Horton Named KSBDC at Washburn University Regional Director

     Topeka, Kan. - Jessica Horton of Topeka has been named the Regional Director of the Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) at Washburn University. Horton has many years of experience leading and growing businesses, including retail marketing at Payless ShoeSource, Inc., vice president of accounts and operations for Sprout Creative and director of customer experience for Heart and Home Design. In these roles she has helped hundreds of clients grow and expand their business success.

      Horton is a graduate of Kansas State University with a degree in Apparel and Textile Design and holds an MBA from Baker University. She was named a Topeka’s Top “20 under 40” recipient in 2021, a member of the Leadership Greater Topeka class of 2020 and is chair-elect of the Family Service & Guidance Center Foundation.

     Washburn School of Business Dean David Sollars said, “The KSBDC is an important part of our School of Business being AACSB accredited and is another channel through which we provide business knowledge and personalized experiences to those seeking to learn. Jessica and her team will continue to work to provide this help every day.”

     “I’m excited for this new opportunity to help more people in the Northeast Kansas business community,” Horton said. "This community is special to my family, my husband, Josh, is a NICU nurse at Stormont Vail Health and is on the transport team, serving rural areas of Kansas. Our children attend Most Pure Heart of Mary School, are active in sports. They love that they live so close to Washburn, so they can attend many Ichabod camps, clinics and games!”

About the KSBDC at Washburn University

      The KSBDC at Washburn University serves an 11-county region in Northeast Kansas, and has offices co-located with the Greater Topeka Partnership in Shawnee County and with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce in Riley County. As a business consulting organization, the center supports entrepreneurs and business owners in the development and implementation of business and strategic plans, execute their starts and grow their organizations. It is part of the Kansas SBDC Network.

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