Sonny Fisher, director of Mississippi State University's Small Business Development Center, is receiving national recognition as the state organization's Star Award winner.
Headquartered in Oxford, the Mississippi SBDC system consists of 10 regional sites, each providing a variety of free services to small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Established in 1981 as a unit of the College of Business and Industry, MSU's center serves Choctaw, Clay, Kemper, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Montgomery, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster, and Winston counties.
Fisher is one of only 57 persons selected for the honor from among thousands of directors and business counselors nationwide. He and the other 2003 winners will be recognized formally in September at the Association of Small Business Development Centers' national convention in San Diego, Calif.
A Meridian native, Fisher has served as director of the SBDC at MSU since 1993. He is a 1964 MSU business graduate and former quarterback for the MSU Bulldog football team.
According to Mississippi SBDC director Doug Gurley, Fisher's selection for the Star Award is based on exemplary performance, consistent and significant contributions to the MSBDC, and a continued strong commitment to Mississippi small businesses.
Fisher's office is located adjacent to the MSU campus in Starkville's Mississippi Research and Technology Park.
