ascend ACCREDITATION ACCELERATOR

How to Meet SBDC Accreditation Standards and Strategically Leverage the Process

Be prepared to ace accreditation with the ASCEND model and documentation tool.
A complete and comprehensive accreditation self-study is likely to have 100 exhibits! This hands-on, practical course - facilitated by experienced SBDC leaders - will guide you in preparing and implementing the materials you can use to demonstrate fulfillment of the accreditation standards. By the end you will have started to assemble the materials necessary for the self-study and for a successful accreditation review.
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ascend accreditation accelerator

What You'll Learn

01.

ASCEND Approach to Accreditation

- ASCEND Model
- Accreditation Documentation Tool
- ASCEND Key Components Assessment

self-paced

02.

Assess the Environment

- Stakeholder Needs and Satisfaction
- Customer Segmentation
- Branding and Marketing

self-paced & live session

03.

Set Your Strategy & Construct a Budget

- Developing and Executing a Strategic Plan
- Budgeting and Allocating Resources and Performance Expectations

self-paced & live session

04.

Execution: Managing a Network & Delivering Services

- Network Structure and Services
- Policies and Procedures
- Customer Satisfaction
- Organizational Resiliency

self-paced & live session

05.

Nurture Your Team

- Core Competencies
- Organizational Culture
- Professional Development

self-paced & live session

06.

Data and Learning

- KPIs
- Data Integrity
- Assessing Performance
- Benchmarking Tool

self-paced & live session

07.

Leverage Accreditation

- Be Strategic to Drive Changes, Build Relationships
- Managing the Team and Process
- Writing the Self Study
- Tips for a Successful Review


live session

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What You'll Get

  • A tool to develop and manage the items necessary to demonstrate fulfilling the accreditation standards


  • A tool to benchmark your program's performance against peers to meet the accreditation requirement


  • Samples and examples of key required items

  • Identify gaps, strengths and opportunities in your network


  • Real-world understanding of how to use accreditation for leadership, management and sustainability

  • Tips on how to leverage the process to drive change, overcome challenges, improve performance, strengthen critical relationships, and secure funding


  • Learn of alternative methods and resources in managing an SBDC network


  • Exposure to accreditation interview questions


  • Be prepared to educate your team to be comfortable and ready for the accreditation review


  • A tool to assess your program's operations across the 10 dimensions of the ASCEND Leadership Model


  • 20 hours of leadership and management professional development


  • Certificate of completion and digital badge

Cost

Beta Class: $1,500/participant (coupon code: Beta)
Discounts:
$2,000 for two participants from the same network (coupon code: 2Fer) 
$2,500 for three registrants from the same network (coupon code: 3Peat)

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Format

7 Self-paced webinars with detailed information on accreditation requirements from experienced SBDC leaders

Live, online peer learning sessions facilitated by experienced SBDC leaders; 90 minutes in length every two-three weeks, Wednesdays at 3:00 ET/PT

Information sharing and supplemental materials occur between sessions

Maximum cohort class size – 15; minimum – 5

Maximum participants from the same network in a cohort class - 3

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Learn from experts

The ASCEND program is delivered and facilitated by veteran SBDC leaders, with practical, real-world experience who will share proven, relevant and tailored approaches to managing your SBDC program to achieve accreditation.

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2026 Cohort Schedule

3:00 – 4:30 Eastern Time Zone

August 7

Registration Deadline

August 26

Assess the Environment- Live online facilitated peer learning session

September 9

Set Your Strategy & Construct a Budget - Live online facilitated peer learning session

September 23

Execution: Managing a Network & Delivering Services - Live online facilitated peer learning session

October 21

Nurture Your Team - Live online facilitated peer learning session

November 4*

Data & Learning - Live online facilitated peer learning session

November 18*

Leveraging Accreditation - Live online facilitated peer learning session

* These dates may change.  November 11 and December 2 are alternatives.  
ascend accreditation accelerator

Course Overview

This video provides an overview of the Fall 2025 Beta class.  The Spring 2026 Beta class will be similar and is being updated based on cohort feedback.
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Fall 2025 Beta Class

The Fall 2025 Beta Cohort nearly sold-out with 14 participants. 

References

Carl Brown - Washington DC SBDC
Sandy Mehalko - Maryland SBDC
Chad Moore - Montana SBDC
Will Miller - West Virginia SBDC
Christian goes into detail why certain things are needed and why they are being addressed. 
It was very helpful to hear from other SBDCs how they do things as well as insights from Jill and Christian. They have been doing a great job leading us through the accreditation process. 
I already think I am ready, but taking this course fills the gaps in my thinking and will really hone in on what is missing.
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 team

Course Faculty

Christian Conroy

Principal 
Christian Conroy has over 30 years of experience in executive-level leadership and management. He has managed $120 million in grants and contracts to build and deliver services to support the transformation of entrepreneurs, organizations and communities. The organizations he has led have helped to launch more than 13,000 new businesses, impact over 120,000 jobs, and secure more than $1.2 billion in start-up and growth capital.

At the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Christian led the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers, the largest provider of entrepreneurial technical assistance in the state. He also served as leader of the SBDC programs in Kansas, Kentucky and Massachusetts while supporting their search processes for permanent leadership.

Christian launched the America’s SBDC Leadership Institute in 2018 to provide customized leadership coaching, consulting and training on strategic thinking, planning and doing; performance and operations improvement; and sustainability to support the 63 SBDC networks that serve all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the territories. In this role he obtained a $10 million grant from Google to build capacity in AI and digital technology adoption.

Christian has a master’s degree in urban studies and non-profit management from the University of Pennsylvania, and undergraduate degrees in economics and psychology from the University of New York at Albany. He has testified before both houses of Congress in support of bills to support entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Jill Kline

State Director, Wyoming SBDC
Jill Kline serves as State Director for the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, leading a team of professional advisors who support entrepreneurs throughout the business lifecycle—from startup viability to exit strategies. With over 27 years in the program and experience as a two-time business owner, she brings deep understanding of the challenges facing small business owners and remains committed to serving Wyoming's entrepreneurial community.

As Principal Investigator, Jill oversees the Wyoming SBDC's core programs including the Apex Accelerator (APEX), Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative (WSSI), and Market Research Center (MRC). She has successfully secured additional funding through SBA Portable Assistance awards, the Community Navigator Pilot Program, CARES Act funding, the Cybersecurity for Small Businesses Pilot Program, and a USDA Rural Business Development Grant.

Jill contributed 11 years of service on the ASBDC accreditation committee and currently serves on the Better Business Bureau advisory board for Wyoming. She chairs the Rural Development Fund, a nonprofit created by Wyoming Smart Capital Network to deploy USDA loan funds.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Geology and Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Wyoming, and is a 2012 Leadership Wyoming graduate. Her professional certifications include Franklin Covey 7 Habits for Small Business Managers facilitator, Business Counselor, NxLeveL Business Plan Instructor, and Core Four Business Planning Instructor. She has specialized training in leadership, cybersecurity, technology development and commercialization, technology counseling, SBIR Phase I and II development, cost proposal development, grant writing, grant management, and compliance for grant-funded projects.

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