CARBONDALE, Ill. — For decades, Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development has provided help to area businesses in countless ways. Several new leaders have joined the team, bringing decades of experience and expertise.
“We are very pleased to welcome these new staff members to our team. Each of them brings up-to-date, real-world experience as business owners to serve our clients, tenants and stakeholders,” said Lynn Andersen Lindberg, executive director of the Office of Economic and Regional Development and the SIU Research Park. “Their knowledge of business operations runs the gamut from catering, event venue management and hospitality management to family farming, international business and everything in between. Whether you’re representing an emerging business, a micro-business or an expanding venture, their business planning, financial analysis and marketing expertise will be invaluable resources for your business.”
The new staff members include:
- Vanessa Sneed, Research Park associate director and director of business innovation and research.
- Melissa Ray Roach, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
- Charlie Serrano, director of incubator programs.
- Brenda Henderson, director of the APEX Accelerator (formerly SIU’s Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center).
- Amy Dion, small business specialist/marketing and marketing research.
Henderson and Dion work under the auspices of the SBDC. In addition, Michael Jessup and Yemisi Anderson have joined the team as business advisers for the Illinois SBDC.
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