Cliff Paredes Tapped to lead Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network

Officials at the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst have named Cliff Paredes as the next state director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) network. Paredes began his tenure as state director of the MSBDC Network on Feb. 20.

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The MSBDC Network is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, and a consortium of institutions of higher education led by the Isenberg School. The network’s six regional business advisory centers, the Mass Export Center, Procurement Center and Technology/small business innovation research (SBIR) programs offer in-depth, free, one-on-one advising and training to current and prospective small businesses across Massachusetts. 

“It is an honor to be selected as the new state director for the MSBDC Network and become part of the UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management team,” Paredes said. “I have known for many years the great work the network has done in building the success of the state’s small business community, and I look forward to making an impact.”

Paredes has worked as the associate regional director for international programs at the Texas South-West SBDC Network, and since 2001 has served as the director of the University of Texas at San Antonio SBDC International Trade Center. In addition, he has led the historic effort to expand the SBDC model to more than 20 countries. In 2021, the 263 international SBDCs assisted 502,044 clients, started 18,487 businesses, and created and saved at least 68,700 jobs. Paredes has also earned a master of business administration at Texas A&M International University.

“My primary goal will be to build upon the MSBDC’s legacy of great work and further evolve this top-performing global SBDC network based on a strong values-based leadership culture,” Paredes said. “The network is known for maximizing client results and producing a tremendous return on investment for funding stakeholders, and I foresee many future successes with my colleagues and our valued program partners.”

Anne P. Massey, dean and Thomas O'Brien Endowed Chair at Isenberg, said that Paredes brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his new role.

“Cliff is uniquely qualified for the state director role due to his extensive prior work with small businesses, including connecting networks of SBDC,” Massey said. “I am excited to see his ideas for advancing and expanding the already tremendous impact the MSBDC Network has on small businesses across the Commonwealth.”