LU Small Business Development Center’s financing assistance program director honored

Lehigh University Small Business Development Center’s financing assistance program director is the 2022 State Star for Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (PASBDC).  

The outfit honors top performers who help small businesses secure funding for success. 

Robert Mineo first joined the Pennsylvania SBDC as a graduate student at Lehigh University, and then joined the team full-time after graduation. Since then, he has utilized his tenure with the Pennsylvania SBDC to become a crucial member of the Lehigh SBDC and PASBDC network, SBDC said. 

“I was very excited, and surprised, to win this award. It really is an honor,” Mineo said. “Knowing well the consultants that have won this award in the past, some who have mentored me and been instrumental in my own growth makes it that much more special.” 

 The network has helped so many small business owners, he said. “I am lucky the Lehigh University Small Business Development Center is such an awesome place to work, and I look forward to supporting our local small business owners for years to come,” he said.  

Each year, America’s Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) Network recognizes top performers nationwide at its annual conference. A special presentation honoring the ASBDC 2022 State Stars will be held during the national conference this September. 

Prior to this year’s State Star Award, Mineo’s excellence in the financial sector has won him many awards. Since 2014, when he won his first PASBDC capital award, he has ranked at or very near the top of the entire network every year in total capital and/or number of loans secured, according to Lehigh University. 

“Rob represents our more than 100 business consultants across the Commonwealth through his passion for helping entrepreneurs start, grow and prosper,” said Pennsylvania SBDC Director Ernie Post. “Rob has established himself as one of our outstanding experts and top producer of helping clients acquire capital.,”  

Mineo works with clients to help them understand cash flow projections and realize realistic funding needs, the university said. Mineo also maintains relationships with the lending community and knows what type of funding banks are providing to small business owners.  

Lehigh Center Director Brett Smith said Mineo is “instrumental to the success of the Lehigh SBDC as the financing program director and always operates at a State Star level. Rob is the consummate professional and he loves his job. His clients’ success is his success.”  

“Rob is the go-to person that many lenders and myself have referred clients to for help with finding funding over the years,” said Shannon BeGiglio, SBA Eastern Pennsylvania District Office. “Rob and I have worked together for approximately eight years. In that time, we have worked together on many initiatives to help businesses access capital in the Lehigh Valley.”