Staff Biographies
UALR ASBTDC Lead Center | ||||
| Janet Roderick The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center has been under Janet Roderick's direction since 1994. Roderick received both a Bachelor of Science in marketing/business education and a Master of Science in vocational/distributive education from the University of Wyoming. Prior to joining the ASBTDC she was the state director at University of Hawaii Small Business Development Center from 1990 to1994 and University of Alaska Small Business Development Center from 1986 to 1990. She has experience in marketing, retail, personnel administration, and higher education instruction. | |||
| Victor Redditt Victor Redditt joined UALR ASBTDC September 1982. Redditt assists the director in the areas of policy development, budget planning and administration, grant and contract administration, and personnel administration. He has held several positions since joining the parent organization of the ASBTDC in 1976, including interim director. He has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. | |||
| Laura Fine Laura Fine joined the UALR ASBTDC in 1989 as Assistant Training Coordinator. She has served as Training Coordinator and was named Assistant State Director in 1993. Prior to joining ASBTDC, she was a trainer with Levi Strauss & Company. Fine received a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. | |||
| Heather Robinette Specialty Areas: Financial Analysis, Family-Owned Businesses, Capital Acquisition, and Growth Strategies for Existing Businesses Heather Robinette has more than 10 years experience as a Business Consultant with the UALR ASBTDC. She received a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Economics from Ouachita Baptist University. Robinette is a Certified Business Advisor®. | |||
| Rebecca Norman Specialty Areas: /STTR Proposal Writing and Editing Rebecca Norman came to ASBTDC as a graduate assistant in the Technology program and became a full-time Innovation Consultant in November 2009. She is completing a graduate degree in Professional and Technical Writing at UALR and has master's and bachelor's degrees from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Previously she was a technical writer at Dassault Falcon Jet. | |||
| Jennifer Bonds Specialty Areas: Marketing, Stakeholder Relations, Legislative Efforts, and Cosponsor Relations Jennifer Bonds joined the UALR ASBTDC in 2000 as a Training Coordinator and was named Training Manager in 2003. Bonds worked for U.S. Congressman Ray Thornton and the Criminal Justice Institute prior to joining the ASBTDC. She received a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a bachelor's degree in International Economics from the University of Central Arkansas. She is a Certified Business Advisor® as well as a graduate of the Community Development Institute. In 2009, the SBA honored her as its Arkansas Resource Partner of the Year. | |||
| Gwen Green Specialty Areas: Publications, Public Relations, Media Relations Gwen Green came to ASBTDC in 2008. She has broad communications experience, having worked in newspaper, magazine, corporate, and non-profit settings. She received her bachelor's degree from Lyon College and earned a master's degree in Jounalism from The University of Mississippi. | |||
| James Atkinson Specialty Areas: Geodemographic tools and analysis to assist customers in developing targeted marketing strategies for their businesses James Atkinson provides market and business research to ASBTDC clients. Before joining the ASBTDC, Atkinson worked in government and the private sector and also owned a small business. His experience includes working as a financial analyst for several nationally known corporations including Hewlett Packard. He earned an undergraduate degree in political economy from the University of California at Berkeley, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Washington in Seattle. | |||
| Khary Dickerson Specialty Areas: International Business, Financial Planning, Minority Entrepreneurship Khary Dickerson came to the ASBTDC in June 2009. He previously worked for the Citizens Development Corps in Washington, D.C., and the Sudan, serving as a strategic marketing consultant and leading micro-enterprise development projects. He also has finance and investment experience with Wachovia Bank and Edward Jones. Dickerson is a graduate of UALR. He earned his MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and studied at the WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management in Vallendar, Germany. | |||
| Michael Singleton Specialty Areas: Accounting, Retail Management, Human Resource Management Michael Singleton joined the Henderson State University Small Business Development Center in 2004 and moved to the UALR Lead Center in 2007. Singleton has a bachelor's degree in Accounting from Henderson State University. Singleton is also a Certified Business Advisor®. Prior work experiences include retail management and accounting and human resource management for a manufacturing firm. Michael was awarded the 2007 State Star distinction by the national Association of Small Business Development Centers. | |||
| Kevin White Specialty Areas: Taxation and Licensing, Start-up Requirements Kevin White joined the ASBTDC full time in 2009 after serving as a graduate assistant. He earned his bachelor's degree in Accounting and master's degree in Taxation from UALR. | |||
| Shannon Roberts Specialty Areas: Marketing, Event Planning Shannon Roberts joined UALR ASBTDC in November 2007. She has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She has experience in small business ownership, event planning, insurance, and public speaking in the private sector. | |||
| Timothy Lee Specialty Areas: eCommerce, GIS, Disaster Preparedness, Veterans Timothy Lee joined ASBTDC in June 1995. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. He holds three additional Associate level degrees in applied avionics, liberal arts, and emergency management. Timothy is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He retired from active service in July of 1995 at the rank of Master Sergeant. | |||
| Charlotte Green Charlotte Green joined the UALR ASBTDC administration in February 2006. She has more than 15 years of public and private sector experience in the accounting field. Her primary responsibility is the administrative network maintenance of all Arkansas SBTDC financial, programmatic, and management information system records and reports. Charlotte obtained a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, in 1992. She received the 2009 State Star from the national Association of Small Business Development Centers. | |||
| Nancy Knighten Specialty Areas: Administration, Event Planning Nancy Knighten joined the ASBTDC staff in 2008. Her primary responsibility is customer service and satisfaction. Nancy has the privilege of first contact with ASBTDC clients and ensures they are matched to the ASBTDC resources and personnel best suited to their immediate needs. She has a bachelor's degree in Management and is pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree at UALR. | |||
Arkansas State University SBTDC | ||||
| Herb Lawrence Specialty Areas: SBA Government Lending, Business Valuations, Cash Flow Analysis, Veterans The ASU SBTDC has been under Herb Lawrence's direction since November of 1996. Lawrence obtained an MBA from the University of Central Arkansas (1984). He served on the faculty at Lyon College (then Arkansas College) in Batesville, and in the administration of University of Arkansas Community College in Batesville. He was awarded the 2000 Resource Partner of the Year Award by the SBA and the State Star for Arkansas by the Association of Small Business Development Centers in 2002. He is a Certified Business Advisor®. | |||
| Laura Miller Specialty Areas: Business Plan Assistance, Loan Proposal Development Laura Miller joined the ASU SBTDC in September 2000 and has more than 11 years of business consulting and economic development experience. She obtained an MBA from Pittsburg State University and her undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and previously worked as a small business consultant at the Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center. She is a Certified Business Advisor®. Laura received the Arkansas State Star award from the Association of Small Business Development Centers in 2008. | |||
| Robert Bahn Robert Bahn joined the Arkansas State University SBTDC in September 2009. Bahn, a Navy veteran, has more than 30 years of banking experience in operations, senior management, lending and marketing. He is an Arkansas State University Lifetime Alumni Member. | |||
| Lois Travis Lois Travis has been with the ASU SBTDC since its beginning at ASU in 1981. She serves as the initial contact for our small business workshops. She has worked for the ASU College of Business for more than 26 years and has been employed by ASU for 31 years. | |||
Henderson State University SBTDC | ||||
| Lonnie Jackson Specialty Areas: Retail Management, Small Business Management The HSU SBTDC has been under Lonnie Jackson's direction since 2000. Jackson has a bachelor's degree in Management and a MBA from HSU. Jackson is also a Certified Business Advisor®. He previously worked for a major retail company where he served in management roles. Jackson and his wife have owned a small business in Arkadelphia for the past 15 years. | |||
| Kelly Massey, SPHR Specialty Areas: Human Resources Management/Development, Large Multi-Site Manufacturing Management, Lean Manufacturing, Market-Based Management Kelly Massey joined the HSU SBTDC in 2008 as a Business Consultant. He earned a bachelor's degree in Business Management from Henderson State University. Massey is a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources Management with 11 years prior experience in manufacturing and the hospitality industry. He is a Certified Business Advisor®. | |||
| Leah Hasley Specialty Areas: Small Business Ownership, Event Planning Leah Hasley joined HSU SBTDC in April 2009. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Henderson and has owned a small business in Clark County for more than 20 years. She previously worked in the business aviation industry. | |||
| Deanna Gourley Deanna Gourley joined HSU SBTDC in 2007. She provides administrative support by handling information requests, office workflow and performing clerical functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, and scheduling meetings. | |||
Southern Arkansas University SBTDC | ||||
| Paul Considine Specialty Areas: Manufacturing, Plant Layout, Project Management Paul Considine has been with the SAU SBTDC since September of 2002 when the center was established. Prior to joining the SBTDC he was employed in both large and small businesses and held positions in engineering, product development, plant management and sales. Paul received a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and is a Certified Business Advisor®. | |||
| Felicia Bozeman Felicia Bozeman has been with SAU SBTDC since August 2005. She received both a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a Master of Business Administration degree from Henderson State University. She became a Certified Business Advisor® through the University of Toledo. | |||
UA Fayetteville SBTDC | ||||
| Larry Brian Specialty Areas: Business Planning and Management, Financial Planning, and Start-up Requirements Larry Brian joined the SBTDC as a Business Consultant and soon after, in March 2007, was promoted to Center Director. His previous experience includes ownership and management of several small businesses including a financial planning business. He has more than 19 years of banking experience including tenure as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas and is a graduate of Southern Methodist University's Graduate School of Banking. | |||
| Bill Fox Specialty Areas: Human Resources, Marketing, Management and Operations Bill Fox joined the UAF SBTDC in May 2007. He is a former small business owner and has lending experience as a banker/loan officer with Bank of America. Fox has also worked in higher education as director of a student enterprise program at the University of Pennsylvania, as coordinator for a Disability Services program at Broward (FL) Community College and as a job developer for Florida Atlantic University. He earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University and an MBA from West Virginia University. He is a Certified Business Advisor®. | |||
| Trish Kalbas-Schmidt Trish Kalbas-Schmidt came to ASBTDC in 2008. Previously, she worked for Utah State University as the project manager for the NSF ADVANCE grant and as an adjunct lecturer. Kalbas-Schmidt graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater with a master's degree in Corporate Communications and the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse with a bachelor's degree in sociology and communications. She holds a certification in Training and Development from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. | |||
| Ashley Chua Ashley Chua has more than 14 years of experience in accounting and financial analysis and holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting from California State University at Long Beach. She joined ASBTDC in 2008. | |||
UA Monticello | ||||
| Kathryn Peacock Specialty Areas: Retail Merchandising, Human Resources Kathryn Peacock has served as Center Director for the UAM SBTDC since January 2002. Peacock received a BSBA in Marketing and General Business from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She achieved the designation of Certified Business Advisor® from the University of Toledo. Peacock has a wide range of experience in wholesale, retail, and manufacturing enterprises. | |||
| Lindsay Henry Specialty Areas: Marketing, Rural Entrepreneurship Lindsay Henry joined the UAM ASBTDC in August of 2009. She previously worked at Central Wire Industries where she was responsible for international sales. She also has experience in the non-profit arena in community outreach and fundraising. Lindsay earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. She and husband Matt own a small business, Lucky Cleaners of Star City. | |||
