News

BRCC names new director of business center

By Lightning Reports, Published: March 9, 2017

Blue Ridge Community College has named Ben Kish as the director of the Small Business Center (SBC) at Blue Ridge Community College. Kish succeeds Gary Heisey who retired on Feb. 28.

Kish is responsible for administering the Small Business Center Program, providing counseling to existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, teaching seminars and courses, managing the business incubator, and serving as the college liaison to the small business community in both Henderson and Transylvania Counties.

Kish has served as Director of Business Training and Personal Enrichment at Blue Ridge Community College since 2012 and was instrumental in the development of new continuing education training programs in craft beer, culinary arts, entrepreneurship, outdoor recreation and leadership, as well as the addition of continuing education courses at the Fletcher Town Hall.

Kish’s professional background includes more than 30 years of experience as a business executive in numerous industries, including serving as a management consultant for Cooper’s and Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) and marketing director for Sara Lee Intimates. He also owned his a small business in the Triad area for 14 years.

Kish serves on the Boards of Habitat for Humanity, Fletcher Area Business Association, Vision Henderson and Transylvania Counties, Blue Ridge Center for Lifelong Learning. He formerly served as Board Member and Board Chair for Associates in Christian Counseling. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University and holds an M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve University.

To contact Ben, call (828) 694-1751, email b_kish@blueridge.edu or visit blueridge.edu/sbc.