Deborah Osgood, cofounder and chief knowledge officer of the Knowledge Institute, Inc. is actively involved in issues of national and global concern, with a particular emphasis on small business development, education and mentoring. In 2007-2008, Deborah participated in a historic event by helping to pioneer a U.S. Department of State Iraqi Businesswomen Partnership Program serving as 1 of only 9 women in the U.S. to serve as a business mentor to businesswomen in Iraq. This groundbreaking event is one of many examples of Deborah's work at the Knowledge Institute, a philanthropic organization sponsoring economic development at local, regional, national and global levels by facilitating the creation of public/private resource communities and educational programs.

Deborah volunteers countless of hours mentoring hundreds of women, veterans and youth in the development of career and entrepreneurial skills and was awarded National Above and Beyond in Leadership. She is currently piloting a free online, interactive mentoring curriculum where individuals develop business skills while working with an experienced mentor. She serves as mentor to two young girls through Big Brothers Big Sisters, as Board vice chair for NH Jobs for America's Graduates, and as SCORE Counselor to America's Small Businesses.

Her primary work, for which she has been highly praised by receiving awards for Excellence in Business Services, Enterprising Woman of the Year, U.S. SBA Women in Business Champion, Women's Entrepreneurial Spirit Award and Outstanding Woman in Media, includes the creation of over 57 online small business resource communities. These include www.BUZGate.org and www.myVbi.org, both of which serve individuals looking to start and grow small business ventures; www.BUZvr.org that serves individuals with disabilities in attaining self-employment; and www.nhmanufacturer.com that serves individuals in manufacturing. myWomeninBiz and myVeteraninBiz serve women and veterans in business respectively. Much of her published works in these communities has also been published by IBM and The World Bank in a resource community targeted at serving women and minorities in business.

As an expert on small business development and education, Deborah has provided advice and counsel in Washington working with Congress, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Small Business Administration on issues of communications, economic development, fundraising, and government resource development. Her advice has also been sought after and published by the Associated Press, Entrepreneur.com, Business Week, and multiple business and trade journals, and she has received numerous commendations from Governors, U.S. Senators and Congressmen for her work, as well as leading economic development agencies.

Education
Franklin Pierce University, Doctor of Arts in Leadership candidate
Southern New Hampshire University, Masters in Business Administration (MBA)
New Hampshire College, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Marketing
Daniel Webster College, Webmaster Technologies
Certificates in Communication, Graphic Design, Entrepreneurial Training Facilitation and Leadership