GEORGETOWN — Cynthia S. Small, former executive director of Kent County Tourism, has been named business resiliency coordinator for the University of Delaware’s Small Business Development Center.

In her new position, Ms. Small, of Dover, will be responsible for helping businesses identify and prepare for risks such as weather events, loss of key staff, systems failures, data loss and cyber-security threats, utilities and power interruption as well as loss of premises. She replaces Carrie Townsend of Rehoboth Beach, who left the organization to join Girls on the Run Delaware, as the program director for Kent and Sussex counties.

Cynthia S. Small

“We are delighted that Cindy has joined our team,” said William Pfaff, director of the development center in Georgetown. “She brings of wealth of knowledge to the organization with her many years of working with and assisting small businesses.”

Ms. Small has more than 35 years of experience in tourism, economic development, marketing and public relations. Prior to serving as Kent County’s tourism director, she was communications manager for Chesapeake Utilities Corp. and director of tourism for Sussex County in the 1990s.

She serves or has served on numerous boards and business-related committees including the Downtown Dover Partnership, Chamber of Commerce for Greater Milford, Greater Kent Committee, Route 13 Beautification Committee, Delaware Sports Commission and Kent County Regional Sports Complex. Ms. Small has degrees in journalism and communications.

“Assisting businesses and advocating for their success will be a natural transition,” she said.

The Delaware Resilience Initiative includes training and workshops, webinars and one-on-one counseling for small businesses in Delaware as part of its mission to educate on preparedness and business continuity.

Delaware is among 11 states impacted by Hurricane Sandy to receive grant funding for this type of outreach and education.

The SBDC, a unit of the University of Delaware’s Office of Economic Innovation & Partnerships, provides free advisory services statewide through funding from the Small Business Administration, Delaware Economic Development Office, University of Delaware and the private sector.

For more information about the Delaware Business Resiliency Initiative programs, services and locations, visit www.dsbdc.org, call (302) 856-1077 or cssmall@udel.org.