DURHAM, N.H. - Andrea O'Brien, business advisor with the NH Small Business Development Center, has been awarded the 2011 National Best Practices Award by the Association for Persons in Supported Employment. The award recognizes individuals and businesses demonstrating an outstanding commitment to ensuring employment for all individuals.

O'Brien participated in the Entrepreneurial Success Program, a program designed to assist entrepreneurs with disabilities in starting their own businesses. She worked closely with disabled entrepreneurs, assisting them to adopt best management practices necessary for establishing their businesses.

"She is always encouraging, always complimenting people, and yet she is realistic about the plans," says Tammara Geary, Griffin-Hammis Associates, trainer and consultant for the Entrepreneurial Success Program. "These things are critical to the success of the business owners. She is an excellent local resource for them - a key to sustainability in their businesses and to self-employment opportunity for other people with disabilities in New Hampshire."

According to State Director Mary Collins, the NH Small Business Development Center (NH SBDC) promotes best practices in integrated employment and is committed to helping individuals achieve their goals in self-employment. "We are very proud of Andrea's dedication to working with disabled business owners and to educating others in best practices to work with them on their businesses."

The NH Small Business Development Center provides confidential, long-term, business management advising and educational programs to New Hampshire businesses. Services are delivered by full-time certified business advisors with MBAs and CPAs who all have owned their own businesses. NH SBDC is a cooperative venture of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the state of New Hampshire, the University of New Hampshire, and the private sector. For more information on NH SBDC, visit www.nhsbdc.org.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,200 undergraduate and 2,300 graduate students.

-30-