About Us
Get help to start, manage, and grow your small business in North Dakota.
You have great ideas. Our job is to use our expertise to help make your small business successful. North Dakota Small Business Development Centers (ND SBDC) business advisors have years of experience and know how to help North Dakotans to start, manage, and grow their business. Your success is our goal!
The ND SBDC network of credentialed business advisors empower North Dakota small businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive. We accelerate business growth in communities across North Dakota by providing customized guidance and resources that help owners and entrepreneurs achieve their goals at every stage of their business life cycle. For over 35 years, our network has supported small business owners and entrepreneurs across the state, including stepping up to provide an unprecedented volume of service during the pandemic. When small businesses thrive, communities thrive, North Dakota thrives.
Fully Accredited
ND SBDC is a fully accredited member of the national Association of Small Business Development Centers, a mandatory national standard for all federal SBDC networks. Our national accreditation recognizes and affirms our high-quality small business assistance and is based on the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology of the United States Department of Commerce.
The national accreditation program sets federal SBDC networks apart from other providers of small business assistance and helps to ensure the ongoing quality of our small business services and a process of continuous improvement for service delivery to clients, referral sources and other program stakeholders.
ND SBDC Staff
| Name & Title | SBDC Location Center | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Tyler Demars Specialty Services Director, MSL, ABI |
Bismarck |
|
 |
Laura Weber Business Advisor, Rural Entrepreneurship, ABI |
Bowman | |
 |
Ashley Louw Certified Business Advisor, CPBA, ABI |
Devils Lake |
|
 |
Matt Ellerkamp Business Advisor, MBA, ABI |
Dickinson | |
 |
Paul Smith Fargo & Southeast Center Director, MS, EDFP, CVGA, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, ABI |
Fargo & Southeast Region | |
 |
Chris Erwin Fargo & Southeast Center Advisor, MBA, MSML, ABI
|
Fargo & Southeast Region | |
 |
Nicole Evans Grand Forks Center Director, CBA®, Quickbooks Certified Trainer, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, ABI |
Grand Forks | |
 |
Greg Syrup Business Advisor, Cares Program Manager, MBA, Angel Fund Investing and Management, ABI |
Grand Forks | |
 |
Mary Beth Votava Minot Center Director, BCA,CMEA, CBA®, VCA, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, ABI |
Minot | |
 |
Keith Olson Williston Center Director, BCA, CVGA CEPA, CBA®, ABI, MCMEA, EDFP, CEB, APBA, PMC, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, ABI |
Williston | |
 |
KayCee Lindsey Certified Business Advisor, CBA®, ABI |
Williston- Crosby Satellite Office | |
 |
Tiffany Ford State Director, MBA |
Lead Center | |
 |
Marnie Schuschke Associate State Director |
Lead Center | |
 |
Danielle Jones Communications Manager, CPBA |
Lead Center |
The Center for Business Engagement and Development, our department within the Nistler College of Business and Public Administration, also hosts two additional national business assistance and resource programs. Each of the three programs has its own unique mission and set of services, however they routinely work together to help businesses start and thrive.
ND PTAC and VBOC of the Dakotas Staff
| Name & Title | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
Dave Kleppe- ND PTAC ND PTAC Program Manager, Certified Procurement Officer, CVE, Certified Verification Assistance Counselor, Completed GSA Schedules Training |
david.kleppe@und.edu |
 |
Cathy Lindquist- ND PTAC ND PTAC Program Advisor, CVE, Certified Verification Assistance Counselor, CPP
|
Cathy.lindquist@und.edu |
 |
Wendy Klug- VBOC of the Dakotas Veterans Business Outreach Center Director
|
wendy.klug@und.edu |
 |
Liza Clough- VBOC of the Dakotas Outreach Specialist for the Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Dakotas. |
liza.clough@und.edu |
 |
Julie Hinker - VBOC of the Dakotas Veterans Business Specialist |