Lake Huron Region
Saginaw Valley State University
Serving Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Bay, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Midland, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Saginaw counties
SVSU Scott L. Carmona College of Business
7400 Bay Rd., C300
University Center, MI 48710
Chris Vieau, Regional Director
Email: sbdc@svsu.edu
Phone: 989.964.4904
Hours: 8am-4:30pm ET Monday-Friday
Featured Event
The Business by the Bay Pitch Competition is your chance to shine! Small business owners in Bay County, Michigan are encouraged to apply for the Michigan SBDC’s Business By the Bay Pitch Competition.
Applications due August 13, 2025 at 5:00pm.
Your business journey starts here.
Whether you’re launching a new venture, growing your company, or navigating challenges, we’re here to help. Our expert team provides no-cost consulting, market research, business education, and the resources you need to succeed.
Serving small businesses across the Lake Huron Region, we’re committed to helping entrepreneurs like you build strong, resilient businesses. Let’s take your next step—together. Ready to get started?
Lake Huron Team
We’re more than just business consultants—we’re your partners in success. Our dedicated team is here to provide expert guidance, no-cost consulting, and valuable resources to help your small business thrive. Whether you’re starting, growing, or overcoming challenges, we’re ready to support you every step of the way. Let’s build something great—together!
Chris Vieau
Regional Director
cmvieau@svsu.edu
Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA from Central Michigan University. He spent 27 years at Dow Chemical, where he gained global leadership experience in accounting and supply chain operations, driving efficiency and strategic growth. He then led enterprise-wide process improvements at Chemical Bank, contributing to significant organizational expansion. Most recently, he served as Supply Chain Director for MidMichigan Health, applying his expertise in operational excellence to the healthcare industry. With a strong passion for data-driven decision-making and process optimization, Chris has built a career transforming business operations to enhance performance and profitability.
Michael Nunneley
Associate Regional Director/Business Consultant
mwnunnel@svsu.edu
Michael has worked with the SBDC for five years helping hundreds of businesses of all shapes and sizes. Prior to that, Mike was a commercial banker/lender helping start-ups and multi-million-dollar businesses with their banking and lending. Before becoming a banker, for twelve years he owned two professional photography studios and photo centers in Alpena and Oscoda. Mike also worked for Anhauser Busch and grew up in his parents’ pharmacy business that just celebrated fifty years in business. He also served an Alpena City Councilman and six years as an Alpena County Commissioner. Mike also worked as an instructor at Alpena Community College in addition to coaching multiple youth sports teams and authoring multiple books on personal finance and hunting, fishing and the outdoor arts.
Kate Cardinali
Business Consultant
ktcardin@svsu.edu
Kate Cardinali is a design and marketing expert who drives business growth. She combines creative vision with strategic thinking to deliver impactful results for her clients. With a BFA from Saginaw Valley State University and an MBA from Northwood University’s DeVos Graduate School, Kate brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to every project. She believes that successful businesses thrive on the intersection of creativity and smart strategy.
Michelle Judd
Business Consultant
michelleleejudd@gmail.com
Michelle is a professional small business consultant based in Bay County, Michigan, as well as a seasoned entrepreneur and university professor at Northwood and Saginaw Valley State Universities. With 30 years of experience across industries such as hospitality, retail, publishing, restaurants, bars, and real estate, Michelle brings deep expertise in business strategy and operations. Holding an MBA with academic background in advertising at Michigan State and marketing and management at SVSU, Michelle is committed to providing thoughtful, practical, and results-driven advice to help clients grow and succeed.
Karlie Robinson
Business Consultant
ksrobins@svsu.edu
Karlie Robinson has been bootstrapping online businesses since the late 1990s and has been advising small business owners since 2007. She brings her knowledge of lean startups, software technology, and online presence management to her clients. Karlie has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan and has obtained her MBA.
Amberlyn Hales
Business Consultant
aehales@svsu.edu
Amberlyn Hales is a Chief Scientific & Growth Officer and Certified Business Consultant with extensive experience in driving innovation and strategic growth across diverse sectors. She possesses a proven track record of success in commercializing emerging technologies, securing funding, and navigating regulatory complexities. Amberlyn’s expertise spans strategic planning, financial analysis, marketing, and operations, providing comprehensive support to businesses at all stages of development. Her background includes significant experience in research and development, and she is adept at translating scientific advancements into commercially viable products and services. She is passionate about helping businesses thrive and is also a small business owner as a hobby owning two restaurants.
Carl Bourdelais
Business Consultant
Carl.Bourdelais@outlook.com
Carl has worked with the MI SBDC for 28 years. He has helped thousands of people chasing their dreams, helping them make educated decisions. Prior to his current role, Carl gained experience while working in Manufacturing in New Hampshire and then in Michigan, working in R & D, Process and Quality Control, Marketing, International Business, and Management. He has also taught college level business courses for a variety of institutions over 20 years. Local involvement included terms on Alpena’s Brownfield Board, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and Thunder Bay Theatre.
Timothy Rygwelski
Business Consultant
trrygwel@svsu.edu
Timothy Rygwelski has been a part of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for three years, contributing in various capacities including intake, community engagement, and currently as a Small Business Support Hub Consultant. He holds a BA in Marketing and Management from Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) and is presently pursuing an MBA in Data Analytics at SVSU.
In his role as a Small Business Support Hub Consultant, Timothy collaborates with the Target Alpena Small Business Support Hub to promote economic development across the five-county region of Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Iosco, and Presque Isle.
Tammy Dupuis
Business Consultant
trdupuis@svsu.edu
With over 25 years of leadership experience, Tammy Dupuis brings expertise in people development, business consulting, and economic growth to the Lake Huron Region. As part of the SBDC team, she supports small businesses across Otsego, Roscommon, Montmorency, Crawford, Ogemaw, and Oscoda Counties, helping them launch, grow, and innovate.
A successful small business owner herself, Tammy has a strong track record in innovation, profitability, and customer retention. She holds an advanced degree in Training and Development and has extensive experience in business administration. Previously, she played a key role in business growth at Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling. Tammy’s position is made possible through a partnership with the Otsego County Economic Alliance, Inc., reinforcing a shared commitment to economic development in Northeastern Michigan.
Brent Gettel
Business Consultant
bdgettel@svsu.edu
Brent Gettel brings over 25 years of expertise in commercial banking. He was a Commercial Lender for 15 years in the Great Lakes Bay Region and has experience structuring real estate, equipment and line of credit loan packages. This also includes government-backed, development, and investment loan financing. He has served as a Commercial Loan Underwriter, Portfolio Manager and Analyst on credits throughout the Midwest. His primary focus as a lender was to small businesses which has equipped him with the background and risk assessment skills to assist our SBDC clients in the Lake Huron Region.
Anna Dunavant
Intake Coordinator
amdunava@svsu.edu
Anna is the Intake Coordinator here at the Michigan SBDC Lake Huron Region. She has processed hundreds of clients through our system and helped them take their first steps to get connected with consultants from the SBDC. Anna is a student worker at Saginaw Valley State University. She is a third-year student and is studying to obtain a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She has worked for the SBDC for about 1.5 years and is passionate about helping and developing small businesses.
Madison Bourgeois
Community Engagement Specialist
mlbourge@svsu.edu
Madison Bourgeois is the Community Engagement Specialist for the Michigan SBDC Lake Huron Region. She focuses on marketing the SBDC to clients and points people in the direction of the SBDC.Madison is a student worker at Saginaw Valley State University and is working towards her marketing degree. She recently completed her Disney College Program, where she worked as a merchandise hostess in the EPCOT theme park. She has been with the SBDC since September 2024 and is passionate about empowering and supporting small businesses
Jeniya Hines
Intake Coordinator
jlhines2@SVSU.edu
Jeniya is the Intake Coordinator here at the Michigan SBDC Lake Huron Region. She is the first point of contact for new clients and plays a key role in guiding them through the intake process – that way they get connected with SBDC consultants. She is a student worker at Saginaw Valley State University, going into her third year pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting. As she’s recently stepped into this role, she is excited and committed to supporting small business development across the region.
Client Success Stories
nTechQuity Community Learning
In her former IT roles, Todd Rennae Boone witnessed a wide digital divide and...
Princess and the Hound
Owner Jena Monville quit her full-time job and bought a trailer to build her...
Michigan Cream & Sugar
Michigan Cream & Sugar is an ice cream company based in Bay City that...