In the sprawling landscape of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, where entrepreneurial spirit runs as deep as the Susitna River, one woman is helping transform business dreams into thriving realities.
Meet Misty O’Connor, the passionate Center Director of the Alaska Small Business Development Center in the Mat-Su, whose personal journey from educator to serial entrepreneur perfectly positions her to guide others along their own business paths.
A Director Who Walks the Walk
Misty brings something invaluable to her role: she’s been exactly where her clients are now. With over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience under her belt, she’s not just teaching business theory; she’s sharing hard-won wisdom from building two successful ventures from the ground up.
Her first business, Point Click Learn, was an educational technology company that she grew over 15 years, employing 17 professionals that worked and lived across the PCL territory of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Upstate New York. From selling proprietary software, conducting professional development workshops, and speaking at State and National Conferences, Misty mastered the art of sales, marketing, grant writing, and financial planning. These are all skills she now passes on to every client who walks through her door.
Perhaps even more telling is her second venture: a family-owned special events venue that she operated alongside her father and two children on their rural property. This business gave her intimate knowledge of the hospitality industry, seasonal planning, and the unique challenges of running a family business; experiences that resonate deeply with many Alaskan entrepreneurs.
Making Impact Where It Matters Most
Under Misty’s leadership, the Mat-Su Center has become a cornerstone of business support in the region. In 2024 and 2025 alone, she and her team:
- Secured $14.2 M in total funding for local businesses
- Supported 833 jobs across the Valley, more than double the 2020 numbers
- Served 416 clients with personalized guidance and support
- Facilitated 48 new business starts, continuing the center’s steady track record
- Delivered 2,061 hours of one-on-one advising, ensuring every entrepreneur receives the attention they deserve
Recognizing the center’s growing impact across the entire borough, the Mat-Su Borough itself committed $80,000 to support a full-time Business Advisor position dedicated to helping even more local entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. This investment speaks volumes, not just about the center’s performance, but about the Borough’s confidence in Misty’s vision and the role small business plays in the Valley’s future.
Stories That Inspire
The real measure of success isn’t just in numbers, it’s in the lives changed and dreams realized. Take Teela Bieschke of Yukon Tails LLC, whose testimonial captures the essence of what makes the Mat-Su center special:
“I accredit Misty with the SBDC in helping with nearly every step of the business start-up. She guided me through completing the business projections and assisted in finalizing the business plan that ultimately led to securing the loan.”
This kind of comprehensive, hands-on support reflects Misty’s philosophy: entrepreneurship isn’t a solo journey, and no one should have to navigate the complexities of starting a business alone. Just take a look at the incredible success stories!
Innovation Meets Tradition
The Mat-Su Center isn’t just keeping pace with modern business needs, it’s leading the charge. With 97 AI advising sessions conducted in 2024, Misty and her team are helping local businesses understand and leverage cutting-edge technology. Meanwhile, their commitment to promoting local commerce shines through their support of 195 businesses listed on BuyAlaska, strengthening the entire state’s economic ecosystem.
The center also celebrates innovation through programs like TREND Phase 0 and SBIR/STTR support, helping entrepreneurs access federal funding opportunities that can transform promising ideas into market-ready solutions.
Beyond the numbers what sets Misty apart is her genuine passion for seeing others succeed. Having partnered with SBDC programs throughout her own entrepreneurial journey, she understands the profound difference that expert guidance and unwavering support can make.
“When I developed the concept for Point Click Learn in 1999, I went to the SBDC in Erie, Pennsylvania, for guidance. Now over 25 years later, I’m paying it forward helping my clients here in Alaska.”
The Heart of Alaska’s Business Future
In a state where small businesses form the backbone of communities, the work happening at the Mat-Su SBDC Center represents something larger than individual success stories. It’s about building economic resilience, creating local jobs, and ensuring that the entrepreneurial spirit that defines Alaska continues to thrive for generations to come.
Under Misty O’Connor’s leadership, the Matanuska-Susitna Center isn’t just serving businesses, it’s nurturing the dreams that will shape Alaska’s economic future, one entrepreneur at a time. And in a place where success is measured not just in dollars but in the strength of community bonds, that makes all the difference.