Patrice Harris, director of the University of Mississippi Small Business Development Center, accepts her award as the 2024 State Star, presented by the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network. Submitted photo
Honoree shares more than 25 years of experience with Mississippi businesses
The Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network has named University of Mississippi center director Patrice Harris as its 2024 Mississippi State Star, an annual award that highlights excellence.
The national association, America’s Small Business Development Center, calls for each SBDC to select one individual. They then highlight them as examples of someone who has made significant contributions to uplifting small businesses in their state. Harris, director of the Mississippi SBDC at Ole Miss, has dedicated more than 30 years to that purpose.
“I couldn’t be the state star without the people that make up our team,” Harris said. “I’ve led a lot of teams, and this by far is the best. It’s really their spirit. It’s their purpose and focus so and desire to help others be successful.”
Since 1981, the Mississippi SBDC Network has served entrepreneurs and small business owners across the state. Through nine regional centers and a central hub in Oxford, the center’s business counselors offer free, confidential one-on-one counseling, technical support and workshops.
Harris is responsible for programs that reach 31 counties throughout north Mississippi.
“I hire for passion, and I hire for people that want to help better the small businesses in Mississippi, and that’s her,” said Sharon Nichols, state director of Mississippi SBDC Network. “We held out for (Patrice). She has served her clients very well.”
Harris began her career in banking at age 16 as an intern and spent more than 25 years in finance, government and economic development before she moved to the SBDC in 2021. Harris said she took the position because she wanted to help others.
“This is my last rodeo,” she said. “Why not make an impact in Mississippi? I wanted to bring my skills of helping businesses grow, and I wanted to do it where I live.”
Harris’ passion is evident in her work, said Derek Stephens, assistant state director of Mississippi SBDC Network.
“Patrice Harris’s dedication and tireless efforts have made a significant impact on small businesses across Mississippi,” he said. “Her recognition as a State Star is truly well deserved.”
Harris said she enjoys the variety – every day is different for her team. She gets to help excited entrepreneurs and family businesses, from pizza parlors to hair salons to burgeoning tech companies.
“The days of working for a factory all of your life are over,” Harris said. “Major companies are downsizing, and families are having to sustain themselves.
“For a lot of people, that means starting your own business, and that’s where we come in.”
When a small business thrives, it lifts up not just the owner and their family, but the entire community and the economy surrounding them, she said.
“Every time a business opens or grows or hires a new employee, it’s the best feeling to me,” she said. “It’s better than any recognition. I am so proud to see others achieve their goals.”
By Clara Turnage
