New business development specialist for Franklin County

Pablo Arroyo named MO SBTDC business development specialist for Franklin County

 COLUMBIA, Mo. – Pablo A. Arroyo has accepted a position as business development specialist with the University of Missouri Extension Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC) in Franklin County. Arroyo will be based in the MU Extension office, 116 West Main Street in Union, and serve Franklin, Washington, Gasconade, Montgomery, Lincoln and Warren counties.

 “Pablo brings a lot to the table for the program and for the county,” said Steve Devlin, director of the University of Missouri Extension Business Development Program, which hosts the MO SBTDC. “His diverse background and years of rural and agricultural business experience is a very good fit with the community.”

 Arroyo has extensive knowledge of food production systems, including agronomy, industry structure, distribution channels, marketing, government policies, world trade patterns and current market trends. His career focus has primarily been agribusinesses, particularly marketing and exporting American agricultural products to South American and Caribbean nations.

 Originally from Puerto Rico, Arroyo earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from MU and an MBA from the University of South Florida. He also worked and studied in Costa Rica and Chile and is fluent in English and Spanish, with a working knowledge of Brazilian Portuguese.

 Arroyo has been a trade assistant with the U.S. Department of Commerce; served as president and general manager of a goat and sheep farm in Puerto Rico, where he won a producer of the year award; and was an account manager for the Archer Daniels Midland Company Alliance Nutrition of Puerto Rico, responsible for sales growth and business development, local and international market analysis, export expansion strategy, sales forecasting and new business prospecting.

 Arroyo may be reached at 116 West Main Street, Union, MO 63084, phone 636-583-5141 or email arroyop@missouri.edu.

 The BDP helps transform Missouri businesses from concept through start up, growth and expansion. BDP counselors are located statewide providing education and individualized assistance on a variety of business management issues. From 2011 through 2013, the programs within the BDP, which includes the MO SBTDC, assisted clients in creating almost $2 billion in economic impact, including creating or retaining 30,383 jobs, increasing sales by $666 million, acquiring investments of $661.9 million, winning government contracts of $608.2 million and obtaining research awards of $16.8 million.

 For more information on how the BDP can assist your company boost agricultural products, international trade and other small business management issues, visit www.missouribusiness.net to find the center nearest you.