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. 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.

Funding Partners

The SBDC program is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This federal agency, created in 1953, stimulates and fosters small business development through small business loan and procurement programs, advocacy, and business advising and training. The ND SBDC receives federal funding from SBA with matching funds coming from the Bank of North Dakota, along with local-match partners that include UND, sub-center program hosts, lenders, cities, counties, and economic development programs. A full list of contributing entities can be found in our annual report.

Monthly Newsletter

Our monthly newsletter is meant to keep you informed on small business topics including: webinars/local events for small businesses, new ND programs and opportunities, advisor tips and information, and it features a local small business.

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Stakeholder Blog

Our monthly stakeholder blog is meant to keep you informed on the state of small businesses in North Dakota and share how the ND SBDC is working to provide you assistance.

Read or subscribe to our stakeholder newsletter

ND SBDC Staff

Name & Title	SBDC Location Center	Email
Tyler Demars Bismarck Center Director ASBC, MSL, ABI	Bismarck	tyler@ndsbdc.org photo courtesy of Jacy Jo Photography
Sarah Nagel Business Advisor	Bowman	sarah@swnd.org
Ashley Louw Business Advisor CPBA, ABI	Devils Lake	ashleynpc@gondtc.com
Pete Leno Dickinson Center Director	Dickinson	pete@starkdev.com
Paul Smith Fargo & Southeast Center Director MS, EDFP, CVGA, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, ABI	Fargo & Southeast Region	paul@ndsbdc.org
Chris Erwin Business Advisor MBA, MSML, CBA, EDFP, ABI, NorthStar Cybersecurity Certification	Fargo & Southeast Region	chris@ndsbdc.org
Nicole Evans Grand Forks Center Director CBA, Certified Quickbooks Pro Advisor, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, ABI, NorthStar Cybersecurity Certification	Grand Forks	nicole@ndsbdc.org
Alan Gohary Minot Center Director ASBC, Certified Quickbooks Pro Advisor, Certified GrowthWheel Advisor, Certified LivePlan Business Advisor	Minot	alan.gohary@und.edu
Keith Olson Williston Center Director BCA, CVGA, CEPA, CBA, ABI, MCMEA, EDFP, CEB, APBA, PMC, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, ABI	Williston	williston@ndsbdc.org
Cyrena Weeks Business Advisor	Williston	cyrenaw@ci.williston.nd.us
KayCee Lindsey Business Advisor CBA, ABI	Williston - Crosby Satellite Office	kayceel@ci.williston.nd.us
Tiffany Ford State Director MBA	Lead Center	tiffany.ford@ndsbdc.org
Marnie Schuschke Associate State Director	Lead Center	marnie.schuschke@und.edu
Mary Beth Votava Assistant State Director of Programs & Development BCA, CMEA, CBA, CVGA, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, ABI, GrowthWheel Certified Business Advisor	Minot	marybeth@ndsbdc.org
Danielle Jones Communications Manager CPBA	Lead Center	danielle.jones.1@und.edu

The Center for Business Engagement & Development, 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 APEX and VBOC of the Dakotas Staff

Name & Title	Program Location	Column Title 3
Dave Kleppe Program Manager	ND APEX Accelerator Bismarck	david.kleppe@und.edu
Cadi Zerr Procurement Specialist	ND APEX Accelerator Fargo	cadi.zerr@und.edu
Michael Danielson Program Director	VBOC of the Dakotas Grand Forks	michael.s.danielson@und.edu
Doug Sanzone Veterans Business Outreach Center Outreach Specialist	VBOC of the Dakotas Grand Forks	douglas.sanzone@und.edu