Meet Our Central Mountain Team
Greetings from the Central Mountain SBDC Team, your catalyst for business success! We offer free, confidential consulting to empower your business, providing expert advice, essential resources, and access to capital. Schedule an appointment with us today and let’s propel your business journey forward! Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, part of a leadership team, or in a partnership, we’re here to support every step of your business path.
Jamie Billesbach
Center Director of the Central Mountain SBDC. Buena Vista, CO
With over 35 years of experience as an entrepreneur and consultant supporting entrepreneurs, Jamie has been instrumental in operational business expansion, marketing and product brand development/positioning. She excels in assisting clients from the retail, online, specialty and service sectors, among others.
Her expertise encompasses strategic planning, brand positioning, product assortments and scaling, training, and special events significantly benefiting small businesses and non-profits globally.
Through her professional journey, Jamie has established herself as a leader capable of navigating the complexities of business growth and innovation. Her approach is holistic, integrating personal interests with professional expertise to foster environments that encourage both economic development and personal fulfillment. Jamie’s commitment to her work and her community embodies her belief in the power of entrepreneurship to transform lives and landscapes.
A long-time resident and remote worker of Chaffee County, Jamie’s passions include hiking, skiing, camping, local music, and celebrating mountain life with her family and pets.
Tara Reed
Central Mountain SBDC Consultant + Small Business Owner. Salida, CO
Tara is the owner of a bookkeeping business and serves as a consultant and accountant for the Central Mountain SBDC.
She is an outdoor enthusiast and in her spare time, you can likely find her out on a hike.
Kayla Doan
Central Mountain SBDC Consultant, Founder of Intentional Ventures, Founder of Wildflower Kombucha. Salida, CO
Kayla Doan, an innovator from the east coast tech scene, significantly impacted Constant Contact, aiding in the growth of 500,000 small businesses. Her recent roles have seen her spearheading the product shopping experience for e-commerce leaders like Rue La La and Gilt. Beyond her corporate success, Kayla is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs as an active startup mentor and guest lecturer at Boston College, Hult International Business School, and Suffolk University.
Kayla is passionate about fostering innovation in challenging environments, utilizing a range of methodologies such as design thinking, lean startup, agile scrum, and e-commerce best practices. She excels in guiding clients to think creatively, prioritize effectively, and maximize resources.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Kayla embraces a life filled with adventure and creativity. She runs Wildflower Kombucha in Salida and enjoys mountain biking and skiing, alongside her interests in photography and healing arts, blending her love for technology with a deep connection to nature.
Shawn Allison
Central Mountain SBDC Consultant & Real Estate Broker. Salida, CO
Shawn is passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed. He lives and works in Salida, CO and services the Chaffee County area. His expertise is in start-ups as well as helping existing businesses reach their potential through financial planning, cash flow, marketing, sales, new product initiatives, employees, business processes and strategic planning.
Shawn has started, grown and sold several businesses over the last 20 years. Currently he is a Real Estate broker with First Colorado Land Office.
His small business experience helps owners direct their talents toward building their business and attaining their goals while maintain a work / life balance.
Lois Todd
Central Mountain SBDC Consultant & Founder and CEO of Alchemy Strategy Group. Salida, CO
Lois firm specializes in visual strategic planning, executive coaching and team performance. Lois is a certified executive coach and is a master
practitioner and trainer of NLP: Neuro Linguistic Programming. She is a highly skilled facilitator always co-designing interactive sessions and creating trusting atmospheres where everyone feels welcome. Lois’ warm yet direct style is particularly valued by clients looking to become even more exceptional at what they do.
Among her accolades: finalist for “Outstanding Woman in Business” from the Denver Business Journal, “Woman Leader of Excellence” from the Colorado Women’s Leadership Coalition, and “Woman of Achievement” from Women in Communications. Lois grew up in Denver, CO and continues to live in the city though she loves the mountains to ski, hike and bike in with her family. You might also find her in a yoga studio or exploring other parts of the world.
Candace Bryans
Central Mountain SBDC Consultant & Founder, bvcowork & CB Wine Consulting. Buena Vista, CO
Candace Bryans is a former chemistry and biology educator and was most recently an owner and the creator of The Cellar on Railroad Wine & Tapas concept in Buena Vista. After selling The Cellar on Railroad this summer, she purchased the bvcowork in Buena Vista, Colorado, and launched her own consulting company, CB Wine Consulting.
She is currently a Budget Analyst for CDHS, a Certified Sommelier, and the Treasurer for the Women’s Wine Guild of Colorado. Candace has a Master’s in Education and an MBA in Finance from the University of Central Arkansas.
When she’s not training for ultra-marathons, Candace enjoys spending time with her husband Grant, and their two Weimaraners – Jasper and Althea. She also enjoys working with new business owners and entrepreneurs to develop solid business plans and pro forma financial statements.
Leanne Pressly
Central Mountain SBDC Consultant & Founder of Stitchcraft Marketing. Salida, CO
Leanne has been a business and marketing strategist for 25+ years. Owner of Stitchcraft Marketing, an agency specializing in social media strategy and implementation for the craft sector.
Leanne has been a presenter for our Marketing Power workshops with topics that include: Finding Your Why, Identifying Your Ideal Customer, Reaching Your Ideal Customer Through Social Media: What Makes A Great Post?, Time Saving Approaches to Your Marketing & Outreach, Generosity Marketing to Build Your Brand and Sell More!, Creating & Testing New Customer Segments, How to Rethink & Reimagine Your Offerings in an Ever Changing Environment, Using Google Analytics to Make Business Decisions, Tell Your Customers Who You Are: Building a Great About Us Page, Virtual Vending Tips & Tricks, Facebook & Instagram Live: Your Customer Connection, New Trends in Marketing & Sales to Try in Your Business, Back to Basics: Blogging 101, Back to Basics: Newsletters 101.
At home in Salida, she enjoys hiking, knitting, and hanging out with her family.
Susan Dunn
Central Mountain SBDC Consultant & Founder Grand Slam Design, Retired CPA. Buena Vista, CO
Susan Dunn has been a consultant with the SBDC for over 10 years, enjoying helping small businesses launch and grow. From developing branding and promotional campaigns to writing business plans and obtaining funding, she has helped several small businesses get started. Her education is Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Kansas, CPA with Arthur Andersen & Co., and Art and Graphic Design at San Jose State University. As a fine artist, Susan has sold her work professionally, from galleries and shows to commissioned pieces. Her expertise includes branding, storefront design, collateral materials, printing, signage, marketing and promotion; business formation and business plans; and accounting and financial reporting.
Matt Hamrick
Central Mountain SBDC Consultant Salida, CO
Matt Hamrick is a self-taught software engineer with over 10 years of experience in the tech industry. He has worked for several early-stage tech companies, from the pre-seed through Series B funding, including one public company acquisition. In addition to specializing in Software Engineering, he has also worked in Product Management, Quality Assurance, and Engineering Management.
In addition to his work in tech, Matt serves as an investor and advisor to other early-stage tech companies and invests in residential real estate.
Matt is originally from North Carolina, where he attended UNC Chapel Hill. He’s an avid skier and mountain biker and lives in Salida with his wife Charlotte, and golden retriever Frank.
Michelle Kooi
Founder of Confluence Coaching and Consulting, CPA
Durango, CO
Michelle is a dedicated advocate for women navigating transitions and seeking personal growth and transformation. Through her expertise in Co-Active Coaching, Michelle empowers individuals and business owners to gain clarity, cultivate self-awareness, and achieve their long-desired goals. She specializes in reducing stress, fostering new habits for growth, and fostering authenticity and empowerment.
Michelle’s diverse background encompasses finance, coaching, consulting, tax, business development, training, entrepreneurship, health and wellness, travel, and journalism. She is deeply passionate about creating meaningful change, providing value, and living a joyful and purposeful life.
As a coach, Michelle guides entrepreneurs and leaders through periods of change, empowering them to lead with heart, authenticity, and awareness. With her unique blend of experience and education, she embodies a commitment to personal and professional growth, inspiring others to do the same.
Pip Conrad
Central Mountain SBDC Consultant. Villa Grove, CO
Pip has been a resident of Colorado since 2002. She owned and operated, with her husband Aaron, a local project based retail company for 17 years and has “boots on the ground” experience of running a successful business in a small rural town. In her former life in London, Pip worked in the Headhunting industry with a focus on sales, marketing and PR. Pip is a firm believer in giving back to the community that helped her build her business here in Salida and has participated at a board level, and volunteer level in a number of non profits in both Chaffee County and Saguache County, where she and Aaron have lived for the past 22 years. A licensed life coach, Pip recently joined the SBDC consultancy team and is excited to share her knowledge and experience with new (and existing) business owners in the area. She has always worked on the basis that “you can never learn less” and is also enthusiastic about her own learning opportunities with SBDC.
Sam Block
Central Mountain SBDC Consultant and Business + Marketing Coach. Leadville, CO
Sam Block is a Business and Marketing Coach who supports creative solo-preneurs to get crystal clear on their messaging, build a strong business foundation, and make more sales to their dream clients/customers. She loves energizing her clients into taking aligned action whether they are just starting their business or at a stage of scaling.
Sam’s coaching philosophy is rooted in a gentle, supportive approach, guiding her clients toward sustainable business practices that align with their values and promote work-life balance. She believes business should be fun and does her best to practice what she preaches!
In addition to her coaching endeavors, Sam co-owns a second business in the world of experiential marketing and has a background working in brand development, social media marketing, and sales & events across a variety of industries.
When she’s not working with entrepreneurs you can find her gardening, playing rec sports in Leadville, skiing, and exploring around Lake County with her partner, Taylor, and their dog, Nova.
Daryn Ridenour
Central Mountain SBDC Consultant. Poncha Springs, CO
With over 25 years of experience in human resources, management, and executive leadership, Daryn is a seasoned HR professional who excels in guiding organizations through complex transitions and fostering a thriving workplace culture. Daryn’s expertise spans across various HR functions, including organizational development, compensation and benefits, employee relations, talent management, and strategic planning.
Daryn has a proven track record of stepping into organizations at pivotal moments, identifying key priorities, and providing actionable insights and direction. Whether you need support navigating organizational change, enhancing HR systems, or improving employee engagement, Daryn offers a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience to help your organization succeed.
Daryn’s career has given him the opportunity to work across a wide range of industries, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, international non-profits, and small startups in highly regulated sectors. This diverse experience has equipped him with the insight needed to navigate challenging HR issues of all types.
A Colorado native, Daryn embraces the typical Colorado mountain lifestyle. When not working, he enjoys snowboarding, fly fishing, mountain biking, golfing, camping, live music, craft beers, and spending quality time with his family.
Reagan Freed
HR Consultant for a Variety of Colorado SBDC Centers. Denver, CO
Reagan is a HR consultant, is an accomplished HR executive with over 20 years of experience developing people strategies that support organizational goals. Her experience ranges across a wide variety of industries and global companies including CH2M HILL, ECC, Comcast Cable, Sitel and ServiceSource.
Reagan’s broad knowledge of HR and business disciplines enable her to develop unique people strategies designed to contribute to overall strategy and directly impact bottom line results.
Her areas of focus are HR strategy, employee engagement, compliance/policy development and training, process evaluation and improvement, and refining employment structures to meet the ongoing and evolving needs of the business.
Reagan earned her Bachelor’s in Business Management from the University of Colorado, Denver, and is a certified SHRM-SCP. Reagan also serves as an HR Consultant for the Boulder, Northwest, Central Mountain, and West Central Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) and serves on the Board of Directors for the Colorado State HR Council.
