Carolina Ramon, director of the Office of Minority Business Development for the UGA Small Business Development Center, was presented with the second Public Service and Outreach Employee Spotlight Award on Dec. 6.

Ramon was surprised with the award by PSO Vice President Jennifer Frum during a meeting at the SBDC offices in Athens. She is the second Employee Spotlight.

SBDC Director Allan Adams nominated Ramon for the award.

“Carolina has distinguished herself as a dedicated public service faculty member, determined to find innovative ways to assist entrepreneurs interested in growing their business,” Adams wrote in his nomination. “She works tirelessly to reach out to, encourage and help business owners overcome the challenges they face in a highly competitive marketplace.”

Ramon joined the SBDC in 2015. In September 2019, she was recognized by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as one of the “50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia” at a luncheon at SunTrust Park.

“The SBDC is a critical component of Georgia’s economic development program and I am proud of the work these employees do in 17 regional offices throughout the state,” Frum said. “Carolina’s contributions exemplify the service mission of the University of Georgia, the state’s land-grant and sea-grant university.”

The PSO-wide award was established earlier this year as a way to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of employees throughout the year. The Employee Spotlight highlights employees who go above and beyond their normal responsibilities, who produce outstanding work and who contribute significantly to the strategic mission of the division.

Any full or part time employee of the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach, the eight PSO units, and the Atlanta economic development office are eligible for the award. Employees can nominate themselves or someone else.