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RALEIGH – Byron Hicks has been named the new assistant vice chancellor and state director of the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC). The SBTDC is a business and technology extension program of the UNC System, administered statewide by the Office of External Affairs, Partnerships, and Economic Development at North Carolina State University. Hicks assumed his new role on January 2.

Hicks joined the organization in 2011 as a general business counselor in the SBTDC’s Boone/Hickory Regional Center at Appalachian State University. In 2014, he became the regional center director for the Boone and Hickory offices. Hicks assumed his role as deputy state director of the SBTDC in 2018.

SBTDC photo

Byron Hicks

In his new role, Hicks will handle overall program management for the SBTDC, the Procurement Technical Assistance Center and other programs. He will help to support and monitor the operations of the SBTDC’s 16 regional offices across North Carolina. Additionally, he will work with key stakeholders in the university, governmental, economic development and business communities to expand the presence of the SBTDC across the state.

Hicks brings over 30 years of experience in business, including commercial lending with major regional banks, management of a family business, as well as purchasing and managing a multi-million-dollar grading and utility contractor in Winston-Salem. He is an alumnus of Elon University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in economics.

Hicks succeeds Scott Daugherty as state director of the SBTDC. Daugherty served in the role since 1984 and retired in early January. “I’m delighted with the outcome of the candidate selection process. Byron is well qualified and prepared to assume this role,” said Daugherty.

Kevin Howell, NC State University vice chancellor for external affairs, partnerships, and economic development, said, “We’re very pleased to have someone with so much valuable experience, both external and internal to the SBTDC, take over the leadership of this critical organization. I look forward to working with Byron in his new role for the continued benefit of small and mid-sized businesses throughout North Carolina.”

The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) is a business and technology extension program of the UNC System, administered statewide by North Carolina State University and operated in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Since 1984, the SBTDC has helped over 135,000 North Carolina business owners and prospective entrepreneurs make better business decisions – often leading to increased revenue and employment. The SBTDC has 16 offices across North Carolina staffed by specially trained professionals – most with prior business ownership and executive experience. For more information, visit www.sbtdc.org.