College of the Canyons has named two new directors to its economic development division to work with startups, small businesses and manufacturers. John Hoskinson is the new director of the Small Business Development Center on the campus of the Santa Clarita school. He replaces Steve Tannehill, who stepped down as director after six years. The center mentors and provides other support to startup and small businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding areas. Larry McLaughlin is taking over as director of the Center for Applied Competitive Technologies. He replaces Joe Klocko, now dean of economic development at the school. The center provides workforce training and consulting services to advanced manufacturing companies. “Both (men) possess a wealth of experience and their predisposition to be involved with service-based community groups aligns perfectly with the college’s philosophy,” Klocko said in a prepared statement. Hoskinson is a former chief executive at Gruber Systems Inc., a Santa Clarita supplier of processing and molding equipment. McLaughlin previously served as regional director of the advanced transportation and renewable energy program at College of the Desert, in Palm Desert.