Profile

Amy Shapiro is one of Franklin County CDC’s Business Advisors and has been connected to small businesses her entire life. She explains, “both parents had their own small businesses — a car dealership and a coat manufacturing company — so I grew up learning about different businesses and their impact on families and communities. When I went to college, I was always involved in and interested in community economic development.”

After earning her BA from Evergreen State College, Amy worked for several organizations in arts management while co-owning a production pottery business with her husband that sold products throughout the United States. Watching craftspeople and artisans around her struggle to keep up with changing trends and a volatile economy left her frustrated and motivated to do more, so she decided to continue her education. Amy earned her MBA from the Isenberg School at UMass and soon after began a 21-year career in community economic development as Franklin County CDC’s Business Development Director. Over the course of her education and career, Amy assisted businesses, building practical insight and expertise that she now shares to guide entrepreneurs and organizations through challenges and opportunities.

Amy recalls serving on the MACDC board when the Mel King Institute was created and later witnessing the development of the Small Business Technical Assistance Certificate Program. First MACDC initiated a statewide research project to understand what trainings technical assistance (TA) providers needed, followed by a search for sponsors. Mass Growth Capital (now MassDevelopment), Cambridge College (now Bay Path University), and the Mel King Institute partnered to create the Small Business Technical Assistance Certificate Program. Its purpose is to support TA providers who are new to their roles, offer a refresher for experienced professionals, and build statewide relationships that help ensure the future of the field. The program is taught by experienced providers who share procedures, processes, and thought-provoking questions, along with resources participants can use long after the program ends. Amy is a founding instructor and serves on the coordinating committee.

Today, Amy continues her work as a small business advisor and is also an adjunct Business Professor and MBA Program Coordinator at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In her free time, she enjoys making mosaics and creative projects. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.