Austin Strawhacker is the Iowa Small Business Development Center’s new state director, replacing SBDC Iowa’s Lisa Shimkat.
His appointment was announced Tuesday, July 15, in an America’s SBDC Iowa news release. He will oversee a network of business counselors serving all 99 counties in Iowa and will continue the agency’s mission to help small businesses grow and succeed.
Mr. Strawhacker has held several leadership roles at the Iowa SBDC, most recently as associate state director since 2020. There he managed operations across Iowa’s network of 15 regional centers. He also led the Federal and State Technology (FAST) program.
FAST helps connect entrepreneurs with critical funding opportunities through federal research and development programs. He previously served as the SBDC’s regulatory data coordinator, supporting compliance, data management, and performance tracking efforts critical to the organization’s growth and impact.
The release said he has a proven track record of strategic leadership, operational excellence, and a deep understanding of Iowa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“His leadership has already made a meaningful impact on the organization. I’m confident he will continue to advance the SBDC’s mission and build on the strong foundation already in place,” said David Spalding, Iowa State University’s vice president of economic development and industry relations.
“We look forward to the continued impact of his work and are excited to see how he shapes the future of the organization,” Mr. Spalding said in the release.
Iowa SBDC is an outreach program of Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations.
SBDC Iowa said Mr. Strawhacker’s roles have positioned him to lead the statewide network, drawing on years of impact in data-driven performance, program development, and center operations that have strengthened the organization’s reach and results.
Building on success
“I am deeply honored to assume the role as state director of America’s SBDC Iowa, and thankful for the trust placed in me by our host institutions, particularly Iowa State University and our partner campuses across the state,” Mr. Strawhacker said.
“Leading this talented network of center directors, business counselors, and community partners is a privilege, and together we will champion innovation, expand access to capital, and strengthen the economic vitality of every region in Iowa,” he added. “I look forward to building on our collective successes, learning from our stakeholders, and serving our entrepreneurs with humility, collaboration, and unwavering commitment.”
He replaces Ms. Shimkat, who was appointed in March as associate administrator of field operations and acting associate administrator for the U.S. SBA’s Office of International Trade. Under her leadership, Iowa SBDC made strides in supporting small businesses and was recognized as a national leader in the SBDC network.
Mr. Strawhacker holds bachelor’s degrees from Grand View University and a Master’s of Public Administration from Drake University, where he was a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society for Public Administration.
He chairs the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) Research and Data Committee and serves on the Iowa Rural Development Council. In 2022, he was a national ASBDC 40 Under 40 honoree.
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the SBA, America’s SBDC Iowa has helped Iowa businesses and entrepreneurs through no fee, confidential, customized, professional business counseling and practical, affordable training workshops since its inception in 1981.
For more information on the Iowa SBDC, call (515) 294-2030 or visit www.iowasbdc.org or follow its social media.
