CARMEN DEHART
Senior Director of Entrepreneurial Education – UMKC Innovation Center
Regional Director – Missouri Small Business Development Center
Carmen DeHart directs a team of SBDC business advisors, working with public, private and educational organizations, to support business development and technology commercialization to promote economic growth in the region.
With extensive business experience and expertise, Carmen offers comprehensive and personalized coaching for clients. Her portfolio of skills includes executive leadership coaching, business strategy, financial analysis and business operations from start-up to acquisition.
An entrepreneur for more than 20 years, Carmen co-owned and managed several successful businesses in industrial sales and engineering and fabrication for the metal manufacturing industry. Her family business twice earned the Boeing Eagle Award for Outstanding Performance.
Carmen has been awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration’s SBDC Excellence & Innovation Award, Missouri SBDC State Star by Association of Small Business Development Centers, Economic Development Contribution Award by MU Extension and MO SBDC and the Economic Development Contribution Award by MU Extension and MO SBDC.
She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach, a Missouri SBDC Certified Transformational Coach, Certified Economic Development Finance Professional and Certified Kauffman NewVenture and GrowthVenture Facilitator.
Carmen is an alumnus of the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration, University of Missouri-Kansas City, receiving a BS in business administration and finance. She earned a master of theology degree from Holos University.
REBECCA GUBBELS
Business & Program Development Consultant
Rebecca Gubbels brings a banking and business entrepreneur background to her role of SBDC business and program development specialist and business coach. She teaches entrepreneurial courses, consults with business owners and manages special projects.
Her finance background includes managing a Small Business Administration Microloan Program, a decade of commercial lending and development of financial products for the small business market. Her entrepreneurial experience runs the gamut from packaging loans for pizza and beer money in college, to building a greeting card company and now consulting with small business owners. Her skills include financial analysis, business operations, process improvement, business coaching and classroom facilitation.
Rebecca coordinates and teaches ELEVATIONLAB courses and business training classes for partner programs Digital Sandbox and the Urban Business Growth Initiative.
In 2017, Rebecca was awarded the Missouri SBDC State Star for being chosen as the state’s outstanding business counselor for her contributions to local business growth. In 2016, she received the Associated Industries of Missouri Extension Industry Award for her leadership in providing educational programs that support the economic viability of Missouri firms.
Rebecca earned a bachelor of business administration degree in entrepreneurship from Baylor University.
JILL HATHAWAY-MONTER
Business Development Consultant
Jill Hathaway-Monter’s degree in International Economics and a bank management background, allow her to focus on financials and sales projections to help her business clients grow. Growing up in a family masonry manufacturing business and holding sales positions throughout the Midwest with national footwear brands, Jill brought her entrepreneurial spirit to Kansas City in the late ‘90s, opening a progression of retail shoe stores. Not implementing the strategies she now understand and teaches, she closed her business in 2014.
After participating in the Entrepreneurial Mindset Training at Missouri SBDC at UMKC as a student, she was invited to join the team! Jill focuses on second stage business growth and scaling, applying learned principles and practices to help small and medium sized businesses reach their next level. She is certified in ProfitCents Financial Analysis, LivePlan Strategic Planning, Blue Mesa Transformational Coaching, as well as facilitation of Kauffman’s FastTrac New and Growth Venture, GrowthWheel Curriculum and ELI Entrepreneurial Mindset Training. Her specialties are Cash Flow analysis, Process documentation and HR performance.
SALLY WILLIAMS
Technology Development & Commercialization Consultant
Sally Williams is an innovation expert with a focus on driving growth through business innovation, new product development and commercialization, marketing and strategy. She has more than 30 years of management experience spanning a wide range of innovation and marketing positions with Bayer Healthcare, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Ralston Purina Company, Frito-Lay, Inc., and ALCOA. She has successfully led businesses from start-ups to national brands.
At Missouri SBDC at UMKC, Sally works with entrepreneurs developing various technologies, with products ranging from mobile apps to medical devices. She helps business owners focus on research and potential technology within the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), providing consulting and entrepreneurial training to UMKC’s faculty and researchers. Her expertise is helping entrepreneurs move technology from the lab to the consumer. She is an ELEVATIONLAB instructor, specializing in technology venture courses.
Sally has a bachelor of music degree in vocal music education from the University of Mississippi, and a master of business administration degree with marketing specialization from the University of Illinois at Urbana. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota Music Honorary Fraternity and Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity.
MICHELLE KRETSINGER
Program Coordinator
Michelle Kretsinger is the first person most clients contact when they are looking for assistance from the Missouri SBDC at UMKC. Her role is to help entrepreneurs find the correct trainings or counseling for their stage and type of business. She coordinates registrations, updates website information and ELEVATIONLAB course materials.
Michelle previously worked in the fields of education, insurance and program administration. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Missouri – Columbia.
JOEL BARRETT
Business Development Consultant – Contractor
Joel Barrett brings a coaching/consulting and business entrepreneurship background to his role of contract business development consultant at the SBDC. He is a coach and co-instructor for ELEVATIONLAB NEW VENTURE and facilitates Entrepreneurial Mindset Program and First Steps courses.
Joel has decades of experience as an entrepreneur and business owner. He currently operates his own business, Joel Speaks Out, where he is a LGBTQ writer and speaker. He has worked in the public and private sectors as a general manager, director of marketing, business consultant and community organizer. Joel is recognized for his intuitive ability to determine the next steps for entrepreneurs. His coaching/consulting experience is influenced by his active involvement in community organizations.
He currently serves as a board member and director of programming for the Mid America LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Joel earned a master’s degree in liberal studies with a sustainability focus from Indiana University.
MARK CALHOUN
TECHNOLOGY Development Consultant – Contractor
Mark Calhoun has been a founder, co-founder, partner or investor in a wide variety of startups primarily focused on financial technology, retail or retail technology. In addition he has worked as a technologist or consultant in a variety of industries including banking, insurance, reinsurance, healthcare and transportation. Mark was recently an entrepreneur in residence at nbkc bank where he worked to develop consumer banking solutions and served as an informal advisor at Fountain City Fintech accelerator. He has experience in exiting several startups as a co-founder or investor.
Mark is a graduate of NEW Venture and TECH Venture at the Missouri SBDC. He is also a previous business coaching client.