Deb Osgood’s Biography:
Links:
NHBR awards celebrate business excellence
Professional Accomplishments:
2008 Women in Business Champion of the Year, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) NH District Office
2008 Women’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, Mary M. Dumais Memorial Fund
2008 Women in Media Award, NH Women’s Lobby
2008 Enterprising Woman of the Year, Enterprising Women Magazine
2008 Outstanding Woman in Business, New Hampshire Business Review
2007 National Above and Beyond Award for Leadership, Jobs for America’s Graduates, WashingtonDC
2007 Excellence in Business Services, NH Business Review Business
2007 Business Mentor to Iraqi Businesswoman; U.S. Department of State, Iraqi Businesswomen’s Partnership, Pilot Program
Professional Biography
Deborah A. Osgood, Cofounder/CKO
Deborah Osgood, cofounder and chief knowledge officer of the Knowledge Institute, Inc. is actively involved in issues of national and global concern, with a particular emphasis on small business development, education and mentoring. In 2007-2008, Deborah participated in a historic event by helping to pioneer a U.S. Department of State Iraqi Businesswomen Partnership Program serving as 1 of only 9 women in the U.S. to serve as a business mentor to businesswomen in Iraq. This groundbreaking event is one of many examples of Deborah’s work at the Knowledge Institute, a philanthropic organization sponsoring economic development at local, regional, national and global levels by facilitating the creation of public/private resource communities and educational programs.
Deborah volunteers countless of hours mentoring hundreds of women, veterans and youth in the development of career and entrepreneurial skills and was awarded National Above and Beyond in Leadership. She is currently piloting a free online, interactive mentoring curriculum where individuals develop business skills while working with an experienced mentor. She serves as mentor to two young girls through Big Brothers Big Sisters, as Board vice chair for NH Jobs for America’s Graduates, and as SCORE Counselor to America’s Small Businesses.
Her primary work, for which she has been highly praised by receiving awards for Excellence in Business Services, Enterprising Woman of the Year, U.S. SBA Women in Business Champion, Women’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award and Outstanding Woman in Media, includes the creation of over 57 online small business resource communities. These include www.BUZGate.org and www.myVbi.org, both of which serve individuals looking to start and grow small business ventures; www.BUZvr.org that serves individuals with disabilities in attaining self-employment; and www.nhmanufacturer.com that serves individuals in manufacturing. myWomeninBiz and myVeteraninBiz serve women and veterans in business respectively. Much of her published works in these communities has also been published by IBM and The World Bank in a resource community at SMEToolkit.org targeted at serving women and minorities in business.
As an expert on small business development and education, Deborah has provided advice and counsel in Washington working with Congress, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Small Business Administration on issues of communications, economic development, fundraising, and government resource development. Her advice has also been sought after and published by the Associated Press, Entrepreneur.com, Business Week, and multiple business and trade journals, and she has received numerous commendations from Governors, U.S. Senators and Congressmen for her work, as well as leading economic development agencies.
Education
Franklin Pierce University, Doctor of Arts in Leadership candidate
Southern New Hampshire University, Masters in Business Administration (MBA)
New Hampshire College, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Marketing
Daniel Webster College, Webmaster Technologies
Certificates in Communication, Graphic Design, Entrepreneurial Training Facilitation and Leadership
Just the Facts
Company Name Knowledge Institute, Inc.
Address 11 Court Street, Suite 230
Exeter, New Hampshire 03833-2422
Industry Small Business Development and Education
Founded 1998
Founders Dr. William & Deborah Osgood
Profile
Knowledge Institute is a philanthropic organization that fosters economic development on a local, regional, national and global scale by creating innovative public/private resource communities and educational programs that serve the interests and needs of small businesses.
Recognized as experts by the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA), government agencies, Fortune 500 companies and other economic development leaders, Knowledge Institute founders have authored over 22 business management books published in several languages, and created over 57 public service communities that presently serve over 2,500,000 small businesses and facilitate business development relationships globally.
This includes www.BUZGate.org and www.myVbi.org, both of which serve individuals looking to start and grow small business ventures; www.BUZvr.org that serves individuals with disabilities in attaining self-employment; www.nhmanufacturer.com that serves small manufacturers; myWomeninBiz as a niche network serving women in business; myVeteransinBiz as a niche network serving veterans in business; www.nhIntern.net that served internship opportunities; www.BUZWorks that served workforce development initiatives; and www.nhCDC.org that served community development initiatives.
Much of the educational content developed by the Knowledge Institute and published in these resource communities is also published by IBM and The World Bank in a resource community called the SMEToolKit.org that is targeted at serving women and minorities in business. Through collaboration with The Wall Street Journal, BUZGate.org content is made further available to small businesses through an online small business network at wsj.com/small-business.
Quotable Quotes about Deborah A. Osgood, Cofounder/CKO
“Deb has been a valuable collaborator with our Division of Economic Development, providing years of expertise, creativity and partnership to our team.”
- George Bald, Commissioner
New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development
“We have recruited (Deb) on behalf of our national work in Washington working with Congress, the U.S. Department of Labor, and in providing advice and counsel to the other state affiliates in strategies for communications, economic development, fundraising, and government resource development.”
- Kenneth M. Smith, President
Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG)
“Deborah brings to the table a strong academic background, considerable experience in economic development, a clear sense of the role of small business development as a means for achieving community economic growth, and the credentials of a community volunteer and leader.”
- Paul Schneiderman, Ph.D., Professor – School of Business
Southern New Hampshire University
“I know Deb to be incredibly diligent in her execution while at the same time bringing a dynamic personality to everything she does. She is a natural leader that can not only “talk the talk but walk the walk” as well.”
- David M. Haney, Senior Vice President – Global Community Impact
Bank of America
“Deborah’s work and volunteer activities have brought hundreds of public assistance agencies and leading providers of small business technologies, products and services together to help millions of adults and youth learn about and connect with the resources they require to develop entrepreneurial skills and launch successful business ventures.”
- Priscilla Parisien, President
New Hampshire Jobs for America’s Graduates
