AEDC Names Bob Kucheravy Director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (March 7, 2022) – The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) has named Bob Kucheravy the next director of the commission’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division.

AEDC’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division serves as a “one-stop-shop” for small business by leveraging resources that currently exist through the agency’s existing Business Development, Science and Technology, and Minority and Women-owned Business Divisions. As director, Kucheravy will work with small business owners and guide AEDC’s efforts to identify and implement best practices to increase entrepreneurial activity in Arkansas.

“Bob has a wealth of experience providing assistance to businesses and working directly with individuals and clients,” Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston said.  “I am confident that these experiences, combined with his knowledge of small business entrepreneurship, his skill in organization, and his understanding of management, will position Bob for success as he leads this division and serves Arkansas’ small business enterprises—the heartbeat of our business community.”

AEDC established the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division in May 2021 to streamline agency services and assist, champion, and promote small businesses and the entrepreneurs at the helm. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, about 99 percent of businesses in Arkansas are classified as small businesses, employing 490,680 people – about 47.6 percent of the state’s labor force. Firms with fewer than 20 employees have the largest share of small business employment.

“Small businesses provide incalculable value to our communities,” Kucheravy said. “Small businesses require initiative, entrepreneurship, and dedication, and it’s this spirit that makes these businesses invaluable to our communities across the state. I am honored to have been entrusted with the leadership of this division, and I look forward to serving the people of Arkansas in this new role.”

Kucheravy has served on the Manufacturing Solutions team within AEDC’s Existing Business Resource Division since 2016. In this role, he specialized overseeing client services, which included the management of key agency programs and initiatives such as Energy Efficiency Arkansas, the Technology Transfer Assistance Grant Program, the Medical COVID Assistance Project, and more. 

Prior to his time at AEDC, Kucheravy gained more than 15 years of experience as a senior claims adjuster for BoatU.S./GEICO Marine Insurance Company in Alexandria, Virginia. He also volunteers for the Arkansas Institute of Performance Excellence (AIPE) as a senior examiner for the Governor’s Quality Award Program.

Kucheravy attended the University of Connecticut where he received a bachelor of arts degree in political science. He is an avid fan of college basketball and enjoys traveling, listening to different types of music, and practicing yoga. He and his wife, Alison, reside in North Little Rock.