Below you will find a complete directory of the UGA Small Business Development Center organization. The directory is listed in alphabetical order with a brief bio of each faculty and staff member. To view more about each professional, simply hover over the photo and click the envelope icon. You will be directed to their full biography, social media channels, and contact information on another page.
Albany Office
Debbie Finney
Area DirectorDebbie Finney 28 years of work experience in the private sector to the SBDC where she now consults with Georgia businesses in the areas...
Heather Sharpe
ConsultantHeather Sharpe serves as a Business Consultant for the University Of Georgia Small Business Development Center in Albany, Georgia. She attended Darton College before...
Rob Martin
ConsultantRob Martin is a business consultant in the Albany office. Previously, he worked for multiple large corporations and brings with him a rich background...
Nathan Arnold
Program CoordinatorNathan Arnold serves as Program coordinator for the UGA SBDC in Albany, Georgia. He attended Mercer University where he earned a Bachelors of Business...
Athens Office
Laura Katz
Area DirectorMs. Katz has over 15 years’ experience in product marketing and business development for both large corporations and small business. She has worked in...
Michael Myers
ConsultantMichael Myers joined the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Athens Area Office< on October 1, 2015. Before joining the SBDC, Michael...
Bart Njoku-Obi
Business ConsultantBio coming soon!
Stacy Johnson
Program CoordinatorStacy Johnson has over 15 years of experience in advertising and marketing working as a graphic designer for small advertising agencies in Dallas, Texas....
Atlanta Office
Jeff Patterson
Area DirectorJeff has extensive financial industry experience that includes leadership roles in credit administration, commercial lending, operations management, regulatory compliance
Susan White
Program CoordinatorBio coming soon!
Peter Rassel
ConsultantMr. Rassel is an experienced business consultant with specialties in marketing, market research, loan assistance and government procurement. He is the program administrat
Erica Bracey
ConsultantMs. Bracey’s professional background includes business management and marketing positions within retail, academia, e-commerce and banking. As an entrepreneur, she h
Richard Crow III
ConsultantTres is an experienced marketing and sales professional with extensive skill in marketing, technology, entrepreneurship, and social media. Having worked successfully in a
Augusta Office
Rick McMurtrey
Area DirectorRick brings over 33 years of business experience to the UGA SBDC. Prior to joining the SBDC, Rick spent more than 20 years as...
Eric Frickey
ConsultantPrior to joining the SBDC, Eric worked at the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) where he focused on licensing federally-funded technologies to small businesses.
Rebecca Kruckow
Program CoordinatorRebecca has been with UGA-SBDC at Augusta since November 2014 in the role of Program Coordinator. She provides scheduling, information, and marketing for consultants...
Brunswick Office
David Lewis
Area DirectorMr. Lewis joined the SBDC in 1990 as a rural economic development consultant and is currently the area director of the Brunswick office. He...
Jordan Tippett
ConsultantJordan Tippett joined the SBDC in 2015 as a business consultant in the Brunswick office. Previously, he worked for multiple large corporations in the...
Saundra Phillips
Administrative AssistantAs the first point of contact, Saundra is ready to assist existing and prospective business owners with basic business information and resources. She directs...
Carrollton Office
Todd Anduze
Area DirectorPrior to joining the Georgia SBDC, Mr Anduze served in the United States Navy during the Desert Storm campaign as a Plane Captain for...
Jane Smith
Administrative AssistantJane Smith has been with the UGA SBDC at The University of West Georgia for 15 years. Prior to joining the UGA SBDC, she gained...
Columbus Office
Mark Lupo
Area DirectorMr. Lupo joined The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center in Columbus in 2005 as a Business Consultant. He earned his undergraduate Bachelors...
Todd Carlisle
ConsultantPrior to joining the SBDC, Todd worked in the areas of banking and logistics. During his four year banking tenure, Todd worked at Columbus...
Michelle Griffin
ConsultantMichelle brings over 15 years of business experience. The majority of those years were dedicated to the Columbus, Georgia community as a local banker...
Deborah Free
Administrative AssistantOften the first point of contact, Deborah’s goal is providing clients with information exercising optimum customer service enriching their experience by creating a frie
DeKalb Office
Sharon Macaluso
Area DirectorPrior to joining the SBDC in 1994, Ms. Macaluso held management, marketing and customer service roles with IBM and Eastern Airlines. She also worked...
John Ernst
ConsultantJohn’s areas of expertise include financial analysis, advanced accounting functions and financial strategy development. He is also highly regarded for his knowledge of
Stephen Newton
ConsutlantBio coming soon!
Geoffrey Loften
Program CoordinatorGeoffrey joined the SBDC in August of 2015 as the Program Coordinator at the DeKalb office. He earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political...
Gainesville Office
Bruce Cutler
Area DirectorBruce has over 7 years of hands-on experience as a General Manager, COO and President, running small and medium-sized distribution businesses, as well as...
Al Hermann
ConsultantAl brings to the SBDC over 35 years of business experience with major corporations, small businesses and start-ups. Prior to joining the UGA SBDC...
Marjory Wooten
Program CoordinatorMarjory is the first point of contact. Prior to joining the SBDC, Marjory taught at Lanier Technical College as a Business Technology Instructor in...
Gwinnett Office
Mark F. Butler
Area DirectorMark is an experienced and seasoned entrepreneur – having started several businesses and directed the creation of others. He is knowledgeable in all areas...
Amber Bennett
ConsultantAmber has a diverse background in multiple areas of small business and non-profit management. Her major areas of expertise include accounting, operations, and financial..
Benny StaRomana
ConsultantMr. StaRomana provides coaching and guidance to small- and medium-sized businesses in all stages of the business life cycle, from start-up to exit. His...
Helen Sutherland
Program CoordinatorHelen serves as the administrative assistant for the UGA SBDC in Gwinnett office. She provides day-to-day staff support and takes great pride in having the...
Kennesaw Office
Drew Tonsmeire
Area DirectorDrew Tonsmeire serves as the Area Director with the University of Georgia SBDC at Kennesaw State University. In 2014, the KSU SBDC was recognized...
Antonio Barrios
ConsultantAntonio Barrios serves as a Business Consultant for the Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network through Kennesaw State University. Mr. Barrios has over
Andy Fried
ConsultantAndy Fried has over twenty-five years experience in the financial, retail and real estate sectors. He began his career as a CPA with Laventhol...
Carole Arnold
Program CoordinatorCarole Arnold is the Program Coordinator for the Kennesaw SBDC. She previously worked as a marketing and logistics manager for the Center for Sustainable...
Macon Office
Josh Walton
Area DirectorMr. Walton is a former commercial and small business lender. He has over 12 years experience working with small and mid-sized lending customers. His...
Peter Williams
ConsultantPeter Williams provides business consulting services to businesses in Middle Georgia. Prior to joining the SBDC in 2013, Mr. Williams owned and operated for eleven...
Lisa Rackley
ConsultantMs. Rackley worked in Human Resources for a manufacturing facility prior to joining the Small Business Development Center. Her previous experience includes working with..
Trudy Lawrence
Program CoordinatorBio coming soon!
Morrow Office
Alisa Kirk
Area DirectorAlisa Kirk is the Area Director with the Clayton State University SBDC. Alisa’s background includes experience working with the federal and state governments and...
Judiffier Pearson
ConsultantJudiffier Pearson brings over 14 years of entrepreneurial expertise to the SBDC as the owner of two metro-Atlanta salons and a multimedia training/ consulting...
Cheryl Greenerl
Program CoordinatorCheryl Greenerl has served as the Program Coordinator with UGA SBDC at Clayton State University since March 2015 and is the first point of...
Rome Office
Richard Montanaro
Area DirectorMr. Montanaro brings more than 20 years of experience as a senior executive to his role as an SBDC area director. Montanaro’s industry experience...
Ballard Betz
ConsultantBallard began his business advisory career as an analyst with a strategy consulting firm in the Washington, DC area. During that time he worked...
Matt Pearce
ConsultantMatt’s previous work experience includes financial management positions in the computer, freight/logistics and investment management industries. He also owned a bus
Kinsey Terry
Program CoordinatorIn 2013, Mrs. Kinsey Terry joined the SBDC in Rome, GA as the Program Coordinator. As a Program Coordinator she is the first point...
Savannah Office
Becky Brownlee
ConsultantMrs. Brownlee has been a small business owner for over 20 years. She has owned businesses in manufacturing, specialty retail, beauty and trade schools,...
Liz Overstreet
Administrative AssistantLiz Overstreet helps new entrepreneurs by providing them basic business information, from the center’s current program offerings to sample business plans. Ms. Overs
Statesboro Office
Clare Ursillo
Program CoordinatorBio coming soon!
Valdosta Office
Lynn Bennett
Area DirectorLynn brings twelve years of industry experience in private and public accounting, as well as thirteen years of teaching experience to SBDC clients in...
Walt Moore
ConsultantMr. Walt Moore serves as a business consultant for the UGA Small Business Development Center at Valdosta State University. He has over eight years...
Cindy Corgan
Program CoordinatorCindy Corgan is the Program Coordinator for the University of Georgia SBDC at Valdosta State University. As a graduate of Valdosta State University she...
State Director's Office
Allan Adams
State DirectorMr. Adams has served with the Small Business Development Center in several capacities. These include roles with the Minority Business Division, the International Trade...
Melody Banks
Administrative AssociateBio coming soon!
Eric S. Bonaparte
Associate State DirectorEric Bonaparte is a Senior Public Service Associate who has served the small business community for over twenty two years. Eric has worked with...
Sharon Jennings
Administrative ProfessionalBio coming soon!
Beth Melnik
Associate State DirectorPrior to joining the SBDC, Ms. Melnik worked for a marketing firm based in Peachtree City and for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of...
J. Ashley Panter
Marketing ManagerIn 2014, Ms. Panter joined the SBDC as Marketing Manager. As Marketing Manager she oversees the development, implementation, and assessment of marketing activities at T
Teresa Williams
Program DirectorMs. Williams joined the SBDC in 2005, first as a Business Manager, and now as Director of Special Programs. Her previous experience includes fifteen years...
Morgan Robinson
Research ProfessionalAfter graduating from The University of Georgia in 2010, Morgan worked for a large engineering firm for several years. In 2014, she came to...
Business Office
Melissa Stoker
Business ManagerBio coming soon!
Penny Johnson
Senior Accounting TechnicianBio coming soon!
Jessica Hearn
Business ManagerBio coming soon!
Information Technology
Mike Parrish
IT ManagerBio coming soon!
Guillermo Londono
IT SpecialistBio coming soon!
Steve Quinlan
IT SupportBio coming soon!
Program Development
Bernie Meineke
Program DirectorMr. Meineke held management positions in insurance, retail, and wholesale businesses prior to joining the UGA SBDC in 1993. In seven years as vice president...
Kyle Hensel
Program DirectorKyle Hensel is the former Area Director of the UGA SBDC at Savannah and the current Director of Continuing Education at the State Office....
District Directors
Ron Simmons
District DirectorPrior to joining the SBDC in 1990, Mr. Simmons was in the Retail division of BP North America working in retail management and retail...
Suzanne Barnett
District DirectorSuzanne Barnett is one of two District Directors for The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center. She works with multiple office throughout the state of
Entrepreneur Outreach Specialists
Bill Boone
Entrepreneur Outreach SpecialistBio coming soon!
Medical Program
Jeff Sanford
Program DirectorMr. Sanford teaches Practice Management at the College of Veterinary Medicine and consults with veterinarians nationwide. He teaches specialized business education progra
Matt Lastinger
Medical Management SpecialistMr. Lastinger works in the Georgia SBDC’s Medical Practice Management Program consulting with independent pharmacists, veterinarians, and human medicine professionals.
Minority Business Development
Lloyd Atkins
Office DirectorBio coming soon!
Carolina Ramon
ConsultantCarolina Ramon joined the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Office of Minority Business Development (OMBD) October 1, 2015. Before joining
Suzette Lay-Heard
Program SpecialistIn February 1989, Mrs. Lay-Heard joined the UGA-SBDC/OMBD as an Administrative Associate. In this position, she coordinated the black youth entrepreneurship program hel
International Trade
Rick Martin
Center DirectorRick has over 30 years of experience in international business in both the public and private sector. During his career, he established and developed...
Bob Erwin
ConsultantsBob Erwin has over 30 years of experience in the field of international trade. Prior to joining UGA he held numerous senior positions in...
Darrel Hulsey
ConsultantMr. Hulsey previously worked for a large commercial bank serving in various lending and management positions. He also has experience as an independent financial...
Dimitris Kloussiadis
ConsultantDimitris has over 28 years’ experience in international business, in both the public and private sectors. While in the private sector, he established an...