CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Three members of the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) have added new credentials to their professional training.

WV SBDC Deputy Director Steve Johnson, Business Coach Donna Schramm and Business Coach Marsa Myers recently received Certified Business Advisor (CBA) certificates. They completed the graduate-level e-learning course through the accredited Kent State University.

The CBA program’s three primary courses are marketing, accounting/finance and human resources. Each course covers multiple sessions, such as strategic planning, pricing, breakeven analysis, finance sources, employee recruiting and performance management.

“Working one-on-one or as a team, our statewide network of WV SBDC coaches can provide West Virginia businesses with the expertise and resources they need to grow,” said State Director Debra Martin. “The CBA certificate provides added assurance to our clients and funding partners that all business coaches in the SBDC network have the skills, know-how and competency to guide new and established entrepreneurs.”

Johnson has more than 25 years of experience in owning or operating a small business. He joined the WV SBDC in 2013, first as a business coach and later as network coordinator for the statewide program. He was named deputy director in early 2019. A native of Huntington, Johnson earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Marshall University and his Master of Business Administration from Wayne State College in Nebraska.

Schramm joined the WV SBDC in 1999. She is the manager for the WV SBDC center in Wheeling, serving Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler and Wetzel counties. She received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from West Virginia University.

Myers joined the WV SBDC in 2015. She received her master’s degree from West Virginia University. Myers is the manager of the WV SBDC center in Parkersburg, serving Calhoun, Doddridge, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt and Wood counties.

WV SBDC has remained the premier resource for small business creation and expansion in the Mountain State for more than 35 years. As a key economic driver, the WV SBDC offers a variety of services to entrepreneurs and small businesses to increase their profitability and customer base, enabling continued growth and prosperity for West Virginia’s diversifying economy.