Louisville – Kentucky SBDC

KENTUCKY SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER

in Louisville, KY

Kentucky SBDC in Louisville

Serving: Jefferson County

The Kentucky SBDC in Louisville provides one-on-one coaching at no cost to existing and potential entrepreneurs in the Louisville region. The Kentucky SBDC in Louisville also meets the educational needs of the local small business community by offering a variety of low cost training programs taught by industry experts and qualified SBDC Coaches.

David Oetken

Center Director

Dave has worked with the KSBDC for since 2011. Dave began his business career in the sports/entertainment industry, primarily in ice skating and ice hockey. He has owned and managed three ice rinks and earned the Manager of the Year award from the Ice Skating Institute of America. In addition, Dave was operations manager for several professional ice hockey teams in both the East Coast Hockey League and the American Hockey League. He has also owned, operated and sold several businesses in the food industry. From there he moved into the restaurant field, owning and operating a number of franchise concepts. Since 2005 he has owned Louisville News Company, one of the largest distributors of thoroughbred horse publications in the eastern United States. David has a B.A. and M.B.A. from Bellarmine University. Dave has his Export and Trade Counseling Certification from the U.S. Small Business Administration. He remains active in his community and is a past vice chair for GLI’s Small Business Innovation Committee.

Janet Flaugh

Communications Coordinator

Janet Flaugh has worked with the Kentucky SBDC since 2006. Before joining the KSBDC she served as director of volunteer services for the Kentucky Center for the Arts community and still enjoys Louisville’s vibrant arts scene as a patron. Janet has a B.A. in Psychology from Indiana University. When not at work, Janet enjoys anything outdoors – ranging from camping, hiking, kayaking/rafting, fishing to gardening and nature photography.

Rhonda Jones

Business Coach

Rhonda Jones joined the Kentucky SBDC in Louisville team in 2020 as an expert in financial analysis, business management, and sales. Rhonda earned her EMBA from Bellarmine University, as well as professional certification from the American College of Financial Services. Jones has previous experience working with the Kentucky SBDC, but most recently with RR Jones & Associates.

Claire Bridges

Business Coach

Claire Bridges has a background in management, sales, and operations. Prior to joining the Kentucky SBDC in Louisville in 2022, she spent 10 years growing the Mayan Cafe, a Latin-inspired farm-to-table restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky. Most notably, Claire led the expansion and unprecedented growth of the Mayan Cafe Catering business. Claire also holds a real estate license and currently serves clients in Louisville and surrounding counties. A graduate of the University of Louisville, Claire holds a B.A. in music and continues to perform professionally. Through her diverse experience, she recognizes that building an intentional and authentic community is beneficial to individuals and small businesses and uses this to inform her work as a business coach.