Small Business Development Center

UGA Small Business Development Center at Clayton State University

Staff:

Govantez Lowndes, SBDC Area Director
(e:)GovantezLowndes@clayton.edu

Govantez Lowndes is the Area Director for the UGA Small Business Development Center at Clayton State University.

With a twenty-year senior leadership and management career at IBM and extensive experience as a management consultant, Govantez brings a wealth of expertise in sales, marketing, product development, pricing, financing, operations, and customer engagement to SBDC clients. His experience and work span numerous industries, including finance, technology, logistics, healthcare, professional services, consumer goods, and consumer products, with hundreds of marketing-leading firms and entrepreneurial ventures. Govantez has developed and implemented customer/stakeholder-focused consulting approaches and resources throughout his career, enabling businesses to act on what matters to create sustainable customer value and growth.

In addition to his consulting work, Govantez has successfully owned, launched, managed, and sold small businesses in technology, digital media, hospitality, and professional services. Govantez has served on advisory boards for the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, School of Industrial & Systems Engineering, and Athletic Association Alexander Tharpe Fund. He was a TEDxAtlanta organizer for eight years and continues to actively volunteer in mentoring, education, arts, and community development initiatives across Atlanta.

Education –

• Master's of Industrial Engineering and Management, Georgia Tech University
• Bachelor's of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Stanford University

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Dr. Richard Schnitker, Ed.D., SBCD Business Consultant
(e:) RichardSchnitker@clayton.edu

Prior to joining the University of Georgia SBDC, Richard Schnitker served in the United States Army, Military Police Corps, retiring after 24+ years of service as a Command Sergeants Major. Since retiring in 2005, he worked for numerous security contracts both commercial and government as a program manager. Richard also served with World Associates in Aqaba Jordon, teaching business concepts and service hospitality under USAID at Aqaba University – which supported the local hotels and business owners. Richard also worked as the Executive Director / CEO for a 501(3) (c) organization.

Richard utilizes his vast experiences in the military, contracting and business owner to promote the UGA SBDC.

Education

Bachelor of Business Administration,
Faulkner University

Master of Arts in Leadership,
Luther Rice College and Seminary

Doctorate of Education, Leadership and Management, Capella University

Graduate of the U.S. Army Command Sergeants Major Academy, Class 51

Experience

• Franchise Business Owner – Business and Sales Coaching (The Growth Coach)
• Contract Business Consultant (Guidepoint)
• Government and Commercial Contracting (Security)
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Certified Behavioral Consultant, (DiSC)
• Adjunct Professor – Business and Entrepreneurship
• United States Army

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Chelsea Howell, SBDC Program Coordinator
(e): ChelseaHowell@clayton.edu

Chelsea Howell assists the SBDC at Clayton State University as the Program Coordinator. She acts as the main point of contact for the Area Director and Business Consultant and connects small business owners and entrepreneurs with startup and development resources. With six years of experience as a peer educator in nutrition education with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, she is skilled in supporting community efforts in continuing education and sharing local resources. She holds a BA in Liberal Arts with a focus in Philosophy and Political Science. 

UGA Small Business Development Center at Clayton State University Business Consultation

Our consultants can help you: For answers to your management questions, contact our business consultants for professional individualized consultation. Confidentiality is guaranteed. Our consultants have earned advanced degrees in business or management and have extensive practical experience.

For Existing Businesses

• Business valuation (for discussion purposes only)
• Access to market research resources
• Business plan assistance
• Income and cash flow projections
• Loan proposal preparation
• Accounting and financial management assistance
• Cash flow analysis and ratio comparison
• QuickBooks assistance
• Strategic Planning
• Research on local, state and federal regulatory requirements
• Record keeping systems and data management assistance
• Marketing assistance
• Human resource planning
• Succession planning
• Business continuity planning
• Social media marketing
• Business health check-up

For Startups

• Understanding Credit Requirements and lending expectations
• Access to market research resources
• Market feasibility analysis
• Break-even and financial feasibility analysis
• Income and cash flow projection assistance
• Loan proposal preparation
• Understanding business entity structuring
• Research on local, state, and federal regulatory requirements
• Record keeping systems and data management assistance
• Marketing assistance
• Human resource planning

For a complete list of  class dates, times and prices, please visit: https://www.georgiasbdc.org/morrow-office/.  You may register online, call (678) 466-5100 or email us at morrow@georgiasbdc.org.