New director takes reigns at Small Business Center

DOBSON —The Surry Community College Small Business Center has a new director, though she is hardly a new face to area business and civic leaders.

Lesa Hensley was appointed to the post earlier this spring, officially assuming the duties on May 6. She fills the seat left vacant by former long-time director Mark Harden, who retired in January. She has more than two decades of experience in local banking, after starting her career in the legal profession.

“I am honored to join the Small Business Center (SBC) at Surry Community College and eager to contribute to the success of small businesses in Surry and Yadkin counties,” Hensley said. “I have 25 years of experience working as a commercial lender for a local community bank. I hope to bring the skills and knowledge I learned and also the business connections that I made while there to the SBC,” said Hensley about her new role.

“We are very happy to have Lesa join the Surry Community College team. Her experience will be paramount in promoting and expanding the services that SCC’s Small Business Center provides to local entrepreneurs and small businesses,” said Corey Easter, director of Elkin Center and Director of Business and Industry Services.

In 1988, Hensley received an Associate of Applied Science in paralegal studies from Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte. Hensley’s next step was to gain a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In 2017, Hensley completed the four-year banking school offered through the N.C. Banker’s Association.

Hensley began her career working as a paralegal and office manager in 1991. From there, Hensley move to Surrey Bank & Trust, now First Community Bank, beginning in 1999. She worked with the company as a loan assistant until 2004. From 2004 to 2024, Hensley worked as a commercial relationship manager and vice president for Surrey and then, later, First Community.

Hensley serves as a board member and treasurer of the Mount Airy City Schools Foundation, a member of Surry Sunrise Rotary, treasurer of Young Entrepreneurs of Surry, and other local organizations.

“I look forward to collaborating with the local chambers and both the Surry and Yadkin County Economic Development Partnerships to increase the success rate and the number of viable small businesses,” Hensley said. “The objective of the Small Business Center Network, throughout the 58 community colleges in North Carolina, is job creation and retention. My goal as director is to make the SBC the first place an entrepreneur or prospective entrepreneur reaches out to for assistance. I am committed to supporting small businesses at every stage of their journey.”