SOMERSET, KY – Somerset native Jarrod Withers has been hired as the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation (SKED)’s new Small Business Training Specialist.
He began his new role at the 40-year-old nonprofit business lender earlier this year.
With extensive experience in instructional design, Withers plays a key role in the organization’s training department, developing and designing online and in-person courses.
As a small business training specialist, Withers works one-on-one with small business owners across SKED’s 45-county service territory, providing marketing, business counseling, social media tips and tricks, and more as part of SKED’s free technical assistance program.
“I enjoy assisting small businesses in our region with receiving the training and tools they need to be successful,” Withers said. “My grandfather and father were small business owners, so these stories really resonate with me.
He also assists SKED Small Business Training Director Amanda Kelly in implementing and teaching the Entrepreneurial SMARTS program and Be Boss Online – SKED’s digital marketing course.
Withers is an Eastern Kentucky University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in English/Communications and a master’s degree in English.
He is a father of three children who grew up in Somerset. When not at work, he enjoys traveling, camping, and kayaking, and, when the weather doesn’t allow those activities, board games.
Kelly says Withers’ experience across multiple technology platforms will help build the training department’s capabilities and increase its scope.
“I am incredibly excited to welcome Jarrod to our team,” Kelly said. “His passion for effective learning and his depth of experience in instructional design will strengthen everything we do in small business training. I am confident he will make an immediate and lasting impact on the businesses we serve.”
You may contact Withers at Jarrod@skedcorp.com or call 606-271-4938.
