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

Bon Wikenheiser
Executive Director
Contact
1568 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Dr.
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-7812
bon.wikenhesier@business.wisconsin.edu
Staff
Rob Baranowski
Technology Consultant
Telephone: (414) 242-9788
rob.baranowski@business.wisconsin.edu
Lora Bray
Outreach Learning Manager
Telephone: (920) 808-0061
lora.bray@business.wisconsin.edu
Dylan Brown
Business Navigator Outreach Program Manager
Telephone: (608) 690-0748
dylan.brown@business.wisconsin.edu
Gregg Cole
Business Dynamics Research Consortium Data Science Research Lead
780 Regent St.
Suite 305
Madison, WI 53715
Telephone: (608) 263-7794
gregg.cole@business.wisconsin.edu
Gina Ferraro
Business Affairs Director
780 Regent St.
Suite 305
Madison, WI 53715
Telephone: (608) 263-3166
gina.ferraro@business.wisconsin.edu
Jason Geissler
IBE Operational Data Specialist
780 Regent St.
Suite 305
Madison, WI 53715
Telephone: (262) 666-3807
jason.geissler@business.wisconsin.edu
Paula Gilbeck
Strategic Communications & Outreach Manager
780 Regent St.
Suite 305
Madison, WI 53715
Anya Hanson
CTC Outreach Specialist
Telephone: (608) 262-4391
anya.hanson@business.wisconsin.edu
Kaitlyn Hathorn
FFI Grants and Contracts Coordinator
kaitlyn.hathorn@business.wisconsin.edu
Mike Hill
SBDC Consultant - Northwest Wisconsin
mike.hill@business.wisconsin.edu
Janel Hutchison
FFI Program Coordinator
Telephone: (608) 890-0780
janel.hutchison@business.wisconsin.edu
Kathryn Jackson
SBDC Consultant - Rock County
Telephone: (608) 400-6784
kathryn.jackson@business.wisconsin.edu
Jonathan Klein
Veteran and Military Community Consultant
jonathan.klein@business.wisconsin.edu
Mark Lange
Business Dynamics Research Consortium Director
mark.lange@business.wisconsin.edu
Andy Larson
FFI/SBDC Farm Outreach Specialist
Telephone: (608) 265-0621
andrew.larson@business.wisconsin.edu
Sarah Larson
FFI Director
780 Regent St.
Suite 305
Madison, WI 53715
Telephone: (608) 263-7794
sarah.larson@business.wisconsin.edu
Cayla Leikin
IBE Grant Administrator
780 Regent St.
Suite 305
Madison, WI 53715
Telephone: (608) 263-0221
cayla.leikin@business.wisconsin.edu
Colleen Merrill
SBDC Associate Director
colleen.merrill@business.wisconsin.edu
Melissa Meschke
Economic Development Outreach Manager
Telephone: (608) 400-3103
melissa.meschke@business.wisconsin.edu
Penny Molina
FFI Partnership Manager
Telephone: (608) 335-3550
penny.molina@business.wisconsin.edu
Jesús Enrique Nañez Perez
Bilingual Business Consultant
Telephone: (414) 419-2420
jesus.nanez@business.wisconsin.edu
Kody Ova
Marketing and Communications Specialist
780 Regent St.
Suite 305
Madison, WI 53715
Telephone: (701) 320-7502
kody.ova@business.wisconsin.edu
Margaret Ramey
Center for Technology Commercialization Outreach Specialist
161 West Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Telephone: (414) 227-3165
margaret.ramey@business.wisconsin.edu
Stephanie Robey
Outreach Program Coordinator
780 Regent St.
Suite 305
Madison, WI 53715
Telephone: (608) 263-7794
stephanie.robey@business.wisconsin.edu
Brad Rostowfske
FFI Fellows Program Manager
Telephone: (262) 689-1545
brad.rostowfske@business.wisconsin.edu
Nora Roughen-Schmidt
SBDC Consultant – Southwest Wisconsin
Telephone: (608) 716-9441
nora.roughen-schmidt@business.wisconsin.edu
Kristi Smith
BDRC Outreach Program Manager
780 Regent St.
Suite 305
Madison, WI 53715
Telephone: (608) 287-9464
kristi.smith@business.wisconsin.edu
Zacary Smucker-Bryan
FFI Digital Experience Manager
zac.smucker-bryan@business.wisconsin.edu
Todd Strother
Senior Technology Consultant
780 Regent St.
Suite 305
Madison, WI 53715
Telephone: (608) 890-1015
todd.strother@business.wisconsin.edu
James Wegener
Accountant
780 Regent St.
Suite 305
Madison, WI 53715
Telephone: (608) 263-7805
james.wegener@business.wisconsin.edu
Chris Wojtowicz
SBDC Consultant – International
Telephone: (608) 262-3253
christopher.wojtowicz@business.wisconsin.edu