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Karen Stehlin Takes Interim Director Position at SBDC


Karen Stehlin has been named interim director of the North Country Small Business Development Center.

Her appointment follows the resignation of Regional Director Rick Leibowticz, who left June 30 for a similar position with an SBDC in Oregon.

Stehlin, whose appointment was effective July 1, has been with the North County SBDC since January 2002, working as a certified business adviser.

“Karen is an experienced business councilor and has worked with the North Country SBDC for many years,” said Ray Guydosh, dean of the school of business and economics. “We are all delighted that she has agreed to serve as SBDC's interim director and to continue to share her experience and abilities with current and potential North Country entrepreneurs.”

A long Island native, Stehlin obtained her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the New York Institute of Technology. From there, she completed Macy’s management training program, launching her into a sales-manager position within the company. Later, she went on to work for General Mills and Chase Manhattan Bank before pursing an Albany-based job offer at KeyCorp. She worked in the marketing department there, specializing in product development and management before being transferred to Plattsburgh for a position as a small-business relationship manager.

“I'm looking forward to continuing to work closely with and advocating for the small-business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the North Country,” Stehlin said.

About the North Country SBDC

The SBDC at Plattsburgh is part of a network of business-assistance centers supported by the State University of New York and the Small Business Administration. The SBDC is charged with assisting North Country entrepreneurs, small businesses and industry through advising, training and research.  

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