Meet Our Team

Elizabeth Pena
Elizabeth PenaExecutive Director
For over 25 years, I assisted small businesses with advising and now as an executive director. I want everyone to consider the SBDC as a tool in their toolbox to maximize success as a small business owner.

Director’s Message

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Sul Ross Small Business Development Center where you will be assisted by one of our knowledgeable and experienced business advisors.

“Helping Small Businesses Start and Grow” is the goal of the SRSU-SBDC. We accomplish this goal by assisting established firms, growth companies, and start-up enterprises meet the challenges in today’s evolving global marketplace. Our primary focus is on delivering business advising and management training to small businesses in our 8 counties in The Big Bend Region.

SRSU-SBDC’s confidential business advising services are provided at no cost to the client by our five counselors in all of our four locations. Advising sessions are designed to help clients address start-up issues, marketing, managing a business, business planning, financing, accounting, strategic planning, human resources, taxes, and many other areas. In addition to our business advising services, the SRSU-SBDC offers a diverse range of free to low-cost live seminars and no-cost online training that is accessible 24/7.

The SBDC is a partnership program with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Texas South-West Network at UTSA, and Sul Ross State University. Our main office is located in Alpine, Texas. We have trained business advisors waiting to assist you with any business related questions.

We welcome you as a client and encourage you to access our valuable training and advising services. Explore the business advising services and training sections of our Website to learn the next steps to access SRSU-SBDC’s services.

We wish you the best of success with your entrepreneurial efforts and appreciate the opportunity to help you along the way! – Elizabeth Peña.

Senior Business Advisor / Special Projects Manager
Cynthia has been a Business advisor for 17years. She specializes in business startups and expansions, QuickBooks, loan preparation, business planning, COVID-19 Relief Funding and Forgiveness. Her passion is to help clients with the tools they need to start their business, to create and sustain a strong business community. Schedule a Business Advising session today!
Business Advisor
Kevin has been a Business Advisor for 8 years. He specializes in Marketing and recordkeeping. His passion to help customers extends to marketing plans, social media support, and State / Federal tax regulations. Schedule a Business Advising session today!
Business Advisor
Maricela specializes in all aspects of business. Her passion is to help customers grow and run a successful business. Schedule a Business Advising session today!
Business Support Coordinator
Jessika has been working for the Small Business Development Center for 4 years. She specializes in collaborating with other team members and working on special projects. She monitors the team and enforce deadlines. She loves to help clients get the help needed to start or expand a business!
Schedule a Business Advising session today!
Business Advisor
Janie Medina is a Certified II Business Advisor for SRSU-Rio Grande College for about three years. During the onset of COVID-19, she assisted clients through the process of applying for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), and other federal and local grants for small business owners. Currently, she is assisting a lot of startup clients get their dreams going. Here at Small Business Development Center, we assist with startups, expansions, government contracting, SBA funding, and much more.
Business Advisor
John specializes in all aspects of business. His passion is to help customers grow and run a successful business. Schedule a Business Advising
session today!