Kelly Manning: small-business development director oversees 14 centers statewide.

• Author: Bronikowski, Lynn
• Position: EXECUTIVE edge

WHEN KELLY MANNING TRAVELS throughout Colorado, she thinks about the small businesses she has helped nourish and grow.

She thinks of Shelley McPherson, better known as the Rag Diva, who formed American Wiping Rags Inc. in Pueblo by simply recycling cloth and turning it into rags used by companies across the country.

"She's been on my state advisory board for live years," said Manning, state director of the Small Business Development Center Network. "We helped her and now she's giving back, which is a nice affidavit for the work we do."

Manning has countless similar small-business success stories since taking the helm of SBDC Network in 2000 where she oversees 14 small business development centers across the stale. Part of the Colorado Office of Economic Development, the network helps small businesses by providing counseling and various training programs.

Manning rattles off the network's successes-a 758 percent increase in jobs created-215 in 2000 to 1,801 in 2011; a 244 percent increase in capital formation-from $30.8 million in 2000 to $106 million in 2011: and a 1,138 percent increase in jobs retained-from 302 in 2000 to 3,739 in 2011.

"These numbers look good but its a team effort," said Manning. "You hire smart around you. You recognize your weaknesses and fill those positions with people who have those strengths."

A native of New Hampshire. Manning had an entrepreneurial streak early on pet sitting and clog walking as a kid before working her way through college at the University of Southern New Hampshire where she majored in business.

"I was the first in my 'aridly to go to college. I had three jobs at one time while taking six classes," said Maiming, 46, who would go on to earn her master's degree from the University of Denver. "Through college I worked my way up at an athletic club from membership rep to sales manager. It was a fun job I'd work out On my breaks."

After college she did everything from retail and desktop publishing to consulting landing a job at a small business...