Small Business Commission
Commissioner Scott R. Daugherty
Scott Daugherty was appointed by Governor Beverly Perdue to serve as North Carolina's first Small Business Commissioner. In this capacity he reports to the Secretary of Commerce and is a senior member of the Department of Commerce staff. Mr. Daugherty also serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Extension, Engagement and Economic Development at North Carolina State University and directs the Small Business and Technology Development Center. The SBTDC is the business and technology extension service of The University of North Carolina system, administered by North Carolina State University. The SBTDC is administered by NC State University on behalf of the University of North Carolina System and operated in partnership with the US Small Business Administration.
Mr. Daugherty attended Wake Forest University, The University of Miami and The University of Florida. He has a law degree and has practiced as a corporate attorney in Florida, Mississippi and Washington, DC. He also has managed two large regional economic development organizations and organized and run a small business investment company. Just prior to joining The University of North Carolina system in 1984, Mr. Daugherty was a Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of a large quasi-public financing agency in Washington, DC.
Mr. Daugherty has had significant involvement with business, trade, technology development and capital formation issues throughout his professional career. He has served as a consultant to the OECD, the World Bank, the Ford Foundation and the U.S. Small Business Administration. He is a member of a number of boards of directors and government agency task forces, a past (three times) Chairman of the Board of Directors for the national Association of Small Business Development Centers, a member of the North Carolina District Export Council, an Advisor to the NC Economic Development Board, and to the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology.
Assistant Commissioner Dr. George E. Millsaps
Dr. George E. Millsaps is the Assistant Commissioner for Small Business and the State Director for the NC Small Business Center Network (SBCN) composed of 61 centers located throughout North Carolina. The SBCN is the nation's most expansive state funded technical assistance program and serves over 70,000 North Carolinians each year. Previously, George served as the Liaison for Productivity and Legislative Affairs for the NC Department of Administration. His other work experience includes Small Business Center Director, SBTDC and SBDC Counselor, VP of Finance/CFO, Commercial Banker, business manager and business owner. George also serves as a helicopter pilot in the NC National Guard. He holds a number of instructor certifications in entrepreneurship, exporting, quality, and business management. Having started his collegiate studies at Mitchell Community College in Statesville, NC, George received his BS Degree in Business Management from the University of Maryland, an MBA from Western Carolina University, and his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern.