News

March 19th is SBDC Day!

March 19, 2025/

Everything Business. Think GFDA.

Great Falls Development Alliance is pleased to introduce you to our Small Business Development Center Team (SBDC) on

National Small Business Development Center Day!

What if you could increase your profit margin? How about identifying ways to decrease your operating expenses? What if you could find new customers? Your Small Business Advisor can help! Working with an advisor can guide your business growth, sustainability, and transition. Since 1992, Great Falls Development Alliance Small Business Development Center Advisors have helped thousands of businesses across North Central Montana increase sales and success, and all of our services are provided at no cost to the business owner.

Some areas of expertise include:

Business Start Up Questions
Business Plans and Detailed Financial Projections
Industry Research
Marketing and Sales Strategy Development
Securing Funding and Access to Capital
Business Licenses and Permits
Business Growth and Expansion Planning
E-Commerce and Online Presence Optimization
Building Customer Base
Legal Structure and Compliance Assistance
Preparing to Sell Your Business

Deb has been a SBDC Business Advisor at GFDA for almost a year. She has extensive experience working for four other SBDC’s in Minnesota for the past 15 years. Deb’s specialty is training, running cohorts, creative solutions and marketing. Deb has owned her own business for many years and enjoys sharing what she’s learned with other entrepreneurs. She is passionate about seeing an idea come to fruition and then celebrating with small business owners at different milestones throughout the journey. Deb’s biggest advice for clients is to fall in love with the process and journey while embracing the learning.

Rich has been an SBDC Business Advisor for almost six years. He enjoys working with a client and helping them solve their problems and watching them follow through on their goals. Rich’s has a strong background in digital marketing and can help business owners take control of their digital presence. He also excels at helping clients with financial projections and profit/loss statements. Rich’s advice for clients is to do research to understand your customers and what problem you are solving for them.

Christian has been an SBDC Business Advisor for almost two years. His specialty is working with Veterans. Not only is Christian a Veteran, he was also a business owner and entrepreneur. He understands the unique challenges and opportunities offered to entrepreneurs who are also Veterans. Christian enjoys chatting with clients and learning about their ideas and passions and then watching most of these ideas come to fruition. His biggest advice for clients is having an open mind. Sometimes a plan doesn’t go exactly as planned.