SBDC Advisory Board
The NH SBDC Advisory Board lends expert voices to our vision, strategic directions, and program development. The Advisory Board is comprised of small business owners and representatives from funding sources, host and partner organizations, and economic development agencies.
Advisory Board Members
- Deborah Merrill-Sands (Board Chair), Dean, UNH Peter T. Paul College of Business & Economics
- Will Arvelo, Director, Division of Economic Development, NH Dept. of Business & Economic Affairs
- Adria Bagshaw (Immediate Past Board Chair), Vice President, W.H. Bagshaw
- Amy Bassett, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration
- Michael Behrmann, Offshore Wind Industry Development Director, NH Business Finance Authority/NH Dept. Of Business and Economic Affairs; Co-Founder, Revolution Energy, LLC
- Ed Butler, Owner, Notchland Inn
- Will Craig, Government Affairs Manager, EverSource
- Tim Dining, VP of Operations, Jewell Instruments, LLC
- Michelline Dufort, Director, UNH Center for Family Enterprise
- Shalimar Encarnacion, Owner, Shalimar Ventures
- Wendy Hunt, President & CEO, Greater Merrimack - Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce; Board Chair, NH Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
- Geno Miller, Cofounder & CEO, Shtudy
- Sean O'Kane, Managing Director, Stratoge Partners
- Kimberly Pope, Senior Vice President and Director of Consumer Banking, Bangor Savings Bank
- Emily Russman, Assistant Manager, Hannah Grimes Marketplace
- Andrew Smith, Director, UNH Survey Center
- Jonathan Smith, Vice President, Senior Loan Officer, Live Oak Bank
As Advisory Board members, we are ambassadors of the SBDC network and proudly advocate for the organization. Over the years, our board members’ ideas and connections have contributed to keeping our mission forefront in our work, securing funding for the core programs of business advising and entrepreneurial education, and establishing new and expanded programs. We are proud to support NH SBDC and look forward to seeing what the future brings. - Adria Bagshaw, immediate past chair; WH Bagshaw
UNH has proudly served as NH SBDC’s host institution since 1984, creating a strong connection to the small business community in NH. As an outreach partner of the Paul College, NH SBDC assists entrepreneurs with the management side of their businesses. Together we have offered companies hours of research and the power of young minds through internships and class projects and expanded our outreach through Paul College’s new Business in Practice program. - Dean Deborah Merrill-Sands, chair; UNH Paul College
NH SBDC Advisory Board participates in the 35th Anniversary Celebration, May 2019