The Texas South-West Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network is proud to announce that Maricela Brown, a Senior Business Advisor, is the recipient of the 2025 State Star Award.

She will be recognized at the 46th Annual America’s SBDC Conference in Orlando alongside top business advisors from across the nation on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

The SBDC State Star Award is presented annually to the highest-performing Business Advisor within the 79-county Texas South-West SBDC Network. Advisors are evaluated based on economic development outcomes including client-attributed job creation and retention, business start-ups and expansions, capital access, productivity and long-term client support.

Brown has been with the Sul Ross State University International SBDC for 24 years. Over the past seven years as Senior Business Advisor, her guidance has resulted in 41 new businesses, 14 expansions, 227 new jobs created and 155 jobs retained. She also helped secure over $10 million in capital for her clients – 155 of them in 2024 alone –  assisting businesses across diverse industries such as food, transportation, retail, entertainment, and service sectors.

In addition to her work as a business advisor, Brown holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from SRSU. She is also a certified insurance agent with the Texas Department of Insurance and launched her own online fashion shop, River Lace Boutique.

“On behalf of the Sul Ross State International SBDC Team, I extend my sincere congratulations to Maricela,” said Cynthia Gomez, Interim Director of the SBDC. “We thank her for her outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence. This recognition is well deserved, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate her achievements.”

For more information, email cgutierrez@sulross.edu.