University of Nevada, Reno
College of Business
Business Building, Room 411
Reno, Nevada 89557-0032
Phone: (775) 784-1717
The Reno office of the Nevada Small Business Development Center (Nevada SBDC) houses the State Director and many of the Nevada SBDC's specialty programs. The student intern department provides research and information to advisors throughout the state.
Full-time advising services are offered through the Reno office. The state office presents nearly 100 training events each year throughout the state. Statewide programs are coordinated from the Reno office with program delivery to all Nevada SBDC centers. Several research projects are developed, designed, and delivered with a multitude of partners and sponsors.
The state office is located in Room 411 of the Ansari Business Building on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. For more information about the Nevada SBDC services, or to make an appointment with a business advisor, please call (775) 784-1717 or email admin@nevadasbdc.org.
Reno Staff
Lisa Tolliver
Training Coordinator
Training Coordinator
Lisa Tolliver grew up in Las Vegas, earned her B.S. in Business Management from the University of Nevada, and completed her M.Ed in Higher Education from UNLV in 2019. Prior to joining us, she has served as a Recruiter and
Karen Coe
Operations Coordinator
Operations Coordinator
Karen Coe, is the Operations Manager for the Nevada Small Business Development Center, and the Project Manager for Made in Nevada. She has been with the Nevada SBDC since 2014 and works in Reno at the University of Nevada, Reno
Jake Carrico
Northern Nevada Regional Manager
Northern Nevada Regional Manager
Jake, Business Development Advisor, has been with the Nevada SBDC since 2013. He works in the Reno office. Jake has experience in preparing financial projections and valuations for small businesses, conducting financial analyses, drafting and reviewing business plans, creating marketing
Chris Lynch
Director BEP
Director BEP
Chris, Director of the Nevada Business Environmental Program (BEP), has been with the Nevada SBDC since 2010. Mr. Lynch and his consulting team provide assistance to hundreds of business owners and entrepreneurs annually on a broad range of issues including
Brian Bonnenfant
Project Manger Center for Regional Studies
Project Manger Center for Regional Studies
Brian is the Project Manager for the Center for Regional Studies where he has conducted a wide variety of mapping and analyses at the University of Nevada, Reno since 1994. Brian specializes in spatial analyses including site selection, market area,
Duke Nishimura
Business Development Advisor
Business Development Advisor
Duke joined the Nevada SBDC in 2020 as a Consulting Director for the Black Rock Incubator and then as a Business Advisor in the University of Nevada, Reno office. Duke’s experience includes serial entrepreneurship, business management, international business, and business
Winnie Dowling
State Director
State Director
Winnie, Deputy Director, has been with the Nevada SBDC since 1991. She works in Reno at the University of Nevada, Reno location. Ms. Dowling has an MBA and an undergraduate degree in Computer Information Systems. Ms. Dowling has specific experience
Sandra Rentas
Business Development Advisor
Business Development Advisor
Bio coming soon...
Rod Jorgensen
Senior Business Development Advisor
Senior Business Development Advisor
Rod is the Senior Business Development Advisor for the Nevada Small Business Development Center (Nevada SBDC), located in the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno. Rod has been the Senior Business Development Advisor since he arrived to
Eric Florio
Air Quality Specialist
Air Quality Specialist
Eric Florio joined the BEP in January as our new Air Quality Specialist Business Advisor. Eric will work out
of BEP’s office in Reno and will provide air quality assistance statewide under our new contract with the
Nevada Division of
Brad Scribner
Community Project Manager
Community Project Manager
Born and raised in Nevada, Brad graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, in 2015 with a degree in Journalism. He is passionate about his work with small businesses, and loves nothing more than connecting, promoting, and supporting the entrepreneurs
Madison Shirley
Statewide Client Coordinator
Statewide Client Coordinator
Madison, Statewide Client Coordinator, has been with the Nevada SBDC since 2016 as an administrative intern and transitioned to a full-time role post-graduation. She graduated summa cum laude as the College of Liberal Arts Senior Scholar in 2022 with a
Ben Tedore
Web Communications Specialist
Web Communications Specialist
Web Communications Specialist, has been with the Nevada SBDC since 2005. He works in Reno at the University of Nevada, Reno location. Mr. Tedore has specific experience with digital marketing, web development, social media, IT and graphic design. He previously