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 www.lsbdc.org
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.
