Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC, Lowles win SBA award for excellence, innovation

Photos and story by James Hill

The Oregon district of the U.S. Small Business Administration recently announced the winners of its annual awards. Tom Lowles, director of the Portland Community College Small Business Development Center, is the recipient of the Small Business Development Center Service Excellence and Innovation Center Award.

Lowles and seven other SBA award winners will receive recognition at the SBA Small Business Week Awards Gala in late May at the Oregon Convention Center.

Lowles, who has been the director of the SBDC since 1999, said, “I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the great team we have at the PCC Small Business Development Center. Their hard work and dedication helping entrepreneurs realize their dreams are reflected in the success of numerous businesses that have received assistance from the SBDC.”

The center, 2025 Lloyd Center Mall, is the first one in Oregon to receive the newly created SBA award. The SBDC Service Center Excellence and Innovation Award is selected on the basis of its success to deliver results, innovate, champion the small business community, and develop and execute a strategic as well as provide professional development for counselors.

Harry DeWolf, SBA district director of Oregon and Southwest Washington, said, “Tom has done a remarkable job supporting all of the businesses in his community. I admire the imagination, ideas and human relationships he has brought to assist the growth of small business in the state of Oregon.”

Prior to his position at PCC, Lowles was vice president and manager of international banking for Key Bank for 22 years. He resides in Portland.