Liz Gray joined the NH Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as State Director in July of 2018. Each year, 3,000 small businesses in approximately 200 New Hampshire communities benefit from the advising and educational programs offered by the NH SBDC. SBDC’s team of certified business advisors delivers highly individualized, confidential advising at no charge to enterprises across New Hampshire. Since 1984, the NH SBDC has advised or trained more than 110,000 New Hampshire entrepreneurs, helping them to start over 2,200 businesses.
Liz leads a team of 18 dedicated professionals that serve the Granite State and work in collaboration with federal, state, and local government agencies, business sector partners, and clients. As an outreach program of the University of New Hampshire’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, NH SBDC is a principal driver of the University’s mission to support the state’s business community.
Inspired and energized by NH SBDC’s client stories, Liz helps create the programs and connections they need to thrive. She is a problem solver and change maker at heart. Her goal as the network’s leader is for NH SBDC to continue to be a welcoming and trusted resource for any small business owner seeking help starting and growing their small business.
Prior to joining the NH SBDC, Liz served as director of entrepreneurship at the N.H. Business Finance Authority. She established Live Free and Start, an initiative to make New Hampshire an even better place for innovative companies to be able to start, grow, and succeed. She held the position of economic development business services manager at the N.H. Department of Resources and Economic Development and has extensive experience within the political community of New Hampshire. Additionally, she worked for more than 10 years in various capacities in the offices of governors Shaheen, Lynch, and Hassan, and as a legislative aide in the N.H. State Senate.
Liz was recently elected to her second term on the America’s SBDC’s Board of Directors. She serves as the Board Secretary, participates in the Leadership, Legislative, and Professional Development and Training Committees, as well as Co-Chairs the Small But Mighty State Network. Liz also serves on the UNH Manchester Advisory Board, and on the boards of directors of the UNH Alumni Association and Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).
Liz has a Master’s in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Conservation and International Affairs from the University of New Hampshire.