Region V Small Business Development Center in Pocatello hires new consultant Mike Hope

The Region V Small Business Development Center in Pocatello, affiliated with the Idaho State University College of Business and the state SBDC office in Boise, is pleased to announce that Mike Hope has been hired as a consultant and trainer.

He will report to the Region V executive director, Tom Maydew. Prior to joining the SBDC, Hope served in business and financial management roles in Michigan and Maine. His experience includes work in manufacturing, construction, and health care firms. He has more than 20 years of business ownership experience, having owned two businesses in Michigan and one in Maine. 

The SBDC mission is to provide directions and solutions to start-up and existing businesses through confidential, no-cost consulting and low-cost training opportunities. It has been shown that SBDC clients consistently out-perform the average small business in Idaho in sales growth. The Region V office in Pocatello is funded in large part by the U.S. Small Business Administration and serves the seven counties of southeastern Idaho. It is affiliated with the Idaho State University College of Business and the state SBDC office in Boise.

A free three-hour small business start up seminar is hosted the second Thursday of each month at the SBDC location at 1651 Alvin Ricken Drive in Pocatello. The SBDC also delivers the nationally recognized NxLevel Entrepreneurship Training Course twice yearly with classes starting in March and September. On Sept. 30, the SBDC will sponsor an all-day Working Women’s Business Symposium to be held at the Red Lion Inn in Pocatello. The symposium will include keynote speakers, informational breakout training sessions, and a trade table exposition.

For more information on the Region V Small Business Development Center and its services, contact Tom Maydew at maydtom@isu.edu, or Mike Hope at hopemike@isu.edu. Both can also be reached at (208) 232-4921.

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