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Melissa Rosario, regional director of the William Paterson University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), has been selected as a 2024 NJBIZ Leading Women in Business Honoree. The awards recognize women who have made a significant impact on business in New Jersey as well as in their communities.
A panel of independent judges selected this year’s honorees from a pool of nominations. Rosario is one of 60 women from across the state who will be honored at an event on October 15 at The Palace at Somerset Park.
Rosario, who joined the University in November 2023 as regional director of the SBDC, plays an active role in the startup and growth of small businesses throughout Passaic County. Through the center, located in Paterson and housed in WP’s Costakos College of Business, she supports small business owners and entrepreneurs and fosters a vibrant ecosystem of business success and community development. Under her leadership, the center has made significant strides.
“I want to congratulate Melissa, who is doing great work on behalf of current and prospective small business owners in our region,” said University President Richard J. Helldobler. “She is helping to fulfill William Paterson’s longstanding commitment to supporting our community and this recognition is well deserved.”
Since January 2024, the SBDC has advised 381 new businesses, providing over 1,600 hours of consultation; supported the creation of 57 new businesses; facilitated capital formation totaling $6.3 million; helped generate more than 175 new jobs; and assisted 9 businesses in achieving minority-owned certification. Rosario actively engages with the Passaic County Department of Economic Development, forging strong partnerships to enhance services for businesses.
She also has launched innovative initiatives to connect students to the business community, including the Student Connect Program, which empowers students to directly support small businesses through a digital and social media communication course. In addition, the “Get Your Business Certified as Minority Owned” program, developed in partnership with WP’s Center for Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship and Innovation, educates businesses on certification, guides them through the process, and connects them with valuable procurement opportunities.
“We are so happy to see the impactful work of Melissa and our SBDC recognized in this way. She is helping to make the dreams of Passaic County’s entrepreneurs come true, thereby changing their lives for the better and boosting the county’s economy and overall vibrancy,” says Anthony Bowrin, Dean of WP’s Cotsakos College of Business. “She is also providing valuable professional experience to our business students by bringing them into some of her work, strengthening our next generation of entrepreneurs.”
Prior to joining the University, Rosario served as senior business consultant at the New Jersey Small Business Development Center at New Jersey City University. Previously, she served for nine years in several roles at the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce. Rosario also held several roles in the government of the Dominican Republic.
A graduate of Technology Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC) in the Dominican Republic. with a bachelor’s degree in economics, Rosario holds an MBA in finance from New Jersey City University, a certificate in nonprofit organization management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management, and a statistical analyst certificate from the National Office of Statistics (ONE) in the Dominican Republic.
