WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Melvin L. Steele, Jr., E.D., is the new regional business consultant for the Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) effective October 2022. He fills a vacancy that was previously held by Darrell Hampsten.
Steele is responsible for providing consultation services to small businesses on a wide range of topics including marketing, finance (including loan proposals and accounting), management, personnel and business, and strategic planning to promote growth, expansion, innovation, increased productivity and management improvement. He also will help coordinate training seminars and classes designed to meet the specific needs of small business owners and managers in the region. The Missouri SBDC at MSU-WP has been in existence for more than 22 years.
“We are thrilled to have Mel join our Missouri SBDC team! Mel brings extensive experience in consulting with small businesses and is a former small business owner himself. His background in education and data analytics will be a valuable asset to assisting area businesses,” said Chrystal Irons, director of Missouri SBDC at MSU. “I look forward to working with established business contacts and developing new connections in the greater West Plains area.”
Prior to joining the Missouri SBDC at MSU-WP, Steele taught business courses in management, marketing and economics, which are his primary areas of interest. He has taught at the college level and consulted with small business owners for many years before joining the Missouri SBDC. Steele also has been a small business owner and has additional experience in the data analytics field. In his regional consultant role, he will be able to help new businesses start and existing businesses grow in and around the West Plains and surrounding seven-county region.
Steele has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and speech from Southwest Baptist University, an MBA in Marketing from Louisiana Tech University, and an Education Doctorate from Lindenwood University.
The Missouri SBDC at Missouri State University (MSU) is a leading resource for startup and growing businesses. The program serves businesses in 15 counties throughout southwest Missouri, with offices located in Springfield and West Plains, Missouri.
The Missouri SBDC at MSU is part of the efactory, offering premier professional and leadership training. Companies can increase their effectiveness and overall success through training programs on timely, real-world topics facilitated by leading industry experts. The SBDC also offers custom tailored training solutions to meet specific workplace needs.
To contact Steele for your business questions and additional information, call (417) 255-7966 or visit his office in the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St., West Plains, Missouri.
