The Fort Lewis College School of Business Administration has hired an interim director to replace Joe Keck, who is retiring as director of the Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center.

Richard Lindblad will serve as interim director while the search for a permanent director continues, the college announced.

“I am thrilled that we are able to have an experienced businessman and small-business counselor like Rich Lindblad to serve as director of the SBDC in this period of transition,” Paul McGurr, interim dean of the School of Business Administration, said in a news release.

Lindblad has served as a business adviser at the SBDC for more than nine years. In that role, he met individually with clients who were starting a business or looking to grow. Lindblad also taught the Leading Edge for Entrepreneurs program.

Last school year, Lindblad introduced the New Business Ventures class at FLC that is designed to give entrepreneurs practical help.

“My goal is to continue to provide the outreach program in the four counties that we serve, stay intimately connected with each local economic-development organization and ensure that the conduit of resources from our state SBDC leadership support team and everything that we collectively have to offer extends to each and every small business in our region,” Lindblad said.

“I am excited about the future and look forward to serving our regional business communities.”

cslothower@durangoherald.com