Melissa Rosario, who has nearly a decade of experience as a consultant and program developer for New Jersey’s business community, has been named regional director of the Small Business Development Center at William Paterson University in Wayne.

The center, based in Paterson, serves business owners and entrepreneurs throughout Passaic County.

Housed within the university’s Cotsakos College of Business, William Paterson’s SBDC is a private organization of professional management consultants partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the New Jersey Economic Growth and Tourism Commission and community-based organizations such as the Paterson Urban Enterprise Zone.

Rosario will work under the direction of Kelly Brozyna, state director of the New Jersey Small Business Development Center, and Anthony Bowrin, dean of the Cotsakos College of Business, to serve the strategic planning, internal fiscal administration, reporting and overall management of the William Paterson SBDC.

“Melissa has experience as a senior business consultant with the NJSBDC network, an extensive professional network with New Jersey organizations that serve small businesses, and an excellent track record of successful fund raising,” Bowrin said. “She also has a keen understanding of what small businesses need to thrive in these challenging times, and an unwavering commitment to supporting small businesses and economic development in New Jersey. I am confident that the SDBC-Paterson is poised for continued success under her leadership.”

“We are thrilled to have Melissa Rosario become part of our leadership team. She comes with a wealth of knowledge in finance and community engagement that will support Passaic County and the entire state of New Jersey,” Brozyna said. “We will see many changes for the entrepreneurs in Passaic County, including services offered in Spanish. We are fortunate to have Melissa on our team.”

Rosario comes to the university from the New Jersey Small Business Development Center at New Jersey City University, where she served as senior business consultant and played a pivotal role in supporting and guiding a portfolio of approximately 190 businesses. Prior, Rosario served for nine years at the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, most recently as senior director of membership and finance. During her tenure there, she managed several key affinity groups, including the Women of Commerce, HOLA (Hispanic Organizations Leaders of America), and the Ambassador and YPLHC Young Professionals Leaders of Hudson County.