San Antonio Small Business Development Center

Anna Borrego joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2007.

Anna is the Stakeholder Communications Coordinator and is responsible for analyzing, compiling, and reporting economic impacts of SBDC services. She also communicates SBDC clients' successes to various stakeholder groups.  She has over 14 years of extensive customer service experience.  

Anna earned a BBA in Marketing from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.   She also holds the Certified Administrative Professional designation.

Ben Garza joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2007.

As a Business Advisor, Ben provides his clients with confidential, one-on-one advising, specializing in business plans and intellectual property development, strategic/tactical planning, sales and marketing, accounting and finance. 

He has over 15 years of small business ownership & management experience, primarily in consultative business solutions and private investment funding.  In addition, he has more than 20 years technical and management consulting experience, as well as experience in mergers and acquisitions, preparing due diligence packages and validating business models for investor groups.

He holds a BBA in Accounting and an MBA in Finance both from Our Lady of the Lake University.

Ben supports clients located south of San Antonio, in Atascosa, Frio, Medina, and Wilson counties. 

David Baenziger joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2000.

As Counseling Coordinator, David provides guidance and training to the Business Advisors of the SASBDC.  He also presents workshops and training seminars both within the Institute for Economic Development and out in the community.  Topics include business planning, financial management, marketing and Value Based Leadership.  As a Senior Certified Business Advisor, he coaches business owners on sales and customer service strategies for their businesses.  He assists clients starting or expanding a business, as well as preparing business plans and financial projections for loan packages.

David has over 20 years experience as a small business owner in the grocery and convenience store industry.   

David earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwest Texas State University.

Erica Rodriguez joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2007.

As an Administrative Associate in the Training Department, she assists new and existing business owners by organizing and promoting training and development workshops for the SBDC. 

Erica graduated from The University of Texas at San Antonio where she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration Degree with a concentration in Marketing.

Erika Tarin joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2010.

As a Business Advisor, Erika helps entrepreneurs become CEOs. Her expertise is in the areas of business start-up, business plan development, marketing, brand promotion, and strategic planning.

Erika has over 10 years experience as a small business owner, including 5 years in the fashion industry, where she launched a brand targeting the young, urban, and Hispanic markets. Her specialty areas are marketing, brand development, retail, wholesale, and product launching.

She received her BBA in Marketing and Latin American Business from Texas State University and is a graduate of St. Mary’s University where she earned a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business.

Heather Halstead joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2009.

Her mission is to provide support for the daily operations within the SBDC and to assist existing and potential clients with questions about SBDC training programs and SBDC counseling services.

Heather has eight years of experience in customer service, as well as two years of experience as a small business owner in the fields of photography, graphic design and marketing.

Heather graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

Jaime Martinez joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2007.

Jaime’s role as a Senior Business Advisor is to provide specialized business advice in the areas of business plans, financial projections, and marketing plans.

He began his professional career with Frost National Bank working in the Customer Service, Telephone Banking, and International Private Banking departments.  Jaime continued his banking career with Wachovia Bank as a Financial Specialist.  He assisted his clientele with consumer/business lending, financial advice, and money management.  He also advised small business owners on sales, marketing, and customer service strategies.  As an International Banker he assisted many Mexican National business owners with establishing their businesses in San Antonio.

Jaime holds a BBA in International Business from UTSA and is a candidate for an MBA in Management from Our Lady of The Lake University in August 2010.   

Janie Paschal joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2009.

Janie assists potential and existing business owners with information about available services from the SBDC, including business workshops, online training and business advising services.

Janie brings 20 years of managerial, administrative and customer service experience to her position.  She spent the majority of her career working for the country's fourth largest property & casualty insurance company where she was a Director of Insurance Operations.  Janie is also a small business owner. 

She is a graduate of Abilene Christian University where she earned a Bachelors of Business Administration degree in Marketing.  She is also a graduate of the Executive Education Program at the Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia.  

Lisa Owens joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2010.

As an Administrative Associate, Lisa provides support to clients and future clients by answering their questions about small business ownership and registering them for workshops.  She also prepares performance charts, monthly/annual reports for the center and tracks client’s successes.

Prior to joining the SA SBDC, Lisa served as an Intelligence Analyst in the US Navy for 16 years. 

She holds a degree in Accounting from Hawaii Pacific University.

Mark Ahrens joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2006.

As a Certified Business Advisor, Mark works with clients wanting to start a new business or expand an existing business.  He specializes in marketing, promotional planning, site analysis, eCommerce (eBay and web development), business planning, financial planning and strategic planning. 

Mark has over 10 years of small business ownership and management experience, primarily in the grocery store industry. In addition, he has over 10 years experience in wholesale consulting and advertising, including positions as a retail business consultant and advertising manager for a national company.  This experience gives Mark an in-depth knowledge of buying and marketing programs that he shares with small business owners.

Mark has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business with a Marketing emphasis from Indiana State University.  He also received the Retail Business Consultant Certification from SVU.   

Morrison Woods joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 1989.  He has held various positions within UTSA since 1984.

As the Director of the Small Business Development Center, he manages the daily operations of the Center, including strategic planning, setting policies and procedures, project management, committee involvement with other IED programs and numerous economic development activities. 

Prior to joining UTSA, Morrison worked in international trade with the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and program management with the San Antonio Mexican Chamber of Commerce. He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer with a fishing cooperative in Costa Rica after which he worked for a Costa Rican shoe-manufacturing firm.

He holds a BBA and MBA from The University of Texas at Austin.

Phillip Webb joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2010.

As a Business Advisor, Phillip helps clients who want to start a new business or expand an existing business.  His areas of expertise include real estate, restaurant management, franchising, and custom home building. 

Prior to joining the SBDC, Phillip was owner/operator of a McDonald’s franchise for 10 years.  He spent another eight years as a supervisor within an independent McDonald’s organization.  He also owned a residential construction company, a wine tasting room, and was a licensed realtor and insurance agent. 

Phillip holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.   

As a Rural Business Advisor, Phillip supports clients located north of San Antonio in Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr counties.

Patrice McElfresh joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2005.

As a Senior Business Advisor, Patrice provides her clients with advice on all aspects of starting or expanding a business, with specialization in marketing plans, business plan development, business financing, military transition and restaurants.

Patrice has 10 years experience in the banking industry as a commercial lender.  She was a top producer of SBA guaranteed loans during her tenure with Bank of America.  Patrice has also received extensive RMA training and provides expert advice on growing a business. 

She earned her Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree from UTSA and has taken graduate level classes from Troy State University and Webster University.

Richard Sifuentes joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2005. 

As a Senior Business Advisor, Richard assists aspiring entrepreneurs in starting and growing successful businesses.  His expertise is in the areas of business set-up, business plan development, management, operations, small business certifications, government contracting, construction and real estate.

Richard has over 20 years experience in business management, construction, government contracting, real estate, and mortgage consulting.  His background as a business analyst enables him to successfully advise business owners on all aspects of starting or expanding a business.  He also owned his own small business consulting practice.

He is a graduate of Trinity University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.  He has successfully completed the Entrepreneurial Development Program at UTSA, and the Community Minority Business Development Program from UT Austin.

Tom Kennelly joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2009.

As a Business Advisor, Tom works with clients on all aspects of their small business, including developing business plans, reviewing cash flow statements, and preparing financial projections and loan packages.

Tom brings over 10 years of commercial banking experience to the SBDC.  He was a credit analyst and commercial lender, and has extensive experience in credit/financial analysis, bank lending, and customer service. 

Tom has a Bachelors Degree in Economics from Indiana University-Bloomington. 

Wayne Looff joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2001.

As a Senior Business Advisor, Wayne provides solid advice for new and expanding businesses.  He assists clients with all aspects of their business, including preparing business plans and financial projections, with specialization in restaurants, retail and service industries and real estate ventures.

Wayne has over 20 years of experience owning and operating restaurants. Wayne is a real estate broker and has experience in real estate development.  He provides his counseling services and business start-up workshops for area organizations, such as Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development Corporations located in Seguin, New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, Bulverde, and Schertz. 

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Texas State University.

Wayne supports clients located east of San Antonio in Comal and Guadalupe counties.

Yanet Gomez joined the San Antonio Small Business Development Center in 2006.

In her position, Yanet is responsible for all aspects of SBDC’s training and development program, including curriculum development, course selection, organizational communication and event planning.  Her focus is to support entrepreneurs with seminars and workshops that provide the training and tools to help guide their business venture.

Yanet brings over 14 years of adult education experience, seven of those involving staff development in a corporate setting. She has worked in behavioral healthcare and adult education in a university environment.

She earned her BA and MA in Communications from The University of Texas Pan American.