Virgel Conner Receives SBDC State Star Award

Longview, TX – The UT Tyler-Longview Small Business Development Center (SBDC), announces that its Senior Business Advisor, Virgel Conner, is the 2025 recipient of the North Texas SBDC Network’s State Star Award.  This prestigious honor is bestowed annually upon only 62 business advisors in a nation-wide network of over 4000 advisors in 900 SBDC field centers.

“This is the most highly coveted award business advisors can receive in the SBDC network,” says Day Shelmire, Director of the UT Tyler-Longview SBDC. “It is presented to the top business advisors in each state and region.  This award reflects the fact that Virgel is one of the best of the best business advisors in the country, and he’s serving small businesses right here in East Texas.”

“I am honored to receive this recognition,” says Conner, a twenty-one year veteran business advisor with the SBDC program.  “I enjoy helping entrepreneurs and small business owners achieve the goals they have set for themselves.  There is always a challenge and every day is different. Whether I see a client open their doors or they are in the process of an expansion, it has been a rewarding experience.”  

Mr. Conner will be recognized at the annual America’s SBDC conference in Orlando, Florida in September.

About the UT Tyler-Longview Small Business Development Center (SBDC):
As a Small Business Administration (SBA) resource partner, the UT Tyler-Longview SBDC is tasked with helping entrepreneurs and small business owners start and grow successful and sustainable small businesses.  The center provides expert advising and consulting services, at no cost, to small businesses and entrepreneurs in Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Rusk and Upshur Counties. For more information on how the UT Tyler-Longview SBDC can help you start or grow your business, please visit longviewsbdc.com or contact us at 903-757-5857 or email longviewsbdc@uttyler.edu.