About Us > SBDC

UNI Regional Business Center,
Small Business Development Center

Maureen Collins-Williams
Director
email: maureen.collins-williams@uni.edu
phone:(319) 236-8123

Maureen Collins-Williams is the Director of Business Development and Incubation at the University of Northern Iowa.  Since 1997, Collins-Williams has also served as the director of the Regional Business Center/SBDC at UNI.  In this capacity, she has been instrumental in raising over $5 million in outside funding to beta test, implement and evaluate a number of rural/urban entrepreneurship initiatives in Iowa, including a successful rural entrepreneurship development system called MyEntreNet, and two business incubators in the Cedar Valley.  

Collins-Williams has been engaged in entrepreneurship development since1982.  She sits on the board of directors for the Community Vitality Center and is on faculty for the Heartland Economic Development Course and the Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute (OUEDI).

Maureen is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in Public Administration.  She lives in a gaily painted, ramshackle 1900’s house in Cedar Falls with her husband Dave, a Prairie Biologist, and three teenage children.

Michael Hahn
Program Manager
email: mike.hahn@uni.edu
phone:(319) 236-8123

Mike Hahn works primarily with rural communities to assess local trends, develop customized programs, and facilitate the delivery of services to area entrepreneurs. He has been involved in launching MyEntreNet, a program that employs a combination of onsite training with online technology in providing entrepreneur resources to rural communities.

Mike has worked in the community revitalization and small business development fields since 1989. He served as Main Street (a nationally known downtown revitalization program) director in Waverly, Iowa until 1994 and then in Waterloo, Iowa until 1998. Prior to joining UNI in 2000, he served as Assistant City Planner for Mason City, Iowa. Mike is a graduate of UNI with a BA in Public Relations, a certified Fast Trac Entrepreneur Trainer, and a graduate of the Certification Institute in Downtown Management.

James Hoelscher
Program Manager
email: james.hoelscher@uni.edu
phone:(319) 236-8123

James Hoelscher assists small businesses and entrepreneurs in a variety of counseling areas and working with rural Economic Development leaders in building a campaign for entrepreneurship utilizing MyEntreNet, a Rural Business Accelerator Program. Prior to joining the Regional Business Center, he served as Program Associate for UNI’s Institute for Decision Making and as Community and Business Outreach Coordinator for the New Iowans Program.

James is a member of the Professional Developers of Iowa and currently serves as the Associate Director for the Heartland Economic Development Course. He holds a BA in Public Relations and an MPP in Public Policy.

Rebecca (Beccy) Johnson
Office Manager
email: beccy.johnson@uni.edu
phone:(319) 236-8123

Rebecca (Beccy) Johnson has been with the Regional Business Center for nine years and with UNI for twelve. In 2003, Beccy was elected to serve on the UNI "Merit Personnel Advisory Committee". She graduated from Central High School in Waterloo and holds a Diploma in "Business Office Clerical" from the Hawkeye Institute of Technology. Beccy was elected to serve a two-year term as the State of Iowa Clerical Policy Chair for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). She received the Governor's Volunteer Award for her mentoring with Promise Jobs and is also an active AFSCME Local 2659 representative and a State Clerical Negotiator for the 2005-2007 Bargaining Session.

Amy Kuhlers
Marketing and Outreach Manager
email: amy.kuhlers@uni.edu
phone:(319) 236-8123

Amy Kuhlers serves as Marketing and Outreach Manager for MyEntreNet.  In addition to development and implementation of the MyEntreNet marketing plan and statewide marketing campaign, she assists MyEntreNet regions in providing effective marketing strategies locally to promote program awareness and benefits.  Prior to her role with RBC and the MyEntreNet program, Amy served as Account Manager with Sagebrush Corporation, the nation’s second largest developer of software programs for libraries, and as Marketing Director for her families’ full-process print manufacturing company.

Amy holds a BA in Business Management and Entrepreneurship and is a member of the Professional Developers of Iowa, serving on their Communications and Public Relations committee.

Jessica Rich
Program Manager for Business Technology
email: jessica.rich@uni.edu
phone:(319) 236-8123

As Program Manager of Business Technology Jessica serves as web master for the RBC website, and for the online component of UNI’s rural entrepreneurship development system, MyEntreNet. In that role she serves as lead interface with web developers and programmers, administers web policies, builds content, troubleshoots technical issues, and is responsible for online communications including site tours, online seminars, and listserv activity. In addition to the web development, Jessica plans and oversees implementation of technology applications related to SBDC programs, develops and enhances programs with technology driven features and resources, and provides trainings, workshops, and presentations.

Jessica holds a BA in Business Teaching and a BA in Management Information Systems from the University of Northern Iowa.

In addition to our staff, we have developed a strong network of community professionals, chosen for their expertise and willingness to assist SBDC clients in their fields. Our network includes accountants, attorneys, bankers, and more. Make an appointment with one of our counselors today, and we will point you in the right direction.