WASHINGTON, DC – On Sunday, May 3, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) presented Jaci Sulley of Hayward with the 2026 Wisconsin, Regional and National Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award for the North Central office of the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) in Washington, D.C. The award was presented as part of National Small Business Week which has taken place from May 3-9, 2026.
WWBIC is a statewide economic development corporation which provides entrepreneurship and financial wellness training, coaching and access to capital for small businesses across Wisconsin. The North Central office opened in Hayward late in 2024.
“It’s such an honor to have the SBA recognize the strides we’ve made to encourage economic development and promote small businesses here in North Central Wisconsin,” says Sulley. “It can be challenging for entrepreneurs to find resources to assist them in rural areas like ours, so it’s been a real joy to bring the services WWBIC provides to these counties.”
Sulley was joined by WWBIC President and Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Dunn and WWBIC Chief Operating Officer Christina Knudsen for the festivities, which also included a presentation by Kelly Loeffler, SBA Administrator. Other attendees of note included:
- Brandon Beach
Treasurer of the United States, U.S. Department of Treasury
- Paul Fitzpatrick
Associate Administrator for SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development
- Elizabeth Habib
Assistant Administrator of the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership
- Thomas Kimsey
Associate Administrator, Office of Capital Access, SBA
- Ken Rusk
President, Rusk Industries, Inc.
- Everett M. Woodel, Jr.
Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA
“We’re so proud of the assistance we’ve been able to provide to small businesses throughout Sawyer County and beyond,” says Dunn. “And we can’t wait to celebrate in Hayward with our clients and partner organizations who’ve helped us along the way at the end of the month.”
On Thursday, May 28th at 3:00 pm, SBA Wisconsin officials will join Sulley, Dunn and others to celebrate the award on a local level. The public is welcome to attend this ceremony, followed by a “Business After 5” event presented by the Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce at 5 pm, both at the WWBIC North Central office at 10632 Hayward Court.
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