Pennsylvania SBDC - Temple University

Center Profile

Founded: 1982

Specialties: Procurement Technical Assistance
Counties: Lower Bucks, Lower Montgomery, and Philadelphia

Staff Profile

Maura Shenker

Maura Shenker

Director

Shenker brings a wealth of professional experience and entrepreneurial excellence to her role in directing Temple’s SBDC, which has supported small and startup businesses since 1983.

“We are proud to welcome Ms. Maura Shenker to our leadership team with the statewide Pennsylvania SBDC network,” said incoming Pennsylvania SBDC state director Ernie Post. “By supporting thousands of jobs in all 67 counties, our network demonstrates a commitment to helping Pennsylvania become a leader in job creation and small business growth and startups. With 18 centers statewide, the PA SBDC network is making an impact on the Commonwealth every day.

“There is no doubt that an experienced leader, such as Ms. Shenker, will only add to the success of our network.”

Temple’s SBDC, housed at the university’s Fox School of Business, serves Philadelphia and the surrounding communities. The center’s highly trained and experienced staff provides knowledge, support, training programs, and other valuable resources that facilitate the growth and success of the region’s startup and small businesses.

“The Small Business Development Center is a vital resource for economic development in Philadelphia, and we are pleased to welcome Maura as the center’s new director,” said Dr. M. Moshe Porat, dean of Temple University’s Fox School of Business. “Maura is a creative thinker, a successful entrepreneur, and a community development specialist whose experience as a business coach and consultant will continue the proud legacy of our university’s SBDC.”

Before joining Temple University, Shenker served as director of Saint Joseph’s University’s Center for Professional Development. In that role, Shenker coordinated and oversaw all custom and open-enrollment programs in executive education at the university’s Haub School of Business, while also developing growth strategies for the center. She previously served as vice president of development for Finanta, a community-based, mission-driven nonprofit financial institution.

Shenker earned a Master of Organization Development and Leadership degree from Saint Joseph’s University, where she also completed an executive coaching leadership program. She attained a Master of Fine Arts degree from The Ohio State University, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Rhode Island School of Design.

Jamie Shanker

Jamie Shanker

Associate Director of SBDC Business Development

Jamie Shanker joins the Temple SBDC team in October 2018 as Associate Director of SBDC Business Development.

Prior to joining the SBDC, Jamie managed a Women's Business Center in Camden, New Jersey. In this position, she managed programs, grant reporting, marketing, and the coordination of small business services. She led over 50 trainings and 600 hours of one on one business counseling. Jamie understands the challenges of small business ownership as the owner/operator of a local food tour company.

Jamie has also worked with small businesses as the Development Director of the Philadelphia Mobile Food Association and as the Commercial Corridor Revitalization and Business Association Manager for Mt. Airy USA Community Development Corporation.

She is a graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law where she focused on nonprofit law and she received a B.A. in Social Justice from Franklin and Marshall College.

Although originally from Queens, NY, Philadelphia has been home since 2009. Jamie lives in Graduate Hospital with her soon to be husband, Rick. She loves riding her bike and exploring the diverse food of Philadelphia.

Cherrill Wilson

Cherrill Wilson
Assistant Director

Maureen Herczeg

Maureen Herczeg

Financial Analyst

Maureen O'Halloran Herczeg will return to the Temple Small Business Development Center in October 2018 as the SBDC’s Financial Analyst. She previously served the Center's clients as Government Procurement Specialist from 2000-2004.

In her role as Government Procurement Specialist, Maureen assisted small business owners from across many different industries with pursuing government contracts and subcontracts at the federal, state, and local levels by providing individual consulting, market research, and training. Additionally, she advised clients on the Small Disadvantaged/Minority and Woman Owned Business Enterprise and HUBZone certification processes. As Financial Analyst, Ms. Herczeg will work closely with the Fox School of Business to manage the Center's budgets. She will also return to her position as Government Procurement consultant.

Maureen comes to the SBDC from the Controller's Office at Arcadia University, and previously the Business Office at the School District of Springfield Township, where she managed both organizations' Accounts Payable departments.

Prior to working at Arcadia University and the School District of Springfield Township, Maureen spent a number of years working in small businesses, most notably as a Research Analyst at a boutique federal market consulting firm and the Business Office Manager and Marketing Coordinator for a small, family focused legal firm.

Maureen holds a BA in English from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from the Temple University Fox School of Business.

Karl Kraus

Karl Kraus
Senior Business Consultant

Karl has led numerous successful business start-ups and new market entries for a broad array of technical and engineered products in international arenas. Karl is a partner in two firms; Material Growth Partners, LLC and CAI Catalysts, LLC. Since 2005 he has been a Senior Business Consultant with the Small Business Development Center in the Fox School of Business at Temple University.

Prior to his entrepreneurial career, Karl was employed in a variety of industries including pharmaceuticals, air pollution control, textiles, and industrial equipment working for companies such as Wyeth Laboratories (now Pfizer), Johnson Matthey, Polymer Group Inc. (now Berry Plastics), and Foamex International (now FXI). Karl holds an MBA in International Business and a B.S. in Chemistry. He is Past President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Product Development and Management Association, and is the Secretary / Treasurer of the 21st Century America-Korea-China Leaders Society. In addition, Karl is a member of the Technical Advisory Committee at Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania.