Glenn Plagens, senior director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Front Range Community College, is the winner of the State Star Award from America’s Small Business Development Center organization.
He was recognized for increasing consulting hours by 400 percent over three years.
Mike O’Connell, director of the Larimer County SBDC, is the state runner-up, meaning FRCC’s directors swept this year’s awards.
SBDC, a service of FRCC, offers free confidential counseling to entrepreneurs and small businesses. It also offers workshops and seminars on a wide range of topics, including starting a business, legal issues, financial analysis, marketing strategies, management development, technology, and more.
Plagens oversees the North Metro Denver SBDC, headquartered at FRCC’s Westminster Campus, 3645 W. 112th Ave., and the Larimer County SBDC, headquartered at the Rocky Mountain Innosphere, 320 E. Vine Drive, Fort Collins.
The North Metro SBDC has satellite offices in Brighton, Broomfield, and Commerce City. The Larimer SBDC has satellite offices in Berthoud and Estes Park.
Plagens has more than 20 years of experience as a small-business owner. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a business degree with a marketing emphasis, he is certified in Economic Gardening, which is a “grow from within” strategy targeting existing growth companies and offering them critical strategic information customized to their needs. He is a board member for Broomfield Chamber of Commerce, Adams County Economic Development, and the Brighton Economic Development Corporation.
Mike O’Connell
O’Connell is a former owner of a small business and executive for a multinational company. He is a distinguished graduate of Purdue University with a business degree with a marketing emphasis. He is a member of the board of directors at Unity Church and the Center for Fine Arts Photography, both in Fort Collins.
The national SBDC organization recognizes SBDC employees in each state. The award is given to an SBDC employee who exhibits exemplary performance, makes a significant contribution to his or her SBDC program, and shows a strong commitment to small business.
About Front Range Community College
FRCC offers nearly 100 degree and certificate programs from locations in Boulder County, Larimer County, Westminster, and Brighton, and online.
FRCC is a member of the Colorado Community College System, the state’s largest system of higher education. CCCS serves more than 162,000 students annually. The system oversees career and academic programs in the 13 state community colleges and career and technical programs in more than 160 school districts and six other post-secondary institutions.
