Cliff Paredes tapped to lead Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network: UMass Amherst

Officials at the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst have named Cliff Parades as the next state director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) network. Paredes started on Feb. 20 as the state director of the MSBDC network.

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The MSBDC Network is a consortium of higher education institutions led by the US Small Business Administration, the Massachusetts Office of Business Development and the Eisenberg School. The network’s six Regional Business Advisory Centers, Wholesale Export Center, Procurement Center and Technology/Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs provide in-depth, free, one-on-one advice and training to existing and future small businesses in Massachusetts.

“It is an honor to be selected as the new regional director for the MSBDC network and to be part of the UMass Amherst Isenberg School management team,” said Paredes. “I have known for many years the great work the network has done in building the success of the state’s small business community, and I look forward to making an impact.”

Paredes has served as associate regional director for international programs at the Texas Southwest SBDC Network, and since 2001 has served as director of the University of Texas at San Antonio SBDC International Business Center. He also led a historic effort to expand the SBDC model to more than 20 countries. In the year By 2021, the 263 global SBDCs have helped 502,044 clients, started 18,487 businesses and created and saved at least 68,700 jobs. Paredes earned a Master of Business Administration at Texas A&M International University.

“My primary goal is to build on MSBDC’s legacy of great work and build this high-performing global SBDC network on a strong values-based leadership culture,” said Paredes. “The network is known for increasing customer outcomes and delivering significant return on investment for stakeholders, and I look forward to many more successes in the future with my colleagues and our valued program partners.”

Anne P. Massey, Dean and Thomas O’Brien Endowed Chair at Isenberg, Paredes brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role.

“Cliff is uniquely qualified for the state director role because of his extensive prior work with small businesses, including SBDC networks,” Massey said. “I am excited to see the proposals to advance and expand the MSBDC network’s significant impact on small businesses across the Commonwealth.”