Shannon Roberts of White Hall was honored as the State Star for Arkansas at the 33rd Annual Conference of America’s Small Business Development Centers in Orlando.

Roberts serves as training manager for the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), which is the state’s lead center and located at UALR.

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

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

Roberts earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing from UALR, and she joined the center in 2007.

In her role as training manager, she oversees the more than 400 small business training events ASBTDC conducts each year across the state. She also coordinates special projects and partnerships for ASBTDC.

With about 1,000 centers across the nation, America’s Small Business Development Center network is a partnership uniting private enterprise, government, higher education and local nonprofit economic development organizations.

It is the U.S. Small Business Administration’s largest partnership program, providing management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their own businesses.

In partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the UALR College of Business, the ASBTDC assists new, existing and expanding small businesses and innovation-based ventures through a statewide network of seven offices. Learn more at asbtdc.org.