Kansas Citian wins Missouri State Star for her business counseling

On Monday, a Kansas Citian was recognized by America’s Small Business Development Center as the State of Missouri’s most outstanding business counselor.

Thanks to her contributions to the region’s business growth, Rebecca Gubbels was named the 2017 Missouri State Star.

Gubbels is a business and program consultant at the University of Missouri–Kansas City’s Small Business & Technology Development Center.

Missouri SBTDC state director Greg Tucker said the Gubbels is an asset to the Show Me State.

“Rebecca is one of the best and brightest business consultants we have,” Tucker said in a release. “She is not just competent and knowledgeable, she’s energetic, creative and always maintains a great sense of humor. Rebecca has the unique ability to see through the surface and get to the heart of thorny business, financial, strategic or personnel issues. I’m very glad to have her.”

Gubbels joined Missouri SBTDC in 2012 and had prior financial experience. She formerly served as vice president and small business product manager for UMB Bank in Kansas City, director of business development for CPA firm Davis & Bellomo in Overland Park, Kan. and assistant vice president and small business banking officer for Commerce Bank, also Kansas City.

In 2016, Gubbels won the Associated Industries of Missouri Extension Industry Award in 2016 for leadership in providing educational programs that support Missouri firms.

Gubbels will receive the official state star recognition in Nashville this September at the ASBDC national conference. The Missouri State Star is an annual award given by America’s SBDC organization to one Missourian who contributes to the state economy. The national organization gives out one award per state.