Established Businesses

Managing Director, Entrepreneurial Business Program and Services, Division I

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Blanca Berthier is the Managing Director of Entrepreneurial Business Program and Services, Division I, at the Women’s Business Development Center. Blanca uses her skills to help clients start and grow their businesses.

Blanca brings over 20 years of experience in business development, marketing, international trade consulting, non-for-profit management, and client relations. Blanca also has extensive entrepreneurial experience.

Blanca holds a B.A. in International Relations from U.S. International University, Mexico City and an M.A. in Philosophy from DePaul University.

Director, Established Business Program and Services

Sarah Bruch is Director of Established Business Program and Services for the Women’s Business Development Center in the St. Paul office. Sarah supports business owners in growing their businesses, and our corporate partners in developing and identifying certified women business enterprises (WBEs) as vendors.

Prior to joining the WBDC, Sarah was an entrepreneur for over 18 years. Her business focused on working with diverse suppliers. She also has a management background with non-profit organizations.

Sarah has an undergraduate degree from Concordia University and a M.S. in Sustainable Business Management from the University of Wisconsin - Stout.

Director, Entrepreneurial Business Program and Services, Division I | Director, Women's Business Center Aurora

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Minerva Calatayud is Director of Entrepreneurial Business Programs and Services, Division I, at the Women’s Business Development Center in the WBDC’s Aurora office. Minerva provides one-on-one and group advising in English and Spanish to women entrepreneurs that want to start or grow their businesses. She also provides training and educational programs for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Minerva has extensive experience developing international strategies that enable companies to expand and grow their markets, as well as in the food and beverage industry. She also has entrepreneurial experience.

Minerva holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Engineering from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and an M.B.A. from the Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico. She also holds an Executive Master’s in International Business from St. Louis University in St Louis, Missouri.

Director, Entrepreneurial Business Program and Services, Division II
Director, Illinois SBDC at WBDC (South Suburbs)

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Felicitas Cortez is Director of Entrepreneurial Business Program and Services, Division II, and Director of Illinois SBDC at WBDC (South Suburbs), located in Richton Park. Felicitas provides business development services, one-on-one and group advising, and business resources to nascent, emerging, and established business owners.

Most recently, Felicitas was executive director of a south suburban chamber of commerce.

Felicitas holds a B.A. in English from Loyola University Chicago.

Managing Director, Established Business Program and Services

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Karen Goldner is Managing Director of Established Business Program and Services at the Women’s Business Development Center. Karen leads the WBDC’s Established Business Services team and is responsible for the WBDC’s WBE certification program, which helps WBEs build capacity for sustainable growth and helps corporate partners identify strong suppliers.

For 20 years, Karen has worked with, in, and for a range of small businesses. In addition to consulting, her experience includes managing early-stage, lending to small businesses, and operating small manufacturing companies.

Karen holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Nebraska and an M.P.A. from Indiana University. In addition, Karen is a certified Community Development Finance Professional from the National Development Council.

Director, Established Business Program and Services

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Cynthia Johnson is Director of Established Business Program and Services at the Women’s Business Development Center in the WBDC’s Chicago office. Cynthia coordinates and delivers relevant programs and procurement events with WBDC corporate partners to help women-owned businesses build capacity and sustain profitable growth.

Cynthia has extensive entrepreneurial experience as founder and CEO of a business that she managed for 30 years. Cynthia also fulfilled executive leadership positions with several non-profit organizations and served on the WBDC Board of Directors.

Cynthia holds a B.A. from Purdue University. In addition, she has taken M.B.A. courses at North Park University Axelson Center for Non-Profit Management and Business Management professional development courses at Northwestern University.

Associate Director, Entrepreneurial Business Program and Services, Division I

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Kinga Kosmala is Associate Director of Entrepreneurial Business Program and Services, Division I, of the WBDC. Kinga provides one-on-one business advising and business development services in English and Polish to new and established women entrepreneurs. She also runs education and training programs in Polish and English.

Kinga brings more than 20 years of higher education and nonprofit management experience.

Kinga holds a Doctor of Philosophy and an M.A. in Slavic Studies from the University of Chicago.

Managing Director, Entrepreneurial Business Program and Services, Division II

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Maura Mitchell is Managing Director of Entrepreneurial Business Program and Services, Division II, at the Women’s Business Development Center and Director of Illinois SBDC at WBDC. Maura partners with entrepreneurs to develop their business plans and raise capital in order to profitably grow their companies.

With a long history of helping small businesses and nonprofits with strategy, legal, and financial issues, Maura provides insights on what it takes for small businesses to thrive in today’s evolving environment.

Maura holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Saint Mary’s College, an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.

Managing Director, Program Innovations

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Lindsay is Managing Director of Program Innovations at the Women’s Business Development Center. Lindsay seeks to cultivate deep relationships between civic leaders, established small businesses, and community members to create an equitable economy and she has helped develop the WBDC’s ScaleUp program.

Lindsay has more than 15 years’ experience with small business advocacy and advising, nonprofit program strategy and creation, and community relationship building.

Lindsay holds a B.A. in Non-Profit Management from Indiana University, and a B. A. in American Sign Language Interpreting from Columbia College.

Director, Entrepreneurial Business Program and Services, Division I | Director, Women's Business Center Chicago

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Yvonne Villalpando is Director of Entrepreneurial Business Program and Services, Division I, and Director of the Women’s Business Center (Chicago) at the Women’s Business Development Center. Yvonne provides business development services and resources to nascent, emerging, and established women entrepreneurs, as well as one-to-one business advising, in both English and Spanish.

Prior to the WBDC, Yvonne held accounting, finance, and administration roles in various companies across a range of industries. Yvonne also has extensive entrepreneurial experience.

Yvonne holds an M.B.A. from Universidad La Salle (Mexico City) and a B.S.A. from Tec de Monterrey (Mexico City).

Director, Program Innovations

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Regina Williams is Director of Program Innovations at the Women’s Business Development Center. Regina is responsible for delivering innovative programming that supports established businesses, as well as direct services to clients, including one-on-one and group advising, workshops, and events.

Regina’s career includes over 15 years of teaching and program management experience in post-secondary arts education. Regina also has extensive entrepreneurial experience and has worked with several entertainment companies and recording artists.

Regina obtained a B.S. and an M.A. in Communications from Ohio University, an M.A.M. in Arts Management and Entrepreneurship from Columbia College, and a Masters in Industrial Design and Technology from Purdue University Global. Regina continues to work toward her Ph.D. in Education from Capella University.