Jim Rhodes is the Director of the Small Business Development Center at Central Arizona College. Jim has a diversified work background in public administration; business administration; sales management; and new business development. He has taught leadership and senior management courses at several Detroit area colleges and universities. In addition, Mr. Rhodes has guest lectured at numerous management training facilities and leadership development symposia.

As a Business Analyst, Dan Shaffer assists start-up and existing businesses in all functional areas including business planning, strategic marketing quality management and financing.  For over 20 years, Dan has owned and managed a successful S-corporation involved in international product sourcing, contract manufacturing and economic development consulting. His clients have included major US corporations, municipalities, Indian nations, Arizona State University and the U.S. Agency for International Development. In addition, Dan has taught small business management at Arizona State University and has personally prepared many business plans and feasibility studies for his clients.

Jack W. Malpass is our counselor in the San Tan area.  Jack is a founding member and former President/CEO of the San Tan Area Chamber of Commerce.  After many years of working in  sales, sales management, marketing management, training & development, human resources, organizational learning & development and as a corporate executive, he began a business coaching practice.  Jack is an Executive/Business coach to executives and business managers in developing comprehensive managerial/leadership effectiveness across a broad spectrum of industries and businesses both large and small.  He is a consultant to corporations, businesses and individuals that desire to enhance productivity through improving human performance.  Jack was the adjunct professor of psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University where he taught in both the undergraduate and Master’s program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Organizational Behavior.

Bill Borders is our Casa Grande area counselor.  Bill has 38 years of experience in business and has worked for or with over a dozen Fortune 500 companies.  He received his BSEET from Arizona State University and is a Certified Quality Engineer.  After performing in a number of roles within manufacturing of computer sustems within senior management, Quality and Process Assurance/Engineering, Bill branched out with his own consulting corporation.  Bill specializes in the design, implememtation and improvement of business/management systems.  Bill also created and implemented the ISO 9000 Certificate program at the University of Phoenix.  During the last 15 years he has assisted more than 50 organizations in becoming more effective and efficient via better management systems and practices.

Larry Gamell, is the Small Business Development Counselor in Maricopa.  Larry has extensive experience in business development and management.  He owned and managed a small chain of retail stores, formed a small business association to address the needs of small minority and women owned businesses in Pasadena, California and chaired a County Redevelopment committee.  Larry holds both a Masters and Doctorate Degree in Business Administration and he is a sought after consultant in the healthcare industry having held several executive positions in the Nevada University System and the State Health Department.

Tom Baxter provides counseling in both Casa Grande and Apache Juntion. Mr. Baxter's business career spans over 40 years.  Initially involved in the Industrial Engineering department of UPS, Tom was involved with the evaluation and application of time-motion studies.  He completed his Management degree from ASU and moved into statistical and financial analysis for several Fortune-100 companies.  After completing a Masters in International Business from Thunderbird, he became the Director of Administration for an international nonprofit.  This position provided him the opportunity to provide business training in support of microenterprise loans to entrepreneurs in Africa and Eastern Europe.   In 1994 he purchased a small manufacturing company which he operated for 10 years.  He is now teaching financial education classes under the FINRA grant awarded to Apache Junction Public Library.

Lorrie Pena is our Program Assistant.  Lorrie has over 10 years of customer service and administrative experience, working for both small and large organizations.  She has a bachelor's degree in Business Management from The Pennsylvania State University.  Lorrie provides administrative support to the Center.

Our counseling sessions are one-on-one and are available to those who are currently in business or those who wish to start a business.   Call the Central Arizona College SBDC at 520-494-6610, send an email or fill out a Request for Counseling form today to schedule an appointment with a counselor.

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