Brian Baker, Executive Director for Economic Development, was elected to the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for a three-year term that began on January 1, 2016. He has been an active member at the Chamber since 2002. During that time he has served roles on the Strategic Planning Committee, facilitated Board strategic planning, Finance Committee, the strategic visioning committee, the small business planning committee, the Leadership Fredericksburg Advisory Board, Mentor Cabinet Chair, and served as a Leadership Fredericksburg mentor since 2008 . In 2011 he was recognized as an honorary fellow of Leadership Fredericksburg.
Baker Presents at Conference
Brian Baker, executive director for the UMW Center for Economic Development, presented at the Virginia Business Incubation Association Conference this month. His presentation on “The Other Accelerator” discussed how existing businesses can be incubated through a virtual process to get export trade ready. A notable feature of the event was the CEO+ Program, a partnership between the Rappahannock Economic Development Corporation and the UMW-CED, which will be used as the first stage to accelerating the capability of regional small companies to do business in global markets.
The conference was held in Charlottesville and convened economic development and business development stakeholders. The Virginia Business Incubation Association is a statewide organization to advance business incubation across the Commonwealth.
REDCO Partnering with UMW for Business Program
The UMW Center for Economic Development is partnering with the Rappahannock Economic Development Corporation (REDCO) to provide the CEO+ Program for REDCO 504 loan recipients. The CEO+ Program is a collection of training, business intelligence and financial counseling designed to strengthen the capabilities of small business owners. 504 loan recipients will have access to specialized management training, industry reports, benchmark studies, and financial management assistance. A pilot of the program will begin in October with 10 clients.
Brian Baker, executive director for Economic Development at UMW, stated: “This is a scaled solution with high value data and service that can be deployed quickly to business owners who need to make critical management decisions.” A full launch of the program is planned for January 2016.
REDCO is a licensed non-profit, Certified Development Company that offers long-term fixed-rate financing for small business in Virginia through the SBA 504 Loan Program. The University of Mary Washington Center for Economic Development collaborates with business, government, education and private parties to promote personal, professional and economic growth by advancing knowledge through entrepreneurship, small business development, innovation and competitiveness, research and analysis, and outreach and engagement. UMW programs that will support the partnership include the Small Business Development Center, the EagleWorks Business Incubation Center, and the Office of Regional Initiatives. You can find more information about the UMW Center for Economic Development at www.economicdevelopment.umw.edu/ and REDCO-504 at www.redco504.org .
Baker Conducts Association Strategic Planning
UMW Executive Director of Economic Development Brian Baker conducted strategic planning with Board Members of the Virginia Business Incubation Association. Baker is a practitioner of the actionable balanced scorecard approach to strategic planning. The session was hosted at the Waynesboro Office of Economic Development. The Virginia Business Incubation Association is an education and networking association for professionals who support entrepreneurship, small business development, and the advancement of incubation throughout the Commonwealth.
EagleWorks Gives Small Business Opportunity to Shine
The University of Mary Washington’s Center for Economic Development is taking steps to help small businesses in Fredericksburg succeed. Its small-business incubation program, EagleWorks, took its first client in 2014.
Koji Flowers, owner of online marketing company Big Cloud Media, came to EagleWorks after moving from Texas. In the nine months Flowers has worked at EagleWorks, Big Cloud Media has tripled sales and doubled the average scope of project services. In addition, the company has clients in Mexico, Canada, India and Israel.
EagleWorks is a collaborative entrepreneur-centered program through the Center for Economic Development that focuses on small businesses to promote their growth and sustainability.
Currently, EagleWorks has 13 partners that support clients in the program, including the U.S. Small Business Administration and Cardinal Bank.
EagleWorks provides services for small business owners, including office space, a conference room for client use, and business training programs.
Flowers credits EagleWorks as a large proponent to Big Cloud Media’s success. Flowers, who had operated Big Cloud Media from his home for several years before coming to EagleWorks, was looking for a place where he could separate work from home.
EagleWorks, in addition to providing an area solely for business, also gives Flowers a venue where he can meet with potential clients.
The Executive Director of Economic Development Brian Baker and others in the department have been especially valuable to Flowers. They helped Flowers create Limited Liability Company status for his business. In addition, they helped improve his business in ways Flowers had never considered.
“It’s been a wonderful program for me,” Flowers said.
Baker Selected to be Business Mentor
Brian Baker, executive director for Economic Development at the University of Mary Washington, was invited by the William James Foundation to be a business mentor for companies in the Sustainable Business Plan Competition. This is Baker’s third year as a judge. As a mentor, he will work closely with company management to advance their value proposition.
The William James Foundation, founded by Chuck Dell in 2002, is dedicated to the principle that “people can be of service to their communities through their work.” Dell attributed his inspiration to the teachings of William James, a noted American philosopher. Since 2002, the foundation has provided more than $3 million in direct funding and countless value in in-kind benefits to for-profit social enterprises.
Baker Attends White House Business Council Event
Brian Baker, UMW executive director for economic development, attended the White House Business Council “Economic Development Forum” on Sept. 27. The forum was a collaboration between the White House Business Council and the International Economic Development Council. Economic development executives from across the nation were invited to participate in briefs from economists and senior leadership in the Department of Commerce, U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service, Export-Import Bank, Treasury, Small Business Administration, International Economic Affairs, and others. The 2013 topics of discussion included the macroeconomic outlook, facilitating foreign investment in the U.S., capital access and entrepreneurship, innovations in workforce development, and critical infrastructure needs for the 21st century.
UMW Names Executive Director for Center for Economic Development
The University of Mary Washington today announced that Brian Baker has been named executive director of the Center for Economic Development. Baker has spent the last decade as an administrator at UMW, most recently as executive director for entrepreneurship.
In his role as executive director, Baker will oversee the UMW Small Business Development Center, the EagleWorks Accelerator and Business Innovation Center, the Engagement Program, the operations for the Virginia Business Incubation Association, as well as several contract affiliations.
During his more than 10 years at UMW, Baker has served in various roles, including head of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). In his time as executive director of the SBDC, the center served more than 3,000 small company clients and yielded economic impacts of more than $70 million in new investments, more than $81 million in new sales growth and the creation and retention of 4,670 jobs. Baker also was instrumental in bringing the Virginia Business Incubation Association to the university where it will have an opportunity to engage students and faculty in both regional and statewide small company development initiatives. Baker also has collaborated with numerous UMW students on business-related projects pertaining to market research, small company analysis and revenue analytics.
Baker serves on the Board of Directors for the La Ceiba Microfinance program, the Leadership Fredericksburg program and the University Based Economic Development Council, and is president of the Virginia Business Incubation Association. He also is a general member of the Rappahannock Economic Development Corporation and a member of the Stafford County Economic Analysis Forum and the Germanna Community College Workforce and Community Education Advisory Board.
He has been a speaker at both the International Economic Development Council and Virginia Business Incubation Association conferences on small business. In 2010, he was recognized as the Virginia SBDC State Star for contributions in business development.
Baker earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s in business administration in management from Mary Washington. He holds a business analyst certification from the Virginia SBDC program hosted by George Mason University.
The Center for Economic Development, established in 2011, assists the regional jurisdictions in their efforts to promote economic development of the region. The center functions as a central point of contact to connect faculty and students with regional initiatives and businesses seeking their assistance. The center’s programs and initiatives include the Small Business Development Center, the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, the Virginia Business Incubation Association, and student and faculty engagement projects.
In his role as executive director, Baker will oversee the UMW Small Business Development Center, the EagleWorks Accelerator and Business Innovation Center, the Engagement Program, the operations for the Virginia Business Incubation Association, as well as several contract affiliations.
During his more than 10 years at UMW, Baker has served in various roles, including head of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). In his time as executive director of the SBDC, the center served more than 3,000 small company clients and yielded economic impacts of more than $70 million in new investments, more than $81 million in new sales growth and the creation and retention of 4,670 jobs. Baker also was instrumental in bringing the Virginia Business Incubation Association to the university where it will have an opportunity to engage students and faculty in both regional and statewide small company development initiatives. Baker also has collaborated with numerous UMW students on business-related projects pertaining to market research, small company analysis and revenue analytics.
Baker serves on the Board of Directors for the La Ceiba Microfinance program, the Leadership Fredericksburg program and the University Based Economic Development Council, and is president of the Virginia Business Incubation Association. He also is a general member of the Rappahannock Economic Development Corporation and a member of the Stafford County Economic Analysis Forum and the Germanna Community College Workforce and Community Education Advisory Board.
He has been a speaker at both the International Economic Development Council and Virginia Business Incubation Association conferences on small business. In 2010, he was recognized as the Virginia SBDC State Star for contributions in business development.
Baker earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s in business administration in management from Mary Washington. He holds a business analyst certification from the Virginia SBDC program hosted by George Mason University.
The Center for Economic Development, established in 2011, assists the regional jurisdictions in their efforts to promote economic development of the region. The center functions as a central point of contact to connect faculty and students with regional initiatives and businesses seeking their assistance. The center’s programs and initiatives include the Small Business Development Center, the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, the Virginia Business Incubation Association, and student and faculty engagement projects.Brian Baker Speaks at IEDC Annual Conference
Brian Baker, Executive Director for Entrepreneurship at the University of Mary Washington presented at the International Economic Development Council Annual Conference in Houston, Texas on October 1. His topic covered approaches for business assistance employed at the UMW Office of Entrepreneurship. Following the presentation, Baker led a discussion titled “Empowering Entrepreneurs.” The group discussion enabled colleagues in economic development to explore best practices on approaches to encouraging innovation, small company incubation, support services for business owners, and financing.
The UMW Office of Entrepreneurship is a division of the Center for Economic Development and hosts the UMW Small Business Development Center, the EagleWorks Accelerator and Innovation Program, the Engagement Council, and the Virginia Business Incubation Association.