Donna Dabbs Named Director, Cuyahoga Small Business Development Center
The Urban League of Greater Cleveland (ULGC) is pleased to announce that Donna Dabbs will serve as director of the Cuyahoga Small Business Development Center (CSBDC) located at the ULGC office, effective October 15, 2011. The CSBDC at the ULGC is collaboration among the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NEOHCC), and the Nance College of Business at Cleveland State University. The program is designed to address a wide range of clients, providing comprehensive business management and education services; confidential, in-depth, one-on-one counseling and low-or no-cost training to small businesses
Marsha Mockabee, President & CEO, Urban League of Greater Cleveland expressed her pleasure at attracting a candidate with so many of the right assets for the position. “Donna’s compliance background is a perfect fit for managing CSBDC and ODOD federal and state mandates. Her existing networks in the Cleveland area will leverage her ability to increase the visibility of the Center; and finally, her experience
and connections at the local and national levels of the Urban League provide a platform for a collegial host relationship. We look forward to her joining the growing Urban League family.”
Most recently, Donna served as Vice President, Compliance Officer in the Global Treasury Management group at Key Bank where she focused on developing and implementation of programs and processes to ensure a best-in-class Compliance Risk Assurance program. The consummate networker, Donna is co-founder of Society of Urban Professionals (SOUP, Inc.), a networking platform for professionals providing effective business planning, creative sales techniques and innovative marketing. Incorporated in 2006, the organization grew its membership database from 1,000 to 6,000. She is a partner with Cleveland First Fridays; an existing venture with the objective to offer
networking in a social atmosphere. As partner, Donna develops and handles marketing and advertising campaigns to consistently increase sales and profits each year.
“Donna Dabbs has a diverse background that includes more than 20 years of professional and management experience in the areas of economic growth, entrepreneurial and business development and strategic planning with corporate and community organizations. We believe her unique combination of leadership experience, positions her as the best candidate to lead the Cuyahoga Small Business Development Center at the Urban League of Greater Cleveland,” said Karen Shauri, State Director, Small Business Development Centers of Ohio, Ohio Department of Development.
Donna is a flexible and personal communicator, relating to diverse individuals at all levels with a confident communication style. She grew up in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood and graduated from Collinwood High School. Her educational background includes a degree in finance from the University of Cincinnati. After a visit to Hong Kong and China in 2006, Donna launched her entrepreneurial venture, NTheBagz, LLC. Her civic engagement involves serving on several boards including: Dress for Success Cleveland; Karamu House Theatre Arts Committee; and committee chair for 127 CARES. Donna served as founding president of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland’s Young
Professionals Chapter. Additionally, she served on the advisory board for the Multicultural Business Development Center at the Urban League in 2005; and as Board Trustee.
