GCC Business Professor Rose Bednarz-Luglio has been named the 2013 Women in Business Champion for the State of Connecticut by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). 

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and recognizing those who work so hard to mentor entrepreneurs achieve success is truly an honor,” said Bernard M. Sweeney, SBA district director for Connecticut. “It is a particular privilege to present this award to Rose because of her tireless efforts in helping entrepreneurs.” 
  
Bednarz-Luglio began working at Gateway in 1992. She is a professor in the GCC Business Department and is program coordinator for the Entrepreneurial Studies Program as well as the Fashion Merchandising/Retail Management Program. She also teaches an entrepreneurship distance learning course for Charter Oak State College and has previously taught full-time for 18 years at the University of Bridgeport and as an adjunct at the University of Connecticut and Housatonic Community College. 
  
Bednarz-Luglio developed and implemented the curricula in small business and entrepreneurship at Gateway which includes a comprehensive Associates Degree Program and Certificate Program in Entrepreneurial Studies. At Gateway, she also started a Small Business Center with assistance from SCORE and SBA. It provides educational and technical assistance services to the students at Gateway as well as the community to start and grow small businesses. The Gateway Small Business Center includes the New Haven Chapter of SCORE offices and provides the opportunity for sponsorships, partnerships, and affiliations for programs and client services with SBA, Connecticut Procurement Technical Assistance, the Connecticut Small Business Development Center, U.S. Department of Commerce Middletown Export Assistance Center, Hartford Entrepreneurial Center, Women’s Business Center, and Connect Veterans, Inc. 
  
Colleague Dennis Brown of the Connecticut Community Investment Corporation nominated Bednarz-Luglio. Brown had witnessed her commitment to small business by teaching at Gateway and through all of her volunteering. 

“Rose has a lifetime of assisting small business and is quick to bring others up to receive awards but remains in the background in the areas that she has had so much contribution,” said Brown. 
  
Bednarz-Luglio and all other small Business Week awardees will be honored at the Small Business Week cocktail awards reception on June 5, 2013 at the Hartford Club in Hartford, Conn.