Pennsylvania SBDC’s Environmental Management Assistance Program Expands within the University of Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH—The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center (SBDC) within the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence (IEE) has hired a new consultant under the SBDC Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP). Lee Ann Briggs joins EMAP and the IEE as an environmental consultant providing one-on-one consulting to help businesses understand their environmental regulatory requirements. Briggs will be available to assist a wide range of companies with environmental issues such as auto body shops, manufacturers, and printers.

“We are thrilled to have a full-time environmental consultant in Western Pennsylvania again to be on the ground meeting with small businesses in our region,” said Ray Vargo, director of the University of Pittsburgh SBDC. “In addition to our core business consulting, we will now have in-house environmental regulatory expertise to benefit Pittsburgh-area companies,” he added. 

Lee Ann Briggs brings to the IEE over 28 years of environmental regulatory-compliance experience in both consulting and industrial capacities. In addition to her experience working as an environmental consultant for EMAP at the Duquesne University SBDC for 11 years, Briggs was previously the manager of environmental and regulatory affairs for a paint and coatings manufacturer, providing full environmental, product-safety, and employee-safety compliance for nine years. Prior to this, she was an environmental scientist/project manager with two different environmental/engineering consulting firms. Briggs is a Registered Environmental Manager (REM) through the National Registry of Environmental Professionals. 

EMAP’s no-cost environmental compliance services include:

• one-on-one consultation to help business owners understand regulatory requirements;
• on-site assessments;
• emissions calculations;
• assistance with the preparation and submittal of requests for determinations, permit applications, and plans;
• explanation of permit requirements and setup of customized record keeping and reporting systems; and
• search for alternative materials and processes to help small businesses reduce their regulatory burden.

About the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence
The IEE is Western Pennsylvania’s number one resource for business leaders who are starting, growing, or transitioning a business. The IEE provides education, specialized resources, and personalized support to entrepreneurs at every stage of the business lifecycle. Under the Innovation Institute at the University of Pittsburgh, the IEE strives to be the innovative leader of economic growth in the region. For more information, please visit http://entrepreneur.pitt.edu or call 412-648-1544.

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