Working in conjunction with the talented staff of the State Director's Office for the past fifteen years, Christian has endeavored to build the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) program into one of the preeminent economic development programs of its type in the country.
 

As State Director, Christian is responsible for directing, managing, promoting and evaluating Pennsylvania SBDC services to improve service delivery and impact.  He has helped lead the network through three national accreditation reviews.  In the most recent review in 2011, the program also was accredited for its technology services.
 

During his tenure, Christian has led the effort to expand the state of Pennsylvania’s investment in the program.  This resulted in the establishment of five new centers and a near doubling of the number of entrepreneurs assisted annually.  More important, the program produces results: each year 2,500 new businesses are started, 8,000 new jobs created and over $750 million of Pennsylvania products and services are sold around the world.

Christian has testified before both houses of Congress in support of bills to expand the SBDC program.  He has also taught other SBDC programs on ways to develop and strengthen relationships with policy makers to increase services available to assist small firms in their growth and development.  These efforts were recognized with awards from the Association of Small Business Development Centers in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2011.

Christian is active in a number of other organizations including the national Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center.  For the last several years he has been the Chair of the Governance Committee for the Pennsylvania Downtown Center.

Before joining the SBDC program he was a key staff member for a New York State Assembly Member and managed marketing and fundraising programs for a variety of arts, health and social services organizations. Christian has degrees in urban studies, economics and psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of New York at Albany.  His Master’s thesis analyzed the role of the arts to the economic competitiveness of the greater Philadelphia region.

A native of New York’s scenic Hudson River Valley, Christian currently resides in Philadelphia. In his spare time, he enjoys running, skiing, traveling, cooking, exploring new wines and cuisines, and the arts, theatre and architecture.

A member of the Pennsylvania SBDC State Director’s Office since 1987, Pam continues to manage the financial activity of our growing network of 18 centers across the state of Pennsylvania. Pam oversees all budgetary, contractual, and financial management matters of the program, providing training and guidance to center directors and financial personnel while maintaining responsibility of all grant activity, and involvement in policy issues and resource allocation.  She presently serves as co-chair of the Operations committee of the national Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC).

Prior to joining the SBDC, Pam worked in the University of Pennsylvania’s Office of Research Administration as a contracts administrator, where she was in charge of grants and contracts for research and training programs at five schools within the University, including the Wharton School of Business. Pam was directly involved in oversight of the grant which founded the SBDC at the University.

Pam earned her B.A. in Economics from Douglass College of Rutgers University and her M.B.A. from Temple University.

Pat has supported the Pennsylvania SBDC with over 20 years of organizing and managing office workflow, all the while coordinating all activities of the office and 18 subcenters to meet requirements of federal and state funding agencies. She has an intricate knowledge
of the procedures and protocols surrounding both office and university matters. With her strict attention to detail, Pat plays a vital role in managing and certifying financial matters.

Pat enjoys spending her free time with a good book or at a ceramics class.  Her infinite patience and good humor are a tremendous asset to the SBDC.

With a 20 year tenure, Alena knows the ins and outs of the Pennsylvania SBDC backwards and forwards. Hers is the first voice you hear when you telephone the State Director's office. Drawing on her experience, Alena is able to assist almost every caller succinctly and quickly. Alena's support is critical to the operational efficiency of the State Director's office.

Kelly joined the Pennsylvania SBDC State Director’s Office in 2012 as the Marketing and Network Services Coordinator.  She handles marketing and communications for the Pennsylvania SBDC network as well as provides assistance on network events and professional development activities.  Her duties include website maintenance, assisting with annual reports and funding proposals as well as the management of marketing materials.  Previously, Kelly held marketing positions with a suburban Philadelphia law firm and the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. Kelly holds a B.A. in Business from Mercyhurst University.   

As the Associate Director of the Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP), Nancy brings ten years of experience working for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, specializing in wastewater treatment and watershed management.  Nancy joined the EMAP team in 2001 and helps oversee the efficient delivery and tracking of EMAP’s statewide services.  She has also been instrumental in launching two on-line waste exchanges, the PA Material Trader and PA Manure Trader.

Nancy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Swarthmore College and a Master of Engineering degree in Environmental Pollution Control from the Pennsylvania State University.  In 2005, Nancy successfully completed the Wharton Programs for Working Professional’s Wharton Management Program.

Bill joined the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers as an environmental consultant for the Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) in January 2008. He provides air quality permitting and compliance assistance to EMAP clients throughout Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining EMAP, Bill spent three and a half years working as an Air Quality Specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Warren District Office and Northwest Regional Office.  He has experience in many areas of air quality, including AIMS reporting, asbestos, visible emissions, plan approvals, permitting, and requests for determination (RFDs).

Bill received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a Masters of Environmental Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

As IT Project Leader, Philip Frank will lead Pennsylvania SBDC's technical transitions and provide general IT support. Phil brings more than 15 years of experience to the position, most recently enhancing a client software package for Meals on Wheels organizations. He previously worked at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School as Associate Director of Marketing Information, where he was he was responsible for direct mail, databases and marketing systems such as CRM. Phil also held several productivity and manual systems analysis positions.

Jeremy provides environmental consulting assistance to small businesses in the southeastern region of Pennsylvania.  In particular, he addresses the environmental consulting needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs by providing information and assistance on environmental regulatory and compliance issues, environmental permitting requirements, waste minimization, energy efficiency & pollution prevention, health & safety issues, and the implementation of environmental best management practices.  Jeremy reaches out to small businesses through numerous environmental workshops, trade conferences, one-on-one consulting engagements, and through performing comprehensive facility on-site assessments.

Jeremy holds degrees in Environmental Studies at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pennsylvania.  He is currently studying business management with a focus in entrepreneurial values at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.  Jeremy also brings aboard experience as an environmental specialist in an industrial manufacturing facility where he successfully provided guidance through environmental management of waste, air, and water quality issues.

Diane joined the staff of the State Director’s Office in June of 2010 after serving 15 years as the Consulting Manager at the Duquesne University SBDC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

In her capacity as the Associate State Director for Program Management , she is tasked to supervise the administrative, programmatic and marketing staff; execute state and national strategies for building legislative support; identify and solicit new financial resources for the program; manage the implementation of strategic and operational plans; direct brand management, communications and marketing activities; manage the proposal and grant preparation process; and manage network professional development activities.

Throughout her career, Diane taught college-level business management and research courses, was self-employed in the restaurant industry and held a management position with Sheetz, Inc.  She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at West Virginia University and California University of Pennsylvania.

Clyde manages the grant received from the Defense Logistics Agency, which includes sub-agreements with three Small Business Development Centers that provide Procurement Technical Assistance for 15 Southeastern Pennsylvania counties. He received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and his J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon.

Clyde's past experience includes appointment by three different State of Alaska Governors to manage federal relations for the State's transportation department. His ten-year tenure with the department also included contract negotiation and contract management duties; proposal development; procurement management responsibilities; and legislative and regulatory development duties. Prior to joining the State of Alaska, Clyde owned and operated a solo-practice legal firm that specialized in contract and construction law.

His insights for government contracting were featured in Inc. magazine.