Rachel Anderson

Acting Director, efactory

Rachel Anderson is the Acting Director at the efactory. She is also the cofounder of Alumni Spaces, a tech startup company and the manager for Shaun Munday, a soul musician. Previously, Rachel was the head of marketing for a global executive search firm based in Los Angeles. She has also held roles in fundraising, governmental relations, alumni relations and recruiting. Rachel is a member of the Gillioz Executive Board, Biz 417 Advisory Board, The Network and Springfield Creatives. She has been recognized by Biz417 as “10 for the next 10 in 2017” and the Springfield Business Journal’s “12 People You Should Know in 2018.”

David Bippes

Operations Assistant

David is a senior at Missouri State University, studying Entrepreneurship. He also works at D3 Technologies as a Business Intelligence Intern, supporting their sales, technical, and executive teams. Before moving to Springfield, David was a Computer Science major at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri. He switched to a business major here because let's be honest, math isn't everyone's favorite subject.

Matthew Bowie

Operations Assistant

Lance Coffman

Regional Business Consultant

Lance Coffman is a consultant for the SBTDC. He has over 15 years of marketing and management experience with small businesses nationally. Lance is an entrepreneur and business owner. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a concentration in Marketing Management and an MBA with a certificate in Management, both from Missouri State University.

Brad Davidson

Technology Specialist

Tara Horton

Training Coordinator

Tara Horton is the Training Coordinator for the Management Development Institute (MDI) and the Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC). She has over 27 years of experience in marketing, advertising and public relations work. She is responsible for managing and marketing the professional development programs for MDI and the SBTDC outreach programs. She works directly with business and industry leaders to design training and professional development programs to meet specific company and employee needs in southwest Missouri. Tara joined the MSU SBTDC in February of 2000 and additionally began managing the MDI public training programs in March 2012. Previously, she was the Marketing Director for KSPR-TV the local ABC affiliate, served as Marketing Director for Barclay Enterprises which owned 6 quick-lube franchises and 3 full-service car washes and worked as a Retail Account Executive for The Springfield News-Leader. Tara is the Vice President of Marketing on the Board of Directors for the Ozark Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America. She serves as an MSU Bear Connection Mentor for new university employees and as the staff advisor for MSU’s Alpha Chi Omega social sorority. She is a 2004 graduate of MSU’s University Staff Ambassadors program. Tara holds of Bachelor of Science degree in Radio, Television & Film - Sales / Management from Oklahoma State University.

Chrystal Irons

Director, SBTDC & MDI

Chrystal Irons joined the MSU Small Business & Technology Development Center and Management Development Institute as director in May 2016. She is responsible for coordinating the resources of the federal, state and local governments with the resources of the University and the private sector to promote growth, expansion, innovation, increased productivity and management improvement in small businesses and prospective small businesses in southwest Missouri. Prior to joining MSU, Irons was the County Program Director and Business Development Specialist for the University of Missouri Extension and SBTDC in Taney County. She was with MU Extension in Taney County since 2010. Irons earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and a Master in Business Administration from Drury University in Springfield, MO. Her expertise is in QuickBooks coaching, business planning, financial projections as well as providing one-on-one business assistance to eight counties in the Southwest Missouri region. She was recently voted the 2016 Missouri State Star Award recipient. She is a fifteen year business owner and entrepreneur in a family business, A-1 Walls & Landscaping located in Ozark, MO. She lives in Ozark with her husband and three children.

Peggy Kahre

Accounting Specialist

Arianna Kopplin

Training Assistant

Jacob Kovarik

Graduate Assistant - Regional

Jacob is a Regional Graduate Assistant for the Small Business and Technology Development Center. He is a recent Missouri State graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Administrative Management and is currently working on obtaining his MBA with an emphasis in entrepreneurship.

Corbin Oliver

Graduate Assistant - Business Projects

Corbin works with the Missouri State University Small Business & Technology Development Center as a Graduate Assistant working on business projects. He is a senior at Missouri State University, studying entrepreneurship and marketing. Upon graduation, he will continue his education at Missouri State University to earn his Master of Business Administration and graduate in December of 2019. Corbin started his own t-shirt company in 2014 and has led many student projects working with real business owners and entrepreneurs throughout his college career.

Mindy O'Leary

Training Assistant

Paige Oxendine

Program Coordinator

Bethany Schenck

Graduate Assistant - Research

Bethany is a Research Graduate Assistant for the Missouri State University Small Business & Technology Development Center. She is an Accelerated MBA student at Missouri State University. Her undergraduate degree is in Administrative Management, and she is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in international business.

Madison Shadowens

Training Assistant

Sandra Smart

Regional Business Consultant

Sandra Smart-Winegar is a consultant for the Missouri State University Small Business & Technology Development Center. She has over 21 years of business experience as a small business owner working with small businesses and large corporations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Production/Operations Management from Southeast Missouri State University and an MBA with an emphasis in management from Missouri State University.

Mikayla Widhalm

Graduate Assistant - Marketing

Mikayla is the Marketing Graduate Assistant for the efactory. She is an accelerated masters student at Missouri State University, studying Marketing Management. She is currently working on obtaining her MBA with a certification in Data Analytics. During her time at Missouri State, Mikayla spent a semester abroad studying Business Administration emphasizing on cultural differences.

Quincy

The Dood

Quincy is a two year old Goldendoodle holding the title of “The Dood” here at the efactory. He has a lot of experience in looking cute, searching employee’s offices for treats, and sleeping under his owner’s desk while she is hard at work. Quincy’s office responsibilities include lapping up spilled water bowls, boosting moods, and catching pesky office flies. Quincy knows he lives a ruff life, but he is very determine to be good at his job.