Posted: January 28, 2011

by jim carroll

Sheila Guillette-Moore, a business analyst and master NxLeveL instructor for the Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads, died on Dec. 23.

Guillette-Moore had been a member of the SBDC for more than 12 years and specialized in both loan processing and packaging. She was one of a small team of experts with the NxLeveL Entrepreneurial Education Program.

She started with the SBDC in 1998 and was originally tasked with working on the Small Business Administration's Pre-Qualification Loan Guarantee Program.

She brought an usual perspective to the position, having been both a small business owner and SBA Loan Guarantee recipient as well as having experience in assembling and processing loan packages for the SBA during her tenure at a local company that specialized in the program.

Her efforts in this area made the Hampton Roads SBDC achieve the ranking of the top loan processing center in Virginia.

With the demise of the Pre-Qualification Program, she was shifted to working with standard SBA Loan Guarantee Programs and was known both by bankers and loan officers at the SBA Richmond District Office for the quality and thoroughness of her work.

It was during this time that Guillette-Moore became interested in the NxLeveL Entrepreneurial Training Program, a newly established national organization based in Utah.

She quickly became certified to serve as an instructor and her early courses served as a prototype for Virginia. She then advanced to become certified as a master instructor, and her services were in demand throughout the country.

With the advent of the Community Express and Patriot Express Loan Guarantee Programs in 2007, Guillette-Moore was tasked to administer both programs in the Hampton Roads region.

Her efforts, once again, made the Hampton Roads SBDC the leading organization in processing and closing these loans.

In 2009, in recognition of Guillette-Moore's service to the region's and the state's small business community, she was recognized by the Richmond District Office of the SBA as the Small Business Financial Advocate of the Year. This was just one of the many awards and recognitions she received during her tenure with the SBDC.

From my work with her, I knew that Sheila was the consummate professional who provided her clients with the best support and advice possible. Her loss will be deeply felt.

Guillette-Moore was laid to rest in Florida. Plans are under way for a memorial service commemorating her life and service in Hampton Roads. The service will be Feb. 19 at Peninsula Workforce Development Center at Thomas Nelson Community College. A time has not yet been set.

Jim Carroll is the vice president for small business for the Hampton Roads Chamber and executive director for the Small Business Development Center.