Lorraine Allen
Lorraine Allen
Regional Director, The College of New Jersey Small Business Development Center
August 2002 - present
On behalf of the US Small Business Administration, New Jersey Commerce, The College of New Jersey, directs one Ewing based and 3 satellite (Trenton, Monmouth Junction/New Brunswick, Hamilton) regional counseling center offices serving Mercer and Middlesex counties.
The Center counsels over 500 clients a year and trains over 2254 business representatives annually with business and market planning, procurement, financing preparation, start up and more
Partners with 14 business chambers/organizations, multiple state agencies and private industry to educate small company management.
Implementing Business Language Institute to provide small business counsel and education in maximizing diverse language skills in speaking and implementation into business practices.
Established first regional Procurement Center to assist small, women and minority owned companies apply and compete for municipal, state and federal contract opportunities
Originated DOING BUSINESS IN MERCER COUNTY series conducting training counseling and specialty outreach for starting, growing, financing a business as well as county procurement opportunities on behalf of the Mercer County Office of Economic Opportunity.
Originated Business Plan Workbook, Bridging Borders multi county networking event
Originated Trenton Small Business Week, Middlesex Business Week and Bridging Borders for Business Networking Programs attracting over 5000 business representatives for business integration programming
Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce Chamber Business Institute: Co-founder and coordinator monthly business skills education
Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce Chamber Technical Assistance Center – Co-founder, business strategic assistance counsel
Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Learning Series
Originated The College of New Jersey’s first Entrepreneur Club 2006 (currently 49 student members)
Originated The College of New Jersey’s first Business Plan Competition 2006 (27 entries)
Originated Bridging Borders to Build Business: regional event to integrate and network businesses from Mercer with Middlesex counties
Specializes in marketing, sales, and government procurement
New Jersey Commerce and Economic Growth Commission Procurement Specialist
4.5 years dedicated service for both public and private buyer and business vendor to advocate and increase contract relationships.
Monitored and mentored state purchasing agents on reporting and outreach efforts as well as coordinating vendor referrals for contract opportunities and counseling vendors on doing business with the state.
Assisted state agencies to meet and exceed set aside goals to over $8 billion in 2000.
Represented the Office and the Commission, conducted many training workshops, seminars and conference events and has been guest speaker for many government and business programs.
Originated, coordinated and taught the successful “NEXT STEP I, II and Construction” workshop series to train vendors on fundamental and technical aspects of contracting with the state. Series continues today training approximately 600 plus business representatives annually
New Jersey Small Business Development Center Assistant Director
7 years of dedicated service with the New Jersey Small Business Development Center Network.
Having developed the Trenton based SBDC center at Mercer County Community College from inception, she directed the centers urban activity including counseling existing and entrepreneurial small, women and minority business owners in areas of business planning, market development, government procurement and sales training, partner and program development and extended participation in Trenton’s urban economic development activities.
Responsible for bringing suburban services to the urban community through door-to-door walking tours, training programs in the community, partnerships with local economic and non-profit organizations.
Originated Trenton Small Business Week 1993 which continues today to attract over 3500 business representatives to the city each October.
Boards-Committees (current)
Regional Business Assistance Corporation: Board Member, Loan Committee Member since 2005
Trenton Small Business Week: Co-sponsor and committee member since 1993
Middlesex Business Week: Co-sponsor and committee member since 2005
Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce Chamber Business Institute: Co-founder business skills education
Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce Chamber Technical Assistance Center – Co-founder, business strategic assistance counsel
Trenton Mayor’s Office of Employment and Training Advisory Board
Awards
2007 Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Woman of the Year Award
2005 Metropolitan Trenton African American Chamber of Commerce Education Award
2000 Metropolitan Trenton African American Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advocate of the Year Award
1998-1999 Received 2 prestigious awards from the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners for outstanding record of assisting women business owners: Rose and Scroll Award and Women of Excellence Award
1997 received the Trenton Small Business Advocate of the Year Award for her outstanding achievement in advocating and assisting the advancement of small, women and minority-owned companies
Community-Service
Sokai Gokai International, Princeton District, Women’s University Group Leader since 2005
- International Buddhist organization promoting value added society through peace
Additional
Ask a Busy Person Feature – Mercer Magazine 2007
Over 20 years, directed marketing and operations management for international wholesale and domestic retail industries
6 years Tour Director in the travel industry Tauck Tours, Starr Tours
Licensed Realtor NJ/PA since 2002. Real Estate Investment and Property Management
BA Millersville University, Moore College of Art
Resides in Pennington, Hopewell Township, NJ
Married to Donald “Skip” Allen. 14 year old daughter Olivia. Step-children Donald, 42 and Joelle, 41.
Extracurricular: proud supporter daughter’s competitive dance career, online travel broker
