Riesinger Accepts Position as SBDC Area Director

VALDOSTA -- Ruby Riesinger recently accepted the position as new area director for Valdosta State University’s Small Business Development Center.

Riesinger comes to her new position with experience in creating and executing marketing and advertising plans for small to medium-sized businesses, which have resulted in increased company profits for her former clients. She was instrumental in the creation of the Economic Development Office for the City of Valdosta, serving as the Economic Development Coordinator from 2006 to 2010. In November 2010, Riesinger joined the VSU SBDC as an assistant director and business consultant. She accepted the position as area director effective March 1, after for the former area director, Suzanne Barnett, was promoted to southern district director.

“I am delighted to be a part of an organization so essential in supporting the growth of small businesses within our 10-county region," Riesinger said. "The SBDC has long been a leader in providing essential training, tools and guiding assistance to small businesses. The Valdosta SBDC has built a sterling reputation as one of the best in the nation. Our team will work hard to continue this remarkable tradition. As an alumnus of VSU’s Langdale College of Business Administration twice, I feel like I’ve come home.”

Riesinger brings with her a broad range of experience in the areas of economic development, marketing, continuing education, and mass communications. She has developed, implemented and instructed a variety of continuing education programs to serve local business needs. Her primary interests lie in marketing, organizational behavior and international management and retail.

Riesinger holds a BBA in Economics and an MBA from VSU. In 2006, Riesinger was inducted into several collegiate honor societies, which include Beta Gamma Sigma International (excellence in business academics), Phi Kappa Phi National (inter-disciplinary academic excellence) and Golden Key International Honour Society (honorary community member). Riesinger is also a 2006 graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and a 2008 Leadership Lowndes graduate. She has served on several local charity boards including the American Red Cross and the United Way.

A Lowndes County and Hahira native, Riesinger is the mother of three children, ages 15, 16 and 19.

The Valdosta Small Business Development Office is located in Room 101 on the first floor of Thaxton Hall at VSU’s Langdale College of Business Administration’s on north campus. Riesinger may be contacted at (229) 245-3738 or by email at rriesinger@georgiasbdc.org or rcriesin@valdosta.edu.