Grand Junction SBDC Director

Tracy Baker

Tracy Baker is the new Grand Junction SBDC Director. This position is instrumental in supporting small businesses throughout Mesa County, West Garfield, and Rio Blanco as they start, grow, create quality jobs, and contribute to the fabric of the community.

Tracy most recently served as a Regional SBDC Director in Montana, where she worked to help small businesses in 9 counties thrive through an ecosystem of support. She brings to the role years of experience in Economic Development. Prior to that, Tracy worked as the Executive Director for the Miles City Area Economic Development Council and a Loan Officer for Southeastern Montana Economic Development Corporation. In addition to 5 years of experience as a Regional SBDC director and Workforce Development and Community Outreach Coordinator, Tracy has completed the National Development Council Economic Development Finance ED101 course and the Profit Mastery class.

“I’m excited to start my position as the new SBDC Director and promote entrepreneurship in the Grand Valley and the surrounding region. Helping small businesses and entrepreneurs is a passion of mine, and I’m looking forward to partnering and creating prosperity for our region,” said Tracy Baker, Grand Junction SBDC Director.

Tracy was born in Broomfield, CO, she grew up in Anchorage, AK, and has two children and two dogs. She enjoys all outdoor activities that the region has to offer.

“Baker’s combination of skills and professional experience make her uniquely suited to serving the Grand Junction SBDC and the small businesses in our region which our center supports, we are thrilled to have her join our organization and help promote the mission of the Colorado SBDC network through BIC,” said Dalida Sassoon Bollig, CEO of the Business Incubator Center.

Business Start-ups

Bob Delavan

Bob is a graduate of the University of Denver with a Degree in Business Administration with a minor Hotel & Restaurant Management. Upon graduation, Bob had a short stint as a United Airlines Management Trainee in the Omaha NE Flight Kitchen prior to service in Vietnam with the US Army.  Upon return to civilian life, Bob worked in food service management with the Denver Dry Goods Restaurant Denver, CO, and managed a residence hall food service for the University of Denver.  When Bob and his family moved to the Western Slope, he managed the retail store for Western Implement and later owned and operated an Ace Hardware.  After selling the hardware store, Bob became a financial advisor with AG Edwards and ultimately left AG Edwards to begin Investment Planning Solutions, an independent financial advisory company.  Bob sold Investment Planning Solutions to begin retirement.

Bob has experience with starting a business, creating a legal business structure, and implementing a succession plan for the sale of a business.  He also has used Excel and QuickBooks extensively.

Accounting, Finance, Cash Management

Gary Schroen

Gary has worked for a variety of companies, ranging from small companies to very large corporations. His work experience includes general ledger accounting, cash flow projections, budgeting, product cost analysis, strategic and operations planning, operations analysis and improvement.

Gary has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Personnel Administration from Michigan State University and Master of Science in Accounting from Central Michigan University. Gary is a Certified Public Accountant.

Bookkeeping, Management, Finance

Helen Roe

After more than a decade of experience as a serial entrepreneur on the Front Range, Roe moved to Grand Junction and went back to college, graduating Summa Cum Laude from Colorado Mesa University with a BBA in Marketing and a BS in Accounting. After an internship at the Business Incubator Center, she knew it was where she wanted to be, and she jumped when an opportunity for employment opened up. Now a Commercial Lender with the Loan Fund of Mesa County, Roe is also part of the Incubator Management team, and a Small Business Coach specializing in accounting and finance. Roe’s professional certifications include Team Leader/Economic Gardening, Colorado NxLevel business planning instructor, 2011 SBDC Counselor of the Year, and just for the heck of it, forklift operator. Roe is also a member of the Mesa County Executive Fair Board, and on the Advisory Board of the Grand Junction Housing Authority Family Self-Sufficiency program. “The most rewarding part of my job is sharing their challenges and the achievements while assisting start-up and expanding businesses overcome the hurdles of creating a successful and sustainable business.”

Finance, Start Ups, Management

Debbie Richard

Debbie is currently a business consultant for companies large and small in a variety of industries. Most recently, she was the chief financial officer for a $2 billion private equity firm investing in buyout funds, venture capital funds, and sponsored co-investment deals. Prior to this, she owned and managed her own firm which provided accounting and tax services to partnership sponsors, and trading settlement services to broker dealers in the secondary partnership market, was chief financial officer for an oil and gas syndicator of SEC registered partnerships and a private equity real estate syndicator. She was also an audit manager for Price Waterhouse Coopers and an adjunct finance professor for graduate level courses at Golden Gate University. Debbie is a certified public accountant (inactive status), has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and a Master of Science degree in finance.

HR, Compliance, Regulations

Thane De Puey

Thane’s expertise includes HR (interviewing, hiring/firing, handbooks, and workers comp), collection issues, compliance with state and federal regulations, inspections, business plan review, business operations and management, and startups.

Real Estate, Financing, Management

Lois Dunn

Lois grew up on a ranch in Arizona and loves life in Western Colorado. Her career includes accounting; her profession is in real estate. She likes working with investors and helping clients with identifying property, financing, management, & improving their portfolio. She serves on the Board at the Grand Junction Chamber, representing 1,000 businesses, and feels it’s a pleasure to work on behalf of start-up and expanding businesses. I serve as a chairperson of Government Affairs for Grand Junction Realtors. She enjoys meeting with entrepreneurs with new ideas and helping them determine where they are in the planning process of their start up business expansion. Her motto: Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man and work like a horse.

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