Overview
Through consulting, education and data analysis, the Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship serves Wisconsin’s aspiring, new and established small businesses to improve performance and increase capabilities for success. We follow a collaborative model, working with local organizations and other institutions to best serve clients across all of our program areas.
Programs
Whether you are planning a new business or are a long-time entrepreneur, Business & Entrepreneurship is proud to help connect Wisconsin’s businesses through our wide-reaching programs.
Wisconsin Small Business Development Center
The nationally accredited network of Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) supports entrepreneurs at any stage through no-cost, confidential consulting and business education.
Center for Technology Commercialization
The Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC) works with innovators, inventors and researchers to bring new technologies to market by navigating the process of commercialization and maximizing access to competitive funding sources.
Food Finance Institute
The Food Finance Institute supports a collaborative network of professionals focused on building and funding profitable businesses in the food, beverage and value-added agriculture sector.
Center for Business Intelligence
The Center for Business Intelligence (CBI) converts the power of data, research and technology into decision-making tools for business owners.
Business Dynamics Research Consortium
The Business Dynamics Research Consortium (BDRC) compiles multiple data sets to track performance and growth factors for more than 144 million businesses across the United States. BDRC’s comprehensive data tool can be easily accessed by local economic development professionals to diversify their markets and to tailor their business development strategies/services based on current and anticipated needs.
Leadership

Mark Lange
Executive Director
Contact
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 262-3253
mark.lange@business.wisconsin.edu
Initiatives
The Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship’s consultants and tools empower individuals to reach the next level in their careers and businesses.
Staff
Shelbie Blank
FFI Program Coordinator
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 890-0780
shelbie.blank@business.wisconsin.edu
Jennifer Broecker
Marketing and Communications Manager
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 262-6126
jennie.broecker@business.wisconsin.edu
Gregg Cole
Business Dynamics Research Consortium Director of Research and Data Innovation
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-7794
gregg.cole@business.wisconsin.edu
Gina Ferraro
Chief Financial Officer
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-3166
gina.ferraro@business.wisconsin.edu
Nate Gullick
Strategic Data Lead and Small Business Development Center Associate State Director
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-1769
nate.gullick@business.wisconsin.edu
Jeff Hegeman
IT Programmer
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 265-2096
jeff.hegeman@business.wisconsin.edu
Chad Hoffman
International Trade Consultant
161 W Wisconsin Avenue
Ste 6000
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Telephone: (608) 301-6215
chad.hoffman@business.wisconsin.edu
Tera Johnson
Food Finance Institute Director
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 890-0780
tera.johnson@business.wisconsin.edu
Sarah Larson
FFI Program Manager
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-7794
sarah.larson@business.wisconsin.edu
Neil Lerner
Small Business Development Center Associate State Director
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-0221
neil.lerner@business.wisconsin.edu
Jessica Nelson
Center for Business Intelligence Program Manager
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-7794
jessica.nelson@business.wisconsin.edu
Kody Ova
Marketing and Communications Specialist
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (701) 320-7502
kody.ova@business.wisconsin.edu
Margaret Ramey
Center for Technology Commercialization Outreach Specialist
161 W Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Telephone: (414) 227-3165
margaret.ramey@business.wisconsin.edu
Stephanie Robey
Administrative Specialist
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-7794
stephanie.robey@business.wisconsin.edu
Jason Schleip
Lead Consultant – Wisconsin Restaurant Initiative
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 381-2352
jason.schleip@business.wisconsin.edu
Kristi Smith
Small Business Development Center Business Consultant
1016 16th Avenue
Monroe, WI 53566
Telephone: (608) 287-9464
kristi.smith@business.wisconsin.edu
Todd Strother
Center for Technology Commercialization Business Development Consultant
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 890-1015
todd.strother@business.wisconsin.edu
Lucy Waldhuetter
Small Business Development Center Business Consultant
2717 N Grandview Boulevard
Suite 300
Waukesha, WI 53188
Telephone: (262) 409-2622
lucy.waldhuetter@business.wisconsin.edu
Evy Walker
Operational Data Specialist
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 890-3558
evelyn.walker@business.wisconsin.edu
Brian Walsh
CTC Commercialization
161 W Wisconsin Avenue
Ste 6000
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Telephone: (262) 370-4002
brian.walsh@business.wisconsin.edu
James Wegener
Accountant
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-7805
james.wegener@business.wisconsin.edu
Bon Wikenheiser
Associate Director
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-7812
bon.wikenheiser@business.wisconsin.edu
Idella Yamben
Center for Technology Commercialization Business Development Consultant
432 N Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-3315
idella.yamben@business.wisconsin.edu