Michael Nolan – Director
Michael Nolan is a serial entrepreneur with a long history of wild successes, instructive failures and nonstop adventures in the broadcast industry, e-commerce, consulting, angel investing, community leadership, fundraising and adjunct instruction. After selling two successful companies, Mike traveled the world and earned an MBA from the Melbourne School of Business. In addition, he has been a successful consultant for a variety of firms. He has served on numerous community board and charities, including the Salvation Army, United Way, Mankato YMCA, EduCare Foundation and Rotary, as well as co-chairing the Mankato Sesquicentennial celebration. Mike has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship at Minnesota State University Mankato, Otto Beisheim School of Management (WHU) near Koblenz, Germany, and Rasmussen College. An avid traveler, he has spent time in 23 countries, is a private pilot and holds a scuba dive master rating. Mike lives in North Mankato with his wife, Jules, and three teenage children.
michael.nolan@mnsu.edu
Julie Nelson – Program Coordinator
Julie Nelson has been in the economic and business development arena for 15 years. Prior to joining the SBDC, she led business support/retention activities and the recruitment of new busine sses, coordinated business and executive education programs, and managed InterCity Leadership trips at Greater Mankato Economic Development Corporation. Julie completed a Mini MBA and a Mini Master of Business Communications from the University of St. Thomas. She has earned certification as a Business Retention & Expansion Consultant from the Business Retention & Expansion International and has completed advanced training in Economic Development Finance from the National Development Council. Her community involvement includes serving on the boards of the YWCA of Mankato, MSU Industrial Advisory Board, Southern Minnesota Advocates, Mankato Area Council for Quality, Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society and a Chamber Ambassador for 11 years. She continues to volunteer with several organizations, including as guest faculty for the YWCA Elizabeth Kearney Women’s Leadership Program. Julie lives in Mankato with her husband, Gene, and two miniature dachshunds, Ginger and Gracie.
julie.nelson@mnsu.edu
PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
Wendy Anderson
Wendy Anderson has ore than 25 years of experience in business development and ownership, business consulting, marketing, professional development, leadership development, and entrepreneurship. Her consulting audiences include entrepreneurs, educators, business leaders, national sales teams, government, Chambers, and economic development agencies. Wendy earned a degree in Business Education and Technology from Minnesota State University, Mankato, graduating Cum Laude and honored with the National Merit of Business Award. She received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Greater Mankato Growth in 2008. She has completed advanced training in Economic Development Finance from the National Development Council, holds a master trainer certification from Microsoft Office, and is a certified facilitator for the nationally-acclaimed Profit Mastery curriculum. Wendy is a native of Springfield, Minnesota and a previous business owner in Minneapolis, Houston, and Loveland, Colorado.
Nancy Frederickson
Nancy is president of The Bookkeeping Center, which provides a full line of bookkeeping services and individualized QuickBooks assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs. She has 30+ years of experience as an accounting professional, is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, and an SBDC consultant since 2002.
Bob Jagdfeld
Bob has over 25 years of commercial banking and financial management experience, plus ten years of community bank management consulting. He is president and founder of Business Management Advisors LLC. Bob has served on the Minnesota State University College of Business Advisory Board, the Valley Industrial Development Corporation economic development board, and the EduCare Foundation board. His experience also includes extensive guidance in the human resources area.
Nancy Pehling
Nancy has more than three decades of experience in marketing, business development and individual coaching. She provides assistance for entrepreneurs, new start-ups and existing businesses in the areas of business plan development, marketing planning and executive coaching. Nancy says that she can also be very helpful working with the owner or manager of any business that finds itself “stuck” with old ideas that don’t seem to work anymore, old strategies or just not sure why things aren’t going well with sales or staff.
Anjon Roy
After finding his passion at a young age, Anjon Roy sought out top gurus of the Internet marketing industry and has had the privilege of learning from the best. For several years he helped small businesses to build their brands through Search Engine Optimization, content marketing, conversion optimization and social media. Now he has built his own brand, ConnectingMainStreet. His goal is to help entrepreneurs to leverage the power of the Internet by providing high value training and efficient, effective Internet marketing strategies.
David Stougaard
David brings a strong financial background to the SBDC, having served over 23 years in credit review and lending at financial institutions in Texas and locally. He has also owned and managed an insurance agency. He is currently enrolled in the MBA program at Minnesota State University, Mankato. David is also a certified facilitator for the nationally-acclaimed Profit Mastery course.
Greg Thomas
As a business growth adviser for Enterprise Minnesota, Greg Thomas serves the manufacturing sector on strategies that improve operational excellence and help grow business profitably. He has worked with a broad range of companies from aerospace to agricultural manufacturers and medical device companies. In 2010, Greg formed Engenious Consulting, and works with small and mid-sized firms in the area of sales improvement, including sales process, CRM implementation, sales coaching and business development. His professional background includes various sales, marketing and sales management positions for small and large national organizations. Greg’s career is highlighted with experience in the wireless industry for over eight years, before moving on to work as director of business development at a web development and internet marketing group.