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Eric Berdin joins Bluffton Center for Entrepreneur as its new director

Dawn Stechschulte is BCE's new graduate assistant

Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs (BCE), soon to celebrate its 10th year, has two new associates and a new address.

Brendon Matthews, BCE board president, announced this week that Eric Berdin of Bluffton has assumed duties as BCE director, replacing Fred Steiner, who retired.

Dawn Stechschulte of Bluffton is BCE’s new graduate assistant, replacing Aphaphanh Nussbaum, who completed her two years in that role, graduating last spring with an MBA from Bluffton. Stechschulte will be with BCE for two years as she also works on an MBA.

And, BCE is official in its new home in the lower level of Bluffton Public Library, 145 S. Main St. The office may be easily accessed from the lower level entrance of the building.

The new director, a resident of 333 Campus Drive, is also a Consulting Solution Lead, with Oracle Corp., where he works from his home.

He and his wife, Adde, moved to Bluffton about 18 months ago, in a sense returning home, as Adde (Augsburger) is Pandora-Gilboa High School graduate.

Eric is a Chicago native. Prior to working with Oracle, ran a web design agency in Chicago. He is pursuing an MBA from the University of Illinois.

Matthews said that the BCE board is very excited about both Berdin and Stechschulte coming aboard the Bluffton business incubator.

"Eric's technology expertise fits with BCE’s mission of assisting area start-up businesses," said Matthews. "Dawn's knowledge of the Bluffton community and her own small business experience will help BCE."

One of the first orders of business for the new BCE staff is the 2018 Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition.

The annual competition will begin in January and will offer cash start-up prizes to winners. Kathy Keller of the Small Business Development Center, Rhodes State College, Lima, will again lead the competition sessions.

Details about the 2018 competition will be announced soon by BCE.

BCE’s office hours in the library are Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays from 2 to 6 p.m. BCE’s new phone number is 419-672-9076. E-mail address is [email protected].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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