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We are the Boulder SBDC

Meet Our Team

Sharon King

Executive Director, Boulder SBDC & Program Leader, SBDC TechSource: Commercialization

Sharon King

In the past 15 years, Sharon King and Boulder SBDC have worked with over 7,000 entrepreneurs from startups through 2nd stage companies, from “Main Street” retailers through highly scalable manufacturing and advanced industry science & technology ventures. In 2018, Boulder SBDC was named the nation’s best SBDC by U.S. Small Business Administration — the Center of Excellence and Innovation. Sharon leads the Colorado SBDC TechSource: Commercialization Program statewide, as well as the Tech Venture Accelerators (TVX). In 2018 and 2019, Sharon partnered with NASA to produce their national SBIR event (Innovation & Opportunity Conference) in Colorado. Sharon has been an entrepreneur, marketing executive and consultant for small (and larger) businesses in a wide range of industries. She holds an MBA from Cornell University, certification in Technology Commercialization from University of Houston and is nationally-certified by the Edward Lowe Foundation and Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurship.

Jamie Brandess

TechSource: Commercialization Program Director

Jamie Brandess

Jamie has a vast work history in the nonprofit field, starting her career at United Way. She then worked for the Boulder SBDC for three years as Marketing and Events Director, managing 80+ workshops and events per year as well as all marketing initiatives for the center. She is now the Colorado SBDC TechSource Program Director, which helps innovative technology businesses statewide through programs and consulting. She is also an entrepreneur and has worked on her own business endeavors. She holds a B.A. from Colorado College in International Political Economy.

Rachel Garcia

Assistant Director

Rachel Garcia

Rachel Garcia has worked from small and international business to the nonprofit and government sectors, specializing in program management, community outreach, and customer support. She has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs make connections to start and grow their businesses across several industries, including minority-owned, sustainability, and organic food and supplements. Rachel began working at the Boulder SBDC in 2011 and has returned after five years to become the center’s program manager. She is a board member of the Boulder County Latino Chamber of Commerce, where she continues to foster economic and social development by advocating for Latino entrepreneurs.

Irhad Kozic

Marketing and Events Manager

Irhad Kozic

Irhad Kozic has vast experience working for small and international businesses and working for the non-profit sector, specializing in event coordination, managing digital content, marketing outreach and project management. His desire to help entrepreneurs and small businesses start and grow their business brought him to the Boulder SBDC. He is overseeing all workshops and events as well as all the marketing initiatives for the center.

Kozic holds a B.S. from Metropolitan State University of Denver in Marketing.

Terra Cibere

Client Coordinator

Terra Cibere

Terra Cibere is a proud Boulder native with extensive experience in customer relations and administrative support. Terra has worked with the President and CEO of the Boulder Chamber and the Convention and VIsitors Bureau working directly with visitors from around the world, local business owners, and community leaders. Her comprehensive interpersonal communication skills have led to the Boulder SBDC, where she serves as Client Coordinator for our team.

Boulder SBDC Foundation Board of Directors

The Boulder SBDC Foundation Board of Directors provides advice to the executive director and center staff to help continually improve our programming and practices. It provides community insight to ensure that Center’s strategic plans and programs continue to meet the needs of Boulder County small businesses.

Andra Hargrave

Andra Hargrave has over 15 years of direct national and international sales channel development in the areas of government procurement and fortune level 500 business development. His marketing channel development experience lies in a variety of industries, including technology-oriented manufacturing, service industries and distribution. Hargrave possesses an in-depth knowledge of state and federal set-aside procurement programs, such as SDB, HUB and the 8a Business Development Program, among others. He has served as the director of certification for the RMMSDC and currently serves as the statewide veteran’s consultant for the Colorado SBDC Network. His comprehension of federally-backed procurements, grants and certification programs, such as Advanced Technology and SBIR/STTR, is without equal.

Financial Strategy and CPA Services

Bill Jones

Bill is also a Boulder Colorado native.  He took an indirect route to the accounting field, starting college in technical theater.  When he began to look at business degrees, a mentor directed him to accounting describing it as the language of business.  A graduate of Metropolitan State College of Denver with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, he spent 6 years in private industry before entering public accounting.  With 25+ years serving clients as a CPA, he values the role of trusted advisor.  He has broad experience in financial reporting, management consulting and individual and business income taxes.  Bill has overseen engagements ranging from start-ups to companies with over $1 billion in revenue, but his focus in on serving small, closely held, owner managed businesses and the related individuals.

Bill has served in various capacities with non-profits organizations.  He currently serves on the board of the Erie Colorado Chamber of Commerce and as a consultant for the Boulder Small Business Development Center.  Appointed by Governor John Hickenlooper in 2015, he continues to serve a dual role as a member of the Colorado Small Business Advisory Council and the Small Business Development Center State Advisory Board.

Bill values time with his family and takes great satisfaction in seeing his three kids develop into young adults.

In his spare time, he is an avid cyclist and recreational triathlete.  He is middle to back of the pack but is a 3-time Ironman finisher.

Executive Director, Boulder SBDC & Program Leader, SBDC TechSource: Commercialization

Sharon King

In the past 15 years, Sharon King and Boulder SBDC have worked with over 7,000 entrepreneurs from startups through 2nd stage companies, from “Main Street” retailers through highly scalable manufacturing and advanced industry science & technology ventures. In 2018, Boulder SBDC was named the nation’s best SBDC by U.S. Small Business Administration — the Center of Excellence and Innovation. Sharon leads the Colorado SBDC TechSource: Commercialization Program statewide, as well as the Tech Venture Accelerators (TVX). In 2018 and 2019, Sharon partnered with NASA to produce their national SBIR event (Innovation & Opportunity Conference) in Colorado. Sharon has been an entrepreneur, marketing executive and consultant for small (and larger) businesses in a wide range of industries. She holds an MBA from Cornell University, certification in Technology Commercialization from University of Houston and is nationally-certified by the Edward Lowe Foundation and Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurship.

Jennifer Pinsonneault

Law

Carrie Schiff

The most important indication of success to me is earning new business from an existing client. It’s the same standard I aspired to as a General Counsel, and includes delivering world class legal services on time and on budget. My corporate and transactional practices include representing companies and investors in a variety of industries in financings, mergers and acquisitions and the complete range of technology-based transactions. I advise executives and boards on governance matters and I help clients establish and implement cost-effective corporate compliance programs. As General Counsel of Flextronics, I learned about continuous improvement as a core operating concept. The principle is now second-nature to me, and I am constantly looking for opportunities to increase efficiency, make adjustments based on feedback, and measure results – although my family and friends are still waiting to see me apply this discipline to my cooking.

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