital to a thriving economy,” Joyce said. “The Kentucky Small Business Development Center has played a major role in supporting the state’s businesses for over 35 years with trusted advising and expert education. As the new state director of KSBDC, my goal will be to heighten the visibility of small businesses and partner with others who understand the economic impact of entrepreneurship.”

Joyce’s first day on the job will be Oct. 1.

For more information on KSBDC, visit http://www.ksbdc.org.

UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, through its land-grant mission, reaches across the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension to enhance the lives of Kentuckians.

The Kentucky Small Business Development Center, part of the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, is a network of 13 offices located throughout the state. The center helps existing and start-up businesses succeed by offering high quality, in-depth and hands-on services. KSBDC is an accredited partner program with the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more information on KSBDC visit www.ksbdc.org.

Writer: Natalie Cunningham, 859-257-7666

UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, through its land-grant mission, reaches across the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension to enhance the lives of Kentuckians.