Vermont Business Journal State Director Linda Rossi announced that Sarah Kearns has been selected as a 2022 Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) State Star. The award, given annually and nationally recognized, celebrates an organization’s team member for outstanding commitment to small business success.
Kearns is a statewide advisor on strategic projects as well as area business advisor for Addison County. She specializes in working with Vermont’s college-aged entrepreneurs.
“Sarah is passionate about the VtSBDC mission and is a great advocate and representative for our organization,” said Rossi. “She consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership and has contributed to advancing our strategic priority of serving college-aged Vermonters. She helps young entrepreneurs follow their dreams by providing them with real-world guidance and compassion. In addition, Sarah has been instrumental in facilitating the VtSBDC Starting Your Business workshops, as well as assisting with core competency training as part of the induction of new SBDC advisors throughout New England.
Selected as a 2022 State Star by the VtSBDC advisory team, Kearns’ colleagues report that she is enthusiastic, collaborative and creative.
Kearns has worked for the VtSBDC for more than a decade, starting as a consultant and becoming a full-time advisor in 2018. She comes from a family steeped in the creative economy and previously ran her own jewelry import business. Her professional experience includes working in both large companies and start-ups. Before moving to Vermont in 2006, Kearns worked in the Boston area for Converse, Inc., focusing on business development in Latin America. After her time at Converse, she worked for a variety of start-up companies primarily in consumer product strategy and business development. During that time, she also completed her MBA at Babson College. Kearns speaks Spanish and has advanced skills in French.
Kearns and her husband David are Middlebury residents, and they have a son at UVM and a daughter at Syracuse.
“The State Star Award is a great honor,” Kearns said. “And working with the VtSBDC brings incredible rewards every day. Every new customer is an opportunity to learn something new and help someone get one step closer to their dream.”
Kearns will be honored at the American Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) national conference in San Diego in September.
RANDOLPH CENTER, VT (July 27, 2022) — Vermont Small Business Development Center
