Finch retires as VGCC Small Business Center director
Diane P. Finch of Henderson recently retired as Director of the Small Business Center at Vance-Granville Community College. Members of Finch’s family joined her colleagues at a retirement reception held in her honor on March 22 at the college’s Main Campus.
She had been the SBC director since January 1994, when she joined VGCC after serving as the executive director of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce. In both of those roles, Finch participated in the planning and execution of more than 20 four-county business EXPOs, which provided local businesses opportunities to highlight their products and services. Also during her 18 years with the Small Business Center, Finch served 1,383 clients, providing counseling for start-up and existing businesses. She noted that in the past five years, 12 of her clients actually started a business in the four-county area. Finch organized numerous seminars and classes as SBC director, which were attended by a total of 21,553 people. She also maintained strong partnerships with local chambers of commerce, the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, county Economic Development Commissions (EDCs), the Rural Center of North Carolina and local banks.
A graduate of Henderson Business School, Finch completed the VGCC Leadership Institute (2005-06), leadership programs offered by the chambers of commerce in Granville and Vance counties, and the N.C. Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning (REAL) Program. She also completed all three levels of the Small Business Center Network Credentialing program, which ensures that Small Business Center Directors throughout the North Carolina Community College System have a consistent business background in order to assist clients in a professional manner. Finch has served as Chairperson of the Regional Small Business Center Network for three years, and on the SBCN Marketing Committee for the past six years. Outside of VGCC, she has been a member of the Vance County First Citizens Bank Board of Directors, the Henderson Investment Development Corporation Board, and committees of the Henderson-Vance and Granville County Chambers of Commerce.
“I have truly enjoyed my work with the Small Business Center of VGCC, with the professionals who work with and around me, with all the community leaders who serve our four county communities, and all the individuals who have come to the Small Business Center for counseling or to attend our seminars and classes,” Finch said.
Above: From left, VGCC Vice President of Community and Economic Development Vanessa Jones, Diane Finch and Gabrielle Norfleet, the executive assistant for Community and Economic Development, at Finch’s recent retirement reception. (VGCC photo)
