Our Small Business Consultants Team
Our small business consultants are experienced business professionals, most of whom have owned their own businesses. They are able to help you identify, understand and overcome the challenges of running a successful business and competing in the global marketplace.
SBDC Staff

Mike Hahn
Regional Director

Molly Byron
Regional Program Manager
As the 6th-generation of her family farm in Waseca, MN, Molly has always had a deep connection to agriculture and entrepreneurship. Even while living in Chicago for ten years working in politics, these values remained important to her. During the pandemic, Molly reconnected with her southern Minnesota roots and enrolled in the Farm Business Management program at South Central College to learn how to manage her family farm. She also became an advocate for rural communities, which ultimately led to her decision to remain in her hometown and contribute to its growth. Molly worked at Waseca City Hall and the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce, overseeing economic and community development projects such as the Waseca New Business Challenge, an entrepreneurial training program facilitated by the South Central Small Business Development Center, and a business pitch competition that resulted in the launch of five new businesses. Inspired by this experience, Molly co-founded The Meatery MN, a family business that became a semifinalist in the 2022 Minnesota Cup, the largest business pitch competition in the state. Her contributions to the community have not gone unnoticed, as she was recognized with the Waseca Chamber’s 2022 Young Professional Distinguished Service award and the Economic Development Association of Minnesota’s 2022 Emerging Professional of the Year award.
Small Business Consultants

Kevin Sanger
Areas of Expertise: Finance and Accounting
Kevin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Mathematics from Central College, as well as a Master’s degree in Sport Management and a PhD in Educational Leadership from Iowa State University. He has worked in various roles within the field of education from 1995 to 2017, including admissions, student life, TRIO programs, and serving as an instructor in Health and Human Performance, as well as coaching intercollegiate athletics.

Wes Otto
Areas of Expertise: Marketing
As a Mankato native, Wes juggles multiple roles as the co-owner of Zanz Mexican Restaurant, founder of OMG – Otto Media Group, and publisher of Connect Business Magazine. With his diverse background, he has honed his skills in marketing, restaurant management, organizational leadership, and overall business strategy.

Gary Schott
Areas of Expertise: Business Development, Operations
Gary has a wealth of experience in creating, developing, marketing, and supporting talent development initiatives across various sectors including the private sector, non-profit organizations, community colleges, and universities. He is particularly skilled in building relationships and alliances, launching start-up projects and businesses, developing leadership capabilities, managing projects, crafting effective marketing strategies, fostering innovation, and implementing lean methodologies.

Laura Babcock
Areas of Expertise: Marketing
Laura’s entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 6 when she started selling Kleenex tissues to neighbors for a penny each. Although this venture did not last long, she continued to pursue other endeavors over the years with varying degrees of success. Recognizing the importance of marketing and financial management in business success, Laura decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Marketing Communications. With her newfound education, she transitioned into becoming a copywriter, helping businesses boost their revenue through effective email campaigns, sales pages, and landing pages that convert visitors into satisfied customers.

Sarah Beiswanger
Areas of Expertise: Nonprofits, Child Care Operations, Grants
Sarah brings a wealth of experience in licensing child care centers, securing grants from Federal, State, and Foundations, as well as establishing nonprofit organizations. As a lifelong resident of Mankato, she has deep roots in the community. Sarah is married and a proud mother of six children. Her commitment to the betterment of her community is evident in her work, and she takes great pride in making a positive impact on the lives of those around her.

Hannah Bretz
Areas of Expertise: Digital Marketing, Website Design, SEO
Hannah is a web designer, marketing consultant, and speaker. She is inspired by creative innovation and entrepreneurial enterprises. Hannah is passionate about helping small businesses achieve their startup and growth milestones by coaching them on the latest digital marketing strategies. Hannah excels in combining creativity with data and analytics. She is a self-proclaimed tech-nerd Millennial.

Rovena Claxton
Areas of Expertise: Human Resources
Rovena’s experience as both an owner of a small retail store and an HR professional for over 30 years gives her a unique perspective on the challenges of starting and managing a business. She understands how overwhelming it can be to get started, particularly when it comes to employee hiring and retention. With her expertise, Rovena can guide you through the process of creating a productive and positive workplace culture, ensuring that your business has the foundation it needs to thrive.

Lisa Cownie
SBDC Events Moderator
Storytelling is Lisa’s true passion, and she feels fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue it in a variety of ways within the community. As the host of KEYC News Now This Morning and Kato Living television shows, Lisa brings a unique perspective to local news and entertainment. She also works in nonprofit marketing with MRCI, where she helps organizations tell their stories and connect with their audience. In her free time, Lisa shares her expertise by teaching as an adjunct at Minnesota State University Mankato and South Central College. With her extensive experience in storytelling, Lisa is able to encourage others to leverage the power of narrative to market themselves, their business, or their organization.

Nancy Goodwin
Areas of Expertise: Business Plan Development, Strategic Planning
Since 2008, Nancy has served locally owned businesses, non-profit organizations, communities and government agencies. Nancy’s personal and professional mission is to find better ways to serve the chronically underserved populations throughout the region and to increase her own capacity by learning from each engagement. With a diverse professional background that includes retail sales and management, economic and community development in multiple communities, radio (on-air, live events, and ad sales), and approximately 10 years in retail hardware, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her consulting work.

Bryan Hoffman
Areas of Expertise: Information Technology, Cybersecurity
Bryan is experienced in Information Technology Operations and Information Technology Services with a demonstrated history of building relationships through effective communication, collaboration, and relationship management. He is skilled in creating and maintaining processes that reduce waste and increase efficiency while driving results across organizations. Bryan has strong program and project management professional who values equity, integrity, innovation, professionalism, and flexibility.

Matt Lessard
Areas of Expertise: Financing, Cash Flow Analysis
Matt is an accomplished executive leader and entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience in business management, financial analysis and oversight, business development, private equity, and international business.

Paul Vesey
Areas of Expertise: Accounting
Paul is a retired CPA with a career that merged finance with sports coaching. Over the years, he has cultivated a versatile skill set, including expertise in financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting. Today, as a SBDC consultant, he leverages his coaching background to inspire and empower businesses to reach their full potential.

Darolyn Juberien
Areas of Expertise: Finance, Accounting, QuickBooks
Darolyn is a seasoned finance and accounting professional with a diverse background that includes dedicated service within non-profit organizations and school districts. Her passion lies in facilitating the dreams of aspiring and established business owners by guiding them through the intricate landscape of QuickBooks. In a world where numbers and financial strategies can be daunting, Darolyn is dedicated to demystifying the accounting process, enabling entrepreneurs to focus on what they do best—growing their businesses.
Providing no cost assistance to new, existing and distressed businesses in South Central Minnesota since the early 1980s.
