Ernie Post

Ernie Post
Pennsylvania State Director

Ernie is an experienced manager/owner of a computer integrated manufacturing training center and agribusiness. He has management experience with three Small Business Development Centers and start-up managerial experience with a psychiatric health services program for a division of Geisenger Medical Corporation. Ernie has more than 25 years of management experience and earned his MBA from Penn State University.

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Sonya Smith

Pennsylvania State Assistant Director & Kutztown SBDC Director

Sonya has spent over six years with the Kutztown University Small Business Development Center in roles ranging from business consultant to assistant director, leading to her role as Kutztown Director as well as Pennsylvania State Assistant Director. She has previous experience working directly with customers and volunteer work with organizations focused on helping children and the disabled.

Kecia Sturdivant

Kecia Sturdivant
Kutztown SBDC Assistant Director

Top-performing sales representative with proven track record in developing and leading revenue generation through expertise in business development and client relationship building. Accomplished presenter, strong communicator, influential negotiator and team builder; able to consistently forge and cultivate profitable client relationships despite competitive markets. History of identifying new business opportunities, creating successful marketing and implementation strategies and driving consistent market share increases. With expertise in Customer Retention, Talent Management, Human Capital, Project Management, Teacher Training, Customer Engagement, Creative Direction, Sales Management, Technology, Team Leadership, Technical Recruiting, and Strategic Partnerships.

Martin Brill

Martin Brill
Program Manager, International Trade and Agribusiness

Martin is a consultant with more than 20 years of previous experience in international trade banking and the export of food, equipment, chemicals, and disposables. He holds a Master’s degree in Middle East Area Studies from London University.

Linda Grove

Linda Grove
Business Consultant, Government Marketing Specialist

Business Consultant & Government Marketing Specialist. PTAC representative. Free training for small businesses in finding and bidding on federal, state, & local contracting opportunities. Successful entrepreneur, experienced sales and marketing professional, with expertise in all financial & start-up aspects of small business operations. Former multi-unit franchise owner. Southeastern PA Procurement Technical Assistance Center consultant, serving clients in York and Lancaster counties.
 

Laurie Sterner

Laurie Sterner
Government Procurement Specialist/Business Consultant

Laurie has extensive government contracting experience having work with AIRGAS USA, LLC  where she was  responsible for sales to local, state and federal government agencies located in the greater Northeast United States.

Mark Rentschler

Mark Rentschler
Technology & Strategic Planning Specialist

Experienced professional with over 25 years of experience administering local, state, and federal incentive loan programs in the public, non-profit and private sectors. Extensive knowledge of Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs (7(a) and 504), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania loan programs, and USDA Business and Industry loan program. Expertise in loan structuring, credit analysis, loan underwriting, business plans, strategic planning, and technology commercialization. Has a Masters of Business Administration, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA; Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA; National Development Council, Business Credit Analysis, Chicago, IL; and PA Bankers Association Central Atlantic School of Commercial Lending, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA.

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Chris Walck

IT Program Manager

Experienced Systems Administrator with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in EMC Storage, Perl, Oracle Database Administration, Linux System Administration, and ITIL. Strong engineering professional graduated from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. 

robertkieke

Robert Kieke

Business Consultant & IT Specialist

Business Consultant at the KUSBDC/PA SBDC Lead Office specializing in IT.  Client-facing experience consists of 3+ years of conducting Website Reports, Web Design/Development, and consulting clients on a wide array of Technology & Social Media topics. Internally, Robert maintains data integrity for the PA SBDC network, leverages network website/search analytics, and processes mountains of data through MS Excel.

marciamcgavisk

Marcia McGavisk

Director of Capital Acquisition

Kutztown SBDC recently became the lead SBDC office for Pennsylvania. In her new role at the SBDC, MArcia will will utilize her 29 years of commercial lending experience, primarily focused in SBA lending, to assist in training financial partners across the network in commercial credit analysis. Another focus will be assisting growth companies in capital access.

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Carly Simon

Client Services Program Coordinator

Carly has dedicated over two decades helping businesses and nonprofits grow their brand, build customer relationships, and increase website and foot traffic. Specializing in adult education, Carly enjoys connecting clients with the best resources to launch their business and increase their business's success.

justindowns

Justin Downs

Associate State Director of Financial Management

Justin oversees all budgetary, contractual, and financial management matters of the program. He also provides training and guidance to several center directors and financial personnel in the state of Pennsylvania while maintaining responsibility for and involvement in policy issues and resource allocation.