EAST COLORADO SBDC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Las Animas County Consultant
Serving Las Animas County, Amanda has more than 36 years of experience in various areas of management, marketing, sales, and professional and personal development. She has written business plans and marketing plans and created strategic partnerships for businesses in various industries. She left the corporate chains 8+ years ago to pursue entrepreneurial pursuits and is part of four businesses. She is grateful for the structure that corporate climbing provided, including systems and dedication, but it does nothing to nurture the mindset of being an entrepreneur. We are all created equal, and we can be creative and conceive of wealth in our minds. Congratulations on taking the leap of faith to bring your vision to fruition and living the American dream of owning your time and creating capital! She is dedicated to helping business owners create, thrive, attract new clients, create effective marketing, and enjoy the journey.
Briana attended Colorado State University for Equine Sciences with a Business Minor and Texas State University for her MBA. Her primary background is in marketing and the agriculture industry. While at Texas State University, she traveled abroad to Peru and enjoyed working with local businesses in the Lima area. All her experience has been with small businesses, from helping to market a product in a new country, to getting prepared for event trade shows, and writing email campaigns. Outside of work, she enjoys playing volleyball, riding her horse, skiing, and spending time with her family and friends. As a Texas native, Briana fell in love with Northern Colorado during her time at CSU.
Job Titles:
- Baca & Prowers Consultant
- Economic Development Director for Prowers Economic Prosperity
Cheryl is the Economic Development director for Prowers Economic Prosperity, and Baca County, and she brings decades of community college and SBDC experience with her, as well as an intimate understanding of the southeastern plains.
Job Titles:
- Artist - Business Art Consultant
- Elbert County Consultant
Job Titles:
- Otero County Administrative Specialist
Jaydon Rice is a lifetime Southeast CO native who is passionate about nurturing small businesses throughout rural Colorado. Jaydon has been involved in the entrepreneurial and small business communities of Southeast Colorado for many years, including owning her own small businesses, involvement in Youth Entrepreneurship initiatives and Chambers of Commerce, as well as working with several nonprofit organizations. As a disabled working professional, Jaydon is also a staunch advocate of disabled and disadvantaged individuals' inclusion in the workplace. Since joining the Colorado SBDC Network in 2019, Jaydon has worked in curriculum development, program development and management, workshop/course facilitation, data and internal processes, and business consulting. Jaydon specializes in consulting focused on business startup and planning, financial forecasting and analysis, tax planning, marketing, strategic planning, strategic partnerships, and nonprofits.
Weld County Consultant- Bilingual Jeisy Castillo Born in Mexico, raised in Greeley Colorado, I graduated from Greeley Central high school in 2004. After high school, I attended the Institute of Business and Medical Careers where I obtained my Associate Degrees of General Business Administration and General Administration of Legal Office. I attended Aims Community College, Metropolitan State College of Denver and Florida International University, all while working full time for various industries. My experience started with managing a rental car office in Greeley, to being a manager and bookkeeper of four construction companies in Windsor in 2009. Here I learned the majority of the skills I use today: customer service, bookkeeping, managing a business, bank reconciliations and working with subcontractors. I also experienced, first hand, the importance of small businesses and their impact on the community. After moving to Denver in 2010 and while attending Metropolitan State College of Denver, I became the Treasury Accounting Coordinator for American Blue Ribbon Holdings, also known as, the corporate office for the Village Inn restaurants. Here, I managed and made sure monies from all the Village Inn and sister companies around the United States made it to the corporate bank. After getting married in 2011, my husband and I moved to Miami Florida. I attended Florida International University and worked for Chetu Inc., a software building company. Later in 2013, I worked as a Staff Accountant for a retirement village that consisted of independent living, assisted living and Health Services. Recently, I started a family and I am a proud mom of a two-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy. I am also the owner of Probook Consulting, LLC and today, I focus mainly on being present for my family while helping those around me create their dream business a reality.
Job Titles:
- CEO of Morning Sun Enterprises LLC
- Weld County Consultant - Bilingual
As the CEO of Morning Sun Enterprises LLC, Jesse has provided guidance and supported a variety of individuals, organizations and companies. At the present he is a certified bilingual(Spanish & English) counselor to the Latino Chamber, a certified bilingual counselor and business advisor to the East Colorado, the Boulder and North Metro Small Business Development Centers, providing one on one services to individuals as well as group classes in business planning and start-up seminars.
He has counseled and provided needed services and resources to over 400 new potential and existing entrepreneurs. He has participated as a Board member of the Carbon Valley Chamber in Firestone, Colorado and the President of the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Boulder County. He is a member of the Advisory Board for the Boulder County Work Force.
His professional career has included 31 years as an educator 21 of those years as a principal. His leadership skills include helping individuals improve their performance, cross-cultural education, improving organizations, business development, and tapping potential and appropriate resources. He was the Colorado Small Business Development Center volunteer of the year in 2007 and the Small Business Development Center Counselor of the Year in 2009.
Jonathan Seitz grew up in Greeley, CO. He attended the University of Northern Colorado graduating with a degree in Business Management. Post-graduation Jonathan purchased a small business and grew it into a multimillion-dollar company with 60 employees.
Jonathan joined the SBDC in 2022 and is excited to help entrepreneurs achieve their goals and ambitions. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.
Juanita Puga has over thirty years of experience in early childhood. She holds a master's in early childhood from the University of Co. Denver and is an alumnus of the Buell EC Leadership program. Her time in the field of ECE has supported her current role at North Range Behavioral Health in Greeley as the coordinator for the HIPPY program for over ten years. Being a Colorado native, Juanita enjoys all the state's beauty and explores new areas with her family.
Karen Wainscott is a development professional originally from Richmond, Virginia who has lived in Colorado for almost ten years. She completed her B.A. in Political Science and International Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she also received a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Nonprofit Management. Karen has worked for businesses and organizations across all sectors specializing in fund development, marketing, communications, and strategic planning. She is currently the EDA Rural Program Manager with the Colorado Rural Opportunity Office. Karen started Wainscott Consulting in 2020 and serves as the grant-writer for Albany County, Wyoming as well as multiple nonprofit clients. She lives in Greeley, CO with her husband Josh and two stepchildren.
Laurie Ganong Jones has global corporate, entrepreneurial, and consulting experience with a focus in finance, marketing and business research. Working for firms in Chicago, Los Angeles, and in Colorado, she has been involved with a wide variety of industries including manufacturing and technology. Prior to joining the SBDC, she was a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. After co-founding a customer support business that was sold to Sykes Enterprises in 1992, she worked for Sykes through 2000 where she was instrumental in growing sales from $1M to over $200M in 5 years which led to the company's IPO. She co-founded Sterling Bio-Technologies in 2003 and held leadership roles in several other start up business.
Ms. Jones was named a finalist in the 2005 and 2004 American Business Awards Stevie Lifetime Achievement for Women Entrepreneurs and served as a national judge. Ms. Jones is a member of the Colorado Venture Capital Authority, member of the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Colorado, and former Vice Chair of the Colorado Economic Development Commission. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of California - Davis, and an MBA from Pepperdine University.
Job Titles:
- Sustainability Consultant
Leisha Talley is originally from the Teton Mountain Region, west of Yellowstone National Park. She also spent numerous years as a wilderness guide in Oregon and Alaska. In Colorado since 2006, she received her Teaching Credentials from Fort Lewis College and her Masters's Degree from Colorado State University. She has initiated two successful entrepreneurial endeavors, providing educational curriculum consulting for STEM programming in public schools and interactive science museums. As the Sustainable Economic Development Fellow for the Town of Erie, she helped hundreds of entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of licensure and access programming designed to grow their businesses. With an MBA in Corporate Sustainability, her goal is to share information that helps companies realize cost saving through the efficient use of natural resources. She is well-versed in interpreting environmental regulations and policies that affect business owners. Certified in Carbon Management, she is adept at quantifying data to create science-based targets that help organizations align with national emission reduction targets. Driven by innovation, Leisha is current on clean technology, circular supply chains, ecological economics, ESG reporting, life cycle assessment, and creating brand value through corporate social responsibility. As an artist, she is passionate about helping people manifest their dreams of sharing their unique products and services with the world.
My calling card is empowering others, I love the ability to help people do what they are most passionate about to become their everyday. As Executive Director of the East CO SBDC, I help small business owners and entrepreneurs grow and thrive. My region covers 20 counties in Colorado. I love seeing how small businesses can support their local economy and make a difference in their communities. Over the years, I have helped my community develop and grow, and I enjoy this in my role as the Director of the East Colorado SBDC. The East Colorado SBDC is hosted by the Monfort College of Business at UNC, my alma mater.
I graduated in 2010 from the Monfort College of Business at the University of Northern Colorado with a Business Marketing degree and a Spanish minor. During my education, I participated in a study abroad program at the Universidad de Guadalajara and studied Marketing and Spanish. I am bilingual and provide consulting in Spanish and English. I joined the East Colorado SBDC in 2010 as a Marketing Specialist and Business Consultant, responsible for promotions and communication of the Center and guiding local companies through start-up and growth phases. Starting in 2012, I was promoted to the Associate Director of the East Colorado SBDC.
Maryori "MJ" Guzman was born in Honduras but was raised in Houston, Texas. After graduating from Lee College in 2017, she was recruited by a non-profit organization where she began her career as a College and Career Advisor for youth, helping them graduate and find pathways to higher education. Since moving to Colorado in 2018, she has remained in the non-profit sector. She has worked as a family advocate, community organizer, and academic coach. She has taken on several civic engagement projects in an effort to help community members raise their voices to create positive changes. MJ joined the SBDC in the summer of 2023. With her bilingual skills and array of experience, she hopes to be a part of an economic development network, supporting the residents of rural Colorado by helping them realize their entrepreneurial dreams. MJ, along with her husband, is a business owner and entrepreneur herself, establishing a retail store for first responders in Rocky Ford, CO. MJ is passionate about helping others help themselves and believes in the power of education-no matter what those opportunities may be.
Job Titles:
- Morgan & Washington Consultant
As an entrepreneur, educator, farmer, author, speaker, consultant, and business coach/trainer, Dr. Rhoades has been working with start-up and existing businesses in getting to the" next level" for nearly two decades. After owning several businesses, serving as a college administrator (Chief Financial Officer), and teaching business classes at both the secondary and postsecondary levels, he was asked to serve as the Director of the Small Business Development Center at Morgan Community College working with businesses in an 18,000-square mile territory in the far Northeastern and Eastern Colorado. He retired in 2008, but his retirement did not last long as he was asked in 2009 to join the East Colorado SBDC as a business consultant for Morgan County. Dr. Rhoades company, BBR Limited Liability Company, provides independent consulting and services in business, music, education, and retail.
Dr. Rhoades has a BA degree in Business Education with specializing in Accounting from the University of Northern Colorado; a MA in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Career Education from the same university, and a Ph.D. degree in Administration from Colorado State University. He is known for his leadership in Career and Technical Education and Economic Development, serving on many boards at local, state, and national levels; he has received numerous awards at the local, state, and national levels. His greatest reward is watching his business clients and former students become successful. He works with people in all aspect of business including; strategic planning, financing, marketing, and management. He starts with his clients as a consultant and then becomes their business coach as he works with them in lead generation, marketing, management, and financial analysis.
Michelle grew up in a small agricultural college town in Iowa. Throughout her youth, she spent a lot of time in Colorado as many a vacation brought her here most summers while growing up. She moved to Colorado with her husband in 1993 where she found a position with Medtronic Blood Management as the Service Coordinator. Her responsibilities included scheduling machines for service either in-house or with a field service representative, all while pursuing a Business Administration Degree with Columbia College in Aurora. She found her first job in Higher Education working for Denver Technical College first as the Assistant Registrar and later becoming a Financial Aid Officer. Denver Technical College was purchased and merged with DeVry Institute. After the merger, Michelle went to Alliant Food Service where she worked as a Human Resources Coordinator. Alliant Foodservice was later sold and is now US Foodservice.
After moving to Northern Colorado, Michelle worked for Weld County as an Income Maintenance Technician determining benefit eligibility. She was quickly promoted into the Fiscal Office where she worked in various positions for 9 years ending as the Reporting Accounting Supervisor. Michelle was hired at UNC in 2016 as the Budget and Financial Analyst for Dining Service. Michelle has volunteered for her church, her community in rural Weld County, the Weld Food Bank, and Meals on Wheels of Greeley. Michelle joined the SBDC in October of 2021 as the Fiscal Manager.
Michelle loves to spend time with her family and friends enjoying the Colorado great outdoors, at a Colorado Rockies game, UNC Bears Football, or Bears Basketball games.
Job Titles:
- Phillips & Sedgwick Consultant
Brown has lived on the Colorado Eastern Plains her whole life and moved to Haxtun in 2013. Before beginning her career in Economic Development, she worked various jobs in Healthcare, from Credentialing, Registration, Payroll and Accounting, and Human Resources. Her most recent experience was serving as the Intermediate Accountant for Haxtun Health. Through this position, Brown has gained experience in non-profits, office and bookkeeping, special districts, and operational processes for critical access hospitals. She has served as a volunteer EMT for both Haxtun and Holyoke's EMS Departments. Brown's family also owns a commercial honey bee business.
In her spare time, Brown loves to be with her children, read, travel, and listen to live music.
Job Titles:
- Baca & Prowers Consultant
Rachel joins the East Colorado SBDC to serve South East Colorado, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Rachel and her husband owned a ranching business, so she is an excellent source of information on business creation, development, and financial management. She is a former Army Officer United States Military Academy (USMA) graduate with extensive leadership training and experience, specializing in Communications, Human Resource Management, Administration, Information Operations, Inter, and Intra-agency Coordination, Researching/Writing/ Briefing, Remote Online Meetings/Work Environments
Raejean Palko is a Colorado Native. She grew up on a small farm east of Aurora, lived in Durango, and most recently settled down in Limon. Mrs. Palko earned her BA in Humanities and her AA in Agriculture at Fort Lewis College.
Raejean has continuously found herself working among small businesses and local non-profits within the communities that she has lived in. In 1995, Raejean helped to launch and later manage a mobile mechanic business using the Leading Edge program. Later, she assisted her parents in the launch of a restaurant in Red Feather Lake. Again, Raejean assisted with the paperwork and payroll. She served as secretary and bookkeeper of the La Plata Soil Conservation and for the Resource Conservation & Development for a couple years.
Mrs. Palko's expertise ranges from bookkeeping & Quickbooks, to time management and HR/management. Raejean's stint with non-profits broadened her knowledge of non-profits, governmental agencies, grants and working with a volunteer board.
Raejean is a mother of three and also a grandmother. Outside of work, she has been very active in her church, PTO, and 4H on both local and state levels. She continues to operate a small ruminate ranch south of Limon. Raejean is eager to work with her new community.
Job Titles:
- Arapahoe and Adams Consultant
Tracy Carter was born and raised in a rural farming community in central Nebraska, she moved to Eastern Colorado in 2004. Tracy has over 25 years working retail/wholesale running a 75M business, helping small business owners and non-profit organizations. Tracy has owned small businesses in construction and investment/real-estate; she understands the changing landscape and the competitive nature that comes with entrepreneurship, and the fast-changing habits of consumers. Tracy's skills and expertise range from Risk Management, P&L / KPI Measurements, Marketing, Social Media, Workforce Planning and Grants, she has a strong background in the fresh food/ restaurant sector behind concepts and compliance at the federal, state and local levels.
Tracy is a mother of two daughters one residing in Rush and the other in Windsor, CO. Active in volunteering for several organizations including Children's Miracle Network, Arapahoe County Fair and a board member for I-70 Corridor Chamber of Commerce. She is looking forward to working with Arapahoe and Adams County.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director for Lincoln County Economic Development
- Lincoln County Consultant
Troy McCue is the Executive Director for Lincoln County Economic Development, and is one of two local SBDC business consultants for Lincoln County. The Lincoln County SBDC office is on the garden level of the Eastern Colorado Bank on Main Street in Limon.