The Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs (BCE) has formed a strategic partnership with Bluffton University's Division of Business Studies. The announcement was made at the center's third annual meeting, Sept. 16 at the Bluffton town hall.

BCE board president Brendon Matthews introduced the plan to reduce the organization's operating costs and connect its clients with university faculty and students.

At no cost to the BCE, Dr. J. Peter Suter, associate professor of business at Bluffton University, will serve as interim executive director through the remainder of the year.

During this period, the partners will explore a more formal relationship that will improve the sustainability of the business incubator, which helps small startups with mentoring and skills needed to survive in today's economy.

In other BCE business:

. Recent brainstorming sessions for health care and senior services were reviewed by Laura Voth, who introduced three BCE clients providing services to seniors: J. Bankert Bookkeeping, M2 Interiors & Design and Medical Cost Care.

. Client KTL Fabrication's patented berm roller has been approved for use by the State of Ohio. The equipment replaces huge rollers that easily tip over and have injured and even killed operators.

. The client roster currently includes four residential clients at the Colonial Surface Solutions office complex, five affiliate clients and more than 25 consulting relationships.

. Terms for board members were extended to three years and new executive officers were elected: Dr. George Lehman (Bluffton University), Laura Voth (Mennonite Memorial Home Communities) and Wally Buroker (Citizens National Bank).

. Matthews thanked departing executive director John Bauer for his service since January 2009.

Members of the BCE board, in addition to Lehman, Voth and Buroker, are Richard Boehr, Boehr Realty; ^aEUR"Mitch Kingsley, law offices^aEUR"; ^aEUR"Jerry Lewis, McDonald's Restaurants^aEUR"; Brendon Matthews, First National Bank of Pandora; Richard McGarrity, retired financial manager; ^aEUR"Robert D. Neff, AIA, R.D. Neff & Associates; ^aEUR"Dave Steiner, Reichenbach and Steiner CPA; ^aEUR"Fred Steiner, Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce; Ropp Triplett, retired entrepreneur; and ^aEUR"Marcel Wagner, Allen Economic Development Group.

BCE is a not-for-profit, regional business support center offering professional assistance and customized mentoring to entrepreneurs and small businesses, especially during their first few years in operation. The center offers its clients a variety of opportunities for training, coaching, networking and financing.

BCE's offices are in the Colonial Surfaces Solutions building at 505 E. Jefferson St., Bluffton.