SAN ANGELO, Texas — Dezaray Johnson, a certified business advisor with the Angelo State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), has been selected for an inaugural Top 40 Under 40 Young Professionals Award by America's SBDC, the association that represents the nationwide SBDC network.
The Top 40 Under 40 Young Professionals Awards honor SBDC staff from across the national network who demonstrate innovation, leadership and commitment to the SBDC mission and their local communities.
This year's first round of awards recognizes professionals from 2020-2021.
"I am extremely honored to receive this award from America's SBDC," Johnson said in a release from Angelo State. "I appreciate the support and know that this recognition highlights the success of our center as a whole and the remarkable work of our entire team at the ASU SBDC. I want to thank Dave Erickson, our director, for the outstanding nomination. I would not be the professional I am today without his support and guidance. I am truly fortunate to be able to serve the small business community."
A member of the Angelo State SBDC staff since 2013, Johnson received her bachelor's and master's degrees in communication at ASU and is a certified business advisor IV, the highest designation from the Texas South-West SBDC Network. She specializes in assisting local and area small business clients with marketing and advertising and mentors ASU students in the Graduate Training Assistantship program. She also coordinates the SBDC's training program that consists of more than 80 seminars and other events every year.
"Dezaray is very deserving of this award," Erickson said. "She wears many 'hats' for the ASU SBDC, including being an excellent advisor and trainer to small businesses, a great team member, and a great mentor and leader of our student employee team. Her recognition also highlights the qualities the ASU SBDC exhibits daily: excellent service to the Concho Valley's small business clients and a great working relationship with our economic development partners."
Johnson also serves as president-elect for the Texas Business Women of San Angelo and state board treasurer for Texas Business Women and is a member of the Junior League of San Angelo, Young Professionals of San Angelo and Leadership San Angelo Alumni Association. She has also received a San Angelo 20 Under 40 Award from the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce and an Outstanding College Staff Member Award from the ASU Norris-Vincent College of Business.
The Angelo State SBDC is in the Business Resource Center at 69 N. Chadbourne St. in downtown San Angelo. More details on its services and training programs are available at angelo.edu/sbdc.
