Alaska SBDC Business Advisors are experts in a wide variety of fields and industries. All of our business advisors have experience as business owners and several hold advanced degrees in relevant areas of study.
Alaska Small Business Development Center
About Us > Our Team
Expert Advisors
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Anchorage Center
Angie Gerken
Angie is passionate about leveraging her 30 years of business expertise to guide entrepreneurs through the complexities of starting and growing their businesses. She understands firsthand the challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs face after being a business owner for 17 years in Anchorage.
Known for her strategic mindset, customer-centric approach, and comprehensive knowledge of human resource management, she has also applied business solutions using cloud and app technology. As a lifelong learner and advocate of professional development, Angie actively pursues new knowledge and skills to stay ahead in the ever-evolving business landscape.
Beyond her professional achievements, Angie is deeply connected to Alaska. Having grown up on the north shore of Lake Iliamna, working in her family’s sport-fishing fly-out lodge and eventually managing it for several years, she has an intimate understanding of the unique business landscape in the state. Angie is a graduate of George Mason University, with additional studies at Yale University and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
When she’s not assisting entrepreneurs in furthering their business goals, Angie indulges her passions for travel, amateur bird watching, and writing. She also cherishes spending quality time with her long-term partner on his saltwater boat, fishing the beautiful waters of Homer and Seward.
Ginny Grabowski
Ginny has been navigating the waters of entrepreneurship and small-business ownership for over 20 years. She is committed to empowering others and is excited to be working to further the SBDC’s mission to help small businesses grow throughout Alaska.
Ginny’s background is in the health and wellness sector. With a Master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion she has expertise in creating and scaling businesses that promote health and wellness. Her strengths are strategic partnership management, client engagement and creating community through workshops, training, and the development of health programs.
Ginny’s ventures have emphasized the importance of a user-centric approach, leveraging technology through website development, social media marketing, and app development to enhance customer experience and engagement.
Ginny arrived in Alaska in 2002 and lost her heart to Alaska while working in the tourist industry in and around Denali National Park. In her downtime you’ll find her running, cycling, skiing, or dancing to live music with her husband all over Southcentral Alaska.
Fairbanks Center
Jade Greene, MBA, PHR, SHRM-CP
Jade Greene is an accomplished professional with over thirty years’ experience offering entrepreneurs assistance and counseling in best business practices with creating or expanding their small businesses. She draws upon her expertise as a Consultant listening to the needs of clients to offer realistic and sustainable solutions for their business questions and/ or concerns. Her areas of expertise also include HR Management and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. She is also in the process of completing Lean Six Sigma certification.
Jade graduated from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with a minor in Psychology. Her education continued, focusing on Global Management, with a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Jade is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Capella University (specializing in Entrepreneurship and Leadership) which will be completed by the end of 2024.
Jade spends as much time as possible communing with nature by exploring the parks and wild areas that make Alaska such a unique place to live and work (she highly recommends the Sea Life Center in Seward). She also has an active interest in arts and crafts especially the beadwork of Alaska Natives.
Juneau Center
Sandy Hussain
Sandy Hussain has over a decade of experience as an entrepreneur in the retail and technology sectors. As the founder and CEO of Fashion Digital, she led a premier thought leadership conference series in New York, Los Angeles, and LA.
Sandy thrives on helping businesses grow and scale, specializing in digital marketing, e-commerce, startups, business development, fundraising, and entrepreneurship. She holds a Master’s in Urban Planning from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in International Politics from Bryn Mawr College.
A passionate lifelong traveler and explorer, Sandy has lived in dynamic cities like New York, London, Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Los Angeles before making her home in Juneau, Alaska.
Kenai Peninsula Center
Cliff Cochran, MBA
Cliff Cochran has been involved with small business leadership in the Central Kenai Peninsula for over ten years. He started with Soldotna Aircraft Repair and later managed the warehouse department for Custom Seafood Processors. He also served as an officer in the Air Force, before returning home to Alaska in 2015. He specializes in financial analysis, feasibility studies, and business planning.
Cliff has a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management from the University of Alaska Anchorage, a Master of Business Administration from Sonoma State University, and a Master of Public Administration from Golden Gate University.
Robert Green
Robert Scott Green is a successful business owner, Registered Investment Advisor, and Tax Preparer serving clients in Alaska and Texas.
Prior to joining the Alaska Small Business Development Center team, he worked as a Financial Advisor at Smith Barney in Anchorage, at Alaska Communications Systems as a Business Account Manager, and, at the time, was the only securities licensed personal banker on the Kenai Peninsula with Wells Fargo.
Currently and throughout his career, Robert personally assists many small businesses and individuals in their business and personal endeavors as an investment fiduciary, tax preparer, and advocate for their interests through advisory and personal relationships.
Robert came to Alaska in 1998 and his first work was as manager of, then, state-owned Chena Hot Springs Pool and Recreation where he instituted many processes that reduced losses to the state at that time in addition to creating safety measures to protect patrons while soaking their weary bones.
Kelly Ann Cavaretta
Kelly Ann Cavaretta lives and breathes small business. Her past 7 years have been predominantly defined in marine tourism – managing a push-the-limits seasonal small business explosion that Seward summers know best. An entrepreneur herself, Kelly Ann comes from a footing of shared experiences as SBDC’s newest Seward Business Advisor.
From working as an environmental consultant in San Diego, to managing 60 seasonal employees and a seasonal boat tour company in Seward, to starting her own small yoga studio and own nightly rental business, Salted Roots Cabins, to buying an existing downtown restaurant and long-term rental business, Thorns, Kelly Ann hopes to bring real time experience to her community clients.
To say Seward is her home is an understatement – She’s a proud resident of Seward, a community volunteer and board member, an avid recreationist in these coastal mountains, and a new mom.
Kelly Ann has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University.
Mat-Su Center
Misty O’Connor
Misty has over 20 years entrepreneurial experience as the founder of two successful businesses. As the owner of Point Click Learn, an educational technology company that sold proprietary software to schools and provided professional development to educators in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York for 15 years, Misty gained valuable insights into sales, marketing & advertising, professional development, grant writing, creating financial projections, and establishing distribution channels.
Misty’s second business was a family-owned special events venue located on her rural property. Misty, her father, and her two children ran the venue business hosting weddings, family reunions, graduation parties, bridal and baby showers, and garden club tours of the grounds. As outdoor and private venues for weddings and special events have become very popular, she looks forward to sharing her 15 years experience with the SBDC clients.
Misty has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the University of Evansville, and a Master’s of Arts degree in English from the University of Central Florida.
Throughout her career and partnering with the SBDC at Gannon University in Pennyslvania, Misty used her knowledge and experience to assist other small business owners start their own businesses. Misty’s passion is working with people to see their entrepreneurial dreams become a reality and she’s now excited to assist in building and strengthening of Alaska’s small businesses.
Kayla Robson
Kayla Robson, with over ten years of entrepreneurial and leadership experience combined is proud to support Alaska’s small businesses as a Mat-Su Business Advisor for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Born and raised in Alaska, she is passionate about empowering local entrepreneurs to succeed. As the owner of Sunshine Auto Parts, a successful auto parts store in Talkeetna, AK, and the President of Shuyak Inc. on the Board of Directors of a small village corporation, Kayla has gained valuable insights into business strategy, financial planning, marketing, and community engagement.
Kayla’s experience as a lifelong Alaskan has given her a unique understanding of our state’s diverse regions and business needs. She also has an AAS degree in Business Administration with a focus on HR Management, and nearly 8 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. However; Kayla’s true entrepreneurial journey began by owning and operating Sunshine Auto Parts, serving Alaskans and building a strong community, as well as leading a Board of Directors in developing business strategies for growth and profitability.
Throughout Kayla’s professional career, she’s partnered with fellow business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to drive growth and development in Alaska. As a proud Alaskan woman business owner, she is dedicated to helping others achieve their dreams. Now, as an SBDC Business Advisor, Kayla is most excited to share her expertise and passion with Alaska’s small business community.
Rural Center
Ruth Wolfe
Ruth Wolfe is an Alaska Native Yup’ik with family roots in Nightmute and Perryville. Passionate about rural development and sustainable growth, Ruth is committed to building opportunities for future generations. Ruth has experience working in Commercial Real Estate, guiding small businesses in buying, selling, and leasing properties throughout Alaska. She brings a wealth of knowledge in financial analysis, marketing strategies, and research support.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in Psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She is pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.