The national Association of Small Business Development Centers honored Nancy Knighten, a business consultant at UALR’s Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, at the group’s 32nd annual conference in New Orleans on Sept. 11.

Knighten received the State Star designation for being an exemplary performer, contributing significantly to the Arkansas ASBTDC program and showing a strong commitment to small businesses, said Janet Roderick, ASBTDC state director.

A State Star is chosen from each state, regional, or territorial SBTDC program.

“Nancy delivers outstanding service to our small business clients in central Arkansas,” Roderick said. “I am pleased to see her excellent work recognized.”

A native of West Monroe, La., Knighten joined the ASBTDC in 2008. She was promoted to business consultant in 2010 after serving as interactive marketing trainer. She completed her MBA at UALR in 2010.

With about 1,000 centers across the nation, the Small Business and Technology Development Center network is a partnership uniting private enterprise, government, higher education, and local nonprofit economic development organizations. It is the Small Business Administration’s largest partnership program, providing management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their own businesses.

The ASBTDC program is a partnership of the SBA and the UALR College of Business. ASBTDC assists new, existing and expanding small businesses, and innovation-based ventures through a statewide network of seven offices. Learn more at asbtdc.org.