ËÄÉ«AV

Published September 5, 2018

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC), hosted by the University of Louisiana at Monroe, recently named Monroe native Na'Tisha Natt as its new Director of Marketing & Communications.

"I am extremely honored to receive this promotion," said Natt.

"I look forward to continuing what we have started, building upon our momentum and taking the LSBDC to the next level."

Natt—who joined the LSBDC in 2010 as marketing and communications specialist—will continue to manage statewide marketing activities including brand management, print production, media relations and online marketing.

Additionally, she will take a more active role in regional and statewide economic development efforts, as well as stakeholder and legislative relations.

Since joining the LSBDC, Natt has helped the network garner regional and national notoriety with one of its centers being named the top SBDC in the nation earlier this year.

Through its national partnership with Google, Natt helped coordinate two "Get Your Business Online" events—a program to help small businesses build a viable web presence.

In the last three years, she has helped coordinate nearly 40 small business visits and roundtable meetings conducted by Louisiana Economic Development.

Natt was also instrumental in spearheading the 1st Annual Small Business Forum hosted by the Minority Business Coalition. She also led the effort to redesign the LSBDC website in 2011.

Prior to joining the LSBDC, Natt was Marketing Analyst for OMNI BANK of New Orleans, where she managed all digital marketing efforts including creative enhancements to company websites, digital signage, interactive voice management systems and customer relationship management system.

Natt also oversaw "Making the Grade," an idea-sharing program endorsed by New Orleans Saints quarterback and OMNI BANK spokesperson Drew Brees, designed to highlight and award successful education programs, curricula, students, and teachers in the greater New Orleans region.

Natt's experience also includes serving as the first public relations associate for the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation and as the business development and marketing assistant for Harley-Davidson/Buell of Baton Rouge.

Currently, Natt is actively involved in several civic and business development organizations at the local and national level.

She serves as a member of the Marketing & Communications Committee for the National Association of Small Business Development Centers, vice president of the Monroe-West Monroe Chapter of Business and Professional Women, and a member of Northeast Louisiana Young Professionals.

In addition to her civic involvement, Natt also serves as a mentor for Big Brother Big Sisters of Northeast Louisiana and a volunteer for Southern Care, a non-profit dedicated to providing care to patients with terminal illnesses.

She holds a Master of Arts degree in mass communications and a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Southern University A&M College.

For more information about the LSBDC, visit

About the Louisiana Small Business Development Center:
In 2012, through its partnership with Louisiana Economic Development and the U.S. Small Business Administration, the LSBDC statewide network served thousands of small businesses – creating 964 new jobs, 165 new businesses, $54 million in capital, and helping generate $17 million in new state income tax revenue.

Designated and funded as the state's principal provider of small business assistance by Louisiana Economic Development, the Louisiana Small Business Development Center is the only statewide, nationally accredited program that provides business consulting to entrepreneurs at no cost.

Through a network of 10 centers, the LSBDC provides high quality one-on-one consulting, training and information resources to empower new and existing businesses.

LSBDC is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Louisiana Economic Development, and participating universities.

All SBA programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and limited English proficiency (LEP) will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.