Our business experts are always looking to share their expertise and expand out network. Food trends. Leveraging technology. Data utilization. And more.
We have you covered — local, regional and statewide, often at no cost to your organization.
Mark Lange
Mark Lange, Executive Director of the Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship, provides data-related insights of the business profile for a region to showcase its unique activity and how that determines what types of businesses should be targeted for services.
Lange shares national, state, regional and local economic data to compare business development trends that inform stakeholders and influence strategic plans.
He facilitates small group workshops for EDOs to identify high-growth-potential companies.
And he shares how the Institute’s interactions in our communities demonstrate a new generation of business assistance programs.
Bon Wikenheiser
Bon Wikenheiser, Associate Director of the Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship, works with economic development and entrepreneurial organizations interested in seeking to develop collaborative services for their business communities. Using data, trend analysis and environmental scans, Bon works with groups to identify opportunities to capitalize on and expand their efforts.
Melissa Meschke
Melissa Meschke, Economic Development Outreach Manager for the Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship, works with ESOs and EDOs to expand knowledge of and access to the great resources for entrepreneurs all across the state. She discusses capacity building, especially in the rural areas, in addition to marketing strategies to reach and assist entrepreneurs and work to improve Business Retention and Expansion in an area. She also has access to incredible databases and detailed reports that can speak to funders and investors.
Idella Yamben, PhD
Dr. Idella Yamben, Center for Technology Commercialization Director and Ideadvance Program Manager, provides insight on how to start a new business or pivot an existing business using Lean Start-up methodologies. She focuses on how new entrepreneurs can access this innovative high tech ecosystem and how existing entrepreneurs can access capital.
Todd Strother, PhD
Dr. Todd Strother, Center for Technology Commercialization Senior SBIR Consultant and SBIR Advance Program Manager, helps innovators and small businesses negotiate complex seed funding through the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants and contracts program. Todd is a skilled educator and experienced R&D scientist who aims to help break down the complexity of technology commercialization into successfully funded proposals.