Missoula SBDC Advisor Wins National Award for Excellence
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HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Small Business Development Center Network, headquartered at the Montana Department of Commerce, announces that SBDC Business Advisor Steve Clairmont, ASBC, EDFP, has been named the 2026 Montana State Star. This is a national honor that recognizes outstanding performers from SBDCs around the country. Clairmont will be honored in September at the national ASBDC conference in Atlanta.
Award nomination criteria names exemplary performance, significant contributions to the program, and a strong commitment to small businesses as top qualifiers for the award. “In just under two years with our network, Steve has become a trusted advisor for entrepreneurs and business owners in his region,” said SBDC State Director Chad Moore. “His ability to listen carefully, ask the right questions and turn small business challenges into clear next steps has quickly made him a go-to resource for both clients and colleagues as our SBDC State Star.”
The Missoula SBDC, where Clairmont has served as a business advisor since 2024, is hosted by the University of Montana. He provides confidential one-on-one consulting and training for entrepreneurs and small business owners across a four-county region: Mineral, Missoula, Sanders and Ravalli Counties. Over the past two years, Clairmont has counseled 148 clients, was responsible for the creation of 21 jobs, supported 177 jobs and helped clients secure over $860,500 in funding.
“Being selected as Montana’s State Star is a tremendous honor. This recognition is especially important to me because I have been selected by my SBDC peers,” Clairmont said. “The most rewarding part of this work, though, is helping and supporting small business owners as they navigate growth, change and opportunity. I’m grateful to work alongside such a dedicated SBDC team and proud to be part of a network that makes a real difference for Montana businesses and communities.”
Over the last two years, Clairmont has embraced new tools, becoming a Certified America’s SBDC AI U Professional, which he has used to expand business plan writing services for SBDC clients, to augment resource research and to teach clients how to leverage AI. Clairmont is also a member of America’s SBDC Capital Access Interest Group.
For more information on SBDC services, and to find your regional center, visit sbdc.mt.gov.
The SBDC network is comprised of ten statewide regional SBDC offices overseen by the lead center at Commerce. The SBDC Program is funded under a cooperative agreement between Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with local host organizations.
Award nomination criteria names exemplary performance, significant contributions to the program, and a strong commitment to small businesses as top qualifiers for the award. “In just under two years with our network, Steve has become a trusted advisor for entrepreneurs and business owners in his region,” said SBDC State Director Chad Moore. “His ability to listen carefully, ask the right questions and turn small business challenges into clear next steps has quickly made him a go-to resource for both clients and colleagues as our SBDC State Star.”
The Missoula SBDC, where Clairmont has served as a business advisor since 2024, is hosted by the University of Montana. He provides confidential one-on-one consulting and training for entrepreneurs and small business owners across a four-county region: Mineral, Missoula, Sanders and Ravalli Counties. Over the past two years, Clairmont has counseled 148 clients, was responsible for the creation of 21 jobs, supported 177 jobs and helped clients secure over $860,500 in funding.
“Being selected as Montana’s State Star is a tremendous honor. This recognition is especially important to me because I have been selected by my SBDC peers,” Clairmont said. “The most rewarding part of this work, though, is helping and supporting small business owners as they navigate growth, change and opportunity. I’m grateful to work alongside such a dedicated SBDC team and proud to be part of a network that makes a real difference for Montana businesses and communities.”
Over the last two years, Clairmont has embraced new tools, becoming a Certified America’s SBDC AI U Professional, which he has used to expand business plan writing services for SBDC clients, to augment resource research and to teach clients how to leverage AI. Clairmont is also a member of America’s SBDC Capital Access Interest Group.
For more information on SBDC services, and to find your regional center, visit sbdc.mt.gov.
The SBDC network is comprised of ten statewide regional SBDC offices overseen by the lead center at Commerce. The SBDC Program is funded under a cooperative agreement between Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with local host organizations.
Tags: Business and Press Release