2024 State Star: Emily Moore
Emily Moore, Research Director / Finance Specialist at the Alabama SBDC, has been selected as Alabama’s 2024 “State Star,” the highest recognition for individual achievement, acknowledging exemplary performance that has a significant and positive impact on advancing small business efforts. Each year, America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) celebrates the nationwide Network’s “State Stars.” These individuals are nominated by their peers and selected by their SBDC Network for their exemplary performance.
Since 2015, Emily Moore has worked at the Birmingham SBDC office located at the Innovation Depot, where she serves as research director and finance specialist with the SBDC’s Capital Access Program team. Moore prepares detailed feasibility studies, financial analyses and project finance proposals that help small business clients secure funding and investment. Over the last five years, the CAP team helped Alabama’s entrepreneurs secure over $554 million in growth capital. Last year, Emily was recognized with the 40 Under 40 award from America’s SBDC.
“Emily has a natural ability to inspire and motivate colleagues with her positive attitude; she is a critical thinker with the ability to navigate difficult projects. She eschews the spotlight and is content to work behind the scenes without any praise or acknowledgement, making her all the more deserving of this award,” says colleague Lindsay Bridges.
Emily joined the SBDC in August 2015. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor from the UA School of Law. She holds a certified technology consultant credential from the University of Houston and is a member of the Florida Bar.
The SBDC State Star Award is the highest recognition for individual achievement, acknowledging and celebrating exemplary performance that has a significant and positive impact on advancing small business efforts.
“Emily has had an incredible impact on the clients she serves and has certainly earned this award. We are fortunate to have a passionate and talented SBDC team that is eager to share their knowledge, wisdom, and hard work with Alabama’s small business community,” said Bill Cummins, executive state director of the Alabama SBDC.
Dan Blakley, associate vice president for economic and business engagement, noted that “the Economic Development Mission of The University of Alabama is to prepare a job-ready workforce, extend programs to serve rural and urban communities, forge research partnerships, transfer technologies, foster innovation and scholarship, build small businesses, support industry, and create jobs. Emily is shining examples of how the Alabama SBDC is serving entrepreneurs, growing small businesses, and adding jobs to the state’s economy. We are proud to have them represent the University.”
Emily will be celebrated at a reception during the 45th annual America’s SBDC Conference in Atlanta in September. Entrepreneurs and small business owners can connect with her and a statewide team of small business advisors at https://sbdc.ua.edu or https://ASBDC.org .
About the Alabama SBDC
The Alabama SBDC offers no-cost, confidential consulting and business education to new and existing businesses through 10 centers across the state. In 2023, the SBDC served 2,900 clients and trained over 4,700 individuals, resulting in $82.7 million in capital investment, 231 new business starts and 864 new jobs.
The Alabama SBDC Network is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is hosted by UA’s Office for Research and Economic Development. The Alabama SBDC is nationally accredited by the America’s SBDC national association, the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States. Learn more at www.americassbdc.org.