The UND College of Business and Public Administration has chosen David Martin as the new director of the North Dakota Small Business Development Center.

“He is a skilled communicator and team-builder who will help the outstanding network of centers that comprise the SBDC be even more effective in serving our state,” said Margaret Williams, dean of the UND College of Business and Public Administration, in a news release.

As director, Martin will assist with small business development in North Dakota by helping people start, manage and grow their own businesses. Martin will work out of locations in Bismarck, Fargo and at UND.

Recently, Martin served as the vice president of community relations with Choice Financial Group in Grafton, N.D.

Prior to this, he worked with the Chamber of Commerce in Fargo-Moorhead as public affairs director and president & CEO.

Martin worked with the Chamber of Commerce for 13 years, forming a regional economic outlook forum that brought in many participants.

He led the Chamber of Commerce to become a finalist for the national Chamber of the Year award in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

He received a bachelor’s degree in health education from Minnesota State University Moorhead, a master’s degree in higher education from Colorado State University in Fort Collins and a specialist in educational leadership degree from North Dakota State University.

He’s also a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institutes for Organizational Management.

Martin began his new position Monday.

N.D. SBDC

The North Dakota Small Business Development Center helps entrepreneurs achieve success by providing counseling, training and research to current and potential small businesses.

With offices located all across the state, they serve over 1,700 North Dakota entrepreneurs annually and assist businesses in acquiring more than $100 million in capital infusion each year.

The program is hosted by the UND College of Business and Public Administration while the Lead Center is located in Bismarck at the Bank of North Dakota.

Jamie Hutchinson is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected].