Anna Bier (full time) based in Ann Arbor

Anna Bier is a Technology Business Consultant for the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC).  Anna brings extensive experience with federal grants and contracts to the MI-SBTDC as well as engineering research and development and other various aspects of creating and running many divisions of a high-tech business enterprise.  Before joining the MI-SBTDC, Anna spent seven years as the Vice President/Chief Financial Officer/Scientist of her co-owned small high-tech business in Virginia with ~30 employees and 7 consultants.  As such she has researched, written, negotiated and managed over 30 Phase I and Phase II SBIR and STTR contracts/grants for several U.S. Government agencies including the DoE, DoT, NSF, NIH, NRC, EPA, USDA, DoD, and NIST.  Before the company was sold, 3 products were moved successfully into Phase III commercialization.  Additionally, she has written, presented, and had published several papers at various conferences relating to her engineering and scientific research and served as a technology and commercialization advisor for the NSF, DoE and NIH proposal programs.  Anna received a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Virginia Tech in 2002.  She also received a Master's of Science in Physics from Texas A&M University in 1995 and a Bachelor's of Science in Physics (with minors in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Russian History) from Virginia Tech in 1993. top of page

Mary Sue Hoffman (full time) based in Kalamazoo

Mary Sue Hoffman received her B.A. in Business Administration from Michigan State University and J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.  She began her career in as a tax attorney with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Pittsburgh. She later joined Fortune 500 specialty steel producer, Allegheny Technologies, Inc., where she assumed responsibility for its legal-tax function.  As Tax Counsel, she successfully argued before state tax tribunals, conducted due diligence, and negotiated settlements with the Internal Revenue Service.  Following a labor dispute, she was promoted to Director of Employee Relations to initiate changes in the management-employee relationship. Managing a staff of 20 professionals, her responsibilities encompassed employee relations, training and development, recruiting, compensation, and employee communication for over 1,600 employees at multiple locations.  Following a combination with Teledyne, Inc., she was promoted to General Manager of Human Resources with added responsibilities at the Metals Segment level for over 5,000 employees.  In 2001, Mary Sue returned to her home state of Michigan and joined Grand Valley State University as a Technology Business Consultant with the MI-SBTDC where she conducts due diligence on behalf of venture capital and angel groups, and provides counsel to start-up and existing technology businesses. top of page

Phil Tepley (Team Coordinator) based in Ann Arbor

Phil Tepley joined Grand Valley State University as a Technology Business Consultant for the MI-SBTDC in January, 2005. Phil developed his passion and expertise for working with technology companies as a traditional MI-SBTDC business consultant since 2000. Working in Washtenaw County, one of Michigan's technology "hot spots", Phil provided several hundred counseling hours to companies working in the areas of life sciences, information technology, and advanced manufacturing. In 2000, he assisted in the establishment of the MI-SBTDC's ongoing partnership with the Ann Arbor IT Zone by managing their Business Advisory Team; sitting on the Use Tech planning committee; assisting with their Entrepreneur Boot Camp; and participating on the High Tech Tuesdays Program Committee. Tepley became active with the New Enterprise Forum (NEF), an Ann Arbor based investment forum, by joining Liaison Teams to assist companies on their quest for venture capital. Tepley has served on the board of directors of NEF since 2004 and became NEF President in 2007.  Tepley serves on the advisory council for the Entrepreneurs Initiative of Southeast Michigan, as well as the board of directors and finance committee of Recycle Ann Arbor. He received a Bachelor in Economics degree from the University of Michigan in 1999. top of page

Dave Grossman (part time) based in Rochester Hills

Dave Grossman is the founder and principal of the Dynamic Strategy Group LLC, a Rochester Hills, Michigan consulting firm specializing in innovation, strategic planning, technology roadmapping, business model development, and product and process development.  His background includes over thirty five years of diversified domestic and international management and consulting experience. He has expert skills in innovation, leadership, organization, motivation, teamwork, and creativity. He has demonstrated proficiencies for taking abstract vision and creative ideas and converting them into actionable plans and marketable products and services. Prior to forming the Dynamic Strategy Group LLC, Dave was director of Global Technology Planning for General Motors Corporation located in Warren, Michigan. In this position he led the process development and implementation of technology roadmapping on an enterprise wide basis and creation of a web based, global technology database. He directed the design of a technology portfolio selection / evaluation tool and managed the product development gate review process. Much of his focus was on identifying high potential future technologies, commercializing technologies, and improving the linkage between R&D, engineering, finance, marketing, and the supplier community He had the opportunity to work with numerous small companies to assist in developing the application path for new technologies. He held many domestic and international executive positions in planning, engineering, and management during his 32 years with GM. Dave is currently working with the MI-SBTDC to expand the capability of entrepreneurial and startup companies to use technology roadmapping and other highly visual techniques to better target their work to meet the latent and explicit needs of the market and identify required resources, complementary technologies, and partners to ensure successful commercialization. He provides consulting, training, and tool development to the MISBTDC. Dave has a degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. top of page

John Balbach (full time) based in Kalamazoo

John Balbach has over 13 years of strong, business experience, with an extensive background specializing in early-stage ventures. His entrepreneurial experience includes various financial positions both within and working with venture-backed, emerging growth companies in the Seattle technology community. As one of the initial members of Silicon Valley Bank's Seattle office, Balbach played an integral role in the banks establishment of a strong and lasting presence in the region's early-stage market. In addition, while at Seattle-based software company Viathan Corporation, he built the organization's accounting and operational infrastructure, led the financial effort that raised over $23 million in venture capital, and presided over the company's eventual and successful acquisition. Balbach has worked with a variety of organizations including Fortune 500 corporations, mid-level companies, entrepreneurial ventures and non-profit organizations. Most recently, he served as Senior Manager of Strategic and Operational Analytics at Washington Mutual Bank where he played a critical role in establishing a quantitative, ROI-driven decision-making process for technology-related capital projects.. His background includes extensive experience in strategic planning, business plan creation, business plan analysis, venture financing and early-stage commercial lending. Balbach holds a B.S in Finance from Miami (Ohio) University, and a M.A, from St. John's College. top of page

Tom Kelly (full time) based in Southeast Michigan

Over the past twenty years, Tom Kelly has directed marketing for the tenth largest industrial distributor in the United States; spearheaded innovation and sales automation at Dow Jones & Co., NY as a consultant with IBM's Salesforce Transformation practice; patented and launched revolutionary automatic 3D model generation software in the CAD industry, winning the Cadence magazine Best of Show award at the National Design and Manufacturing Expo in Chicago and; successfully launched three separate start-up companies for angel, VC, and corporate investors in the fields of software, manufacturing technology, and distribution.    Through these experiences, Mr. Kelly applied his expertise in sales, marketing, and executive management, as well as his energy and enthusiasm, to companies at all stages of corporate evolution, from early stage and high growth to Fortune 100 companies.  Tom has a BS in electrical engineering from Clarkson University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. top of page

Arcadio D. Ramirez (full time) based in Ann Arbor

Throughout his 20+ year professional career Mr. Ramirez has been extensively involved with early stage companies. As an attorney with Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosti he advised start-up companies with financing, commercial, corporate governance and intellectual property issues. In financings alone, he directed projects exceeding $15M. From the practice of law, Mr. Ramirez transitioned into entrepreneurial ventures -organizing, securing financing, operating and selling two companies, including one of the first venture-funded transaction based internet sites, Do It Sports.  Mr. Ramirez has also served on the management team and acted as a business consultant to numerous early-stage companies. In addition, Mr. Ramirez has been engaged as a management consultant by a number of Fortune 50 companies including AT&T, Intel and Ford Motor Company. Engagements included: new product development strategy, customer segmentation and restructuring, financial process re-engineering, and private marketplace strategy projects. These projects saved/earned clients millions of dollars. Mr. Ramirez received his business education at the University of Michigan Business School.  He earned his Juris Doctorate from Stanford Law School and his B.A. with highest honors from the University of Michigan. Mr. Ramirez resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan; he has two children and is an internationally competitive Triathlete. top of page

Prafulla Pande (full time) based in Southeast Michigan

Prafulla Pande is a Technology Business Consultant for the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC).  During his 30-year career as an executive, an entrepreneur and a small business owner, he became proficient in strategic planning, marketing, finance, general management and overall business development. He has traveled extensively around the world in various business capacities. These first-hand experiences sharpened his talents to become an effective business coach. In addition, his core values fully align with his passion to help businesses succeed. An engineer by education, Prafulla is a business professional by experience. His career began as a project manager in Florida in 1973. For 18 years, at various divisions of Thermo Electron, Prafulla had numerous assignments around the world. He later took this experience into the entrepreneurial arena and, for 10 years, engaged with startup companies. During this period, he purchased a company and built two from scratch. He later became a business coach helping businesses get to the next level. Prafulla received bachelors and masters degrees in engineering from IIT Kanpur and a masters degree in construction management from University of Florida. top of page

Sandra Cochrane (full time) based in Southwest Michigan

Prior to joining the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center as a Technology Business Consultant, Sandra Cochrane spent over seven years as the Chief Operating Officer of the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center.  Ms. Cochrane shepherded the Innovation Center through its start-up phase and is credited with the development, construction, and programming of the Innovation Center facility.  In addition, Ms. Cochrane is viewed as an expert in the incubation industry and is a regular contributor to various publications including the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) Review.  Having worked in many different fields, including education, healthcare, manufacturing, and economic development, Ms. Cochranes diverse career experiences have gained her familiarity with the multiple aspects of business-life with which early stage companies wrestle.  Her experience in the life science industry as well the network she brings will prove extremely valuable to technology clients across the state. Ms. Cochrane earned a BA and an MBA from Michigan State University top of page

Joe Batteiger (full time) based in Traverse City

Joe Batteiger has a 30-year career that spans all facets of the information technology (IT) industry.  Before joining the Michigan SBTDC, Joe held ownership and leadership positions in three uniquely different entrepreneurial software companies.  Two of these companies were grown and recognized nationally as INC 500 high growth businesses.  He served recently as Vice President of Operations of Salamander Technologies, a stage-two company engaged in developing proprietary software for the public safety and homeland security marketplace.  Joe also spent nine years as the principal owner and president of Logistic Concepts, a software developer and marketer of solutions for third-party logistics and supply chain management, before selling this company in 1999.   Joe's first start-up venture was as part owner and chief operating officer of a company that engineered ERP software for the automotive supplier market. Mr. Batteiger's entrepreneurial success was based on a foundation of four-years of IT consulting project management with Ernst & Young, CPAs, plus six years of industry sales with the IBM Corporation in Chicago.  Joe holds a BS degree in Economics and an MBA degree in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin.  He also served a four-year term on the Dean's Advisory Board for the University of Wisconsin, School of Business.  top of page