Meet the SBDC Team

Berny Berger

Berny has been an SBDC consultant since January of 2017. Her prior experience encompasses owning her own small business, 20 years in business accounting and office management, and a 19-year tenure within the business finance program at Southwest Initiative Foundation. During her time there, she spent 17 years managing their SBA and USDA Microloan programs. Berny also assists her husband in their farming operation near Gibbon, MN. She thoroughly enjoys working with entrepreneurs and loves the work she is able to do to assist them.

Todd Herman

For over a decade, Todd has led or held leading positions in start-ups to Fortune 500 organizations directing growth and profitability utilizing finance as a strategic guide. He enthusiastically works with entrepreneurs and organizational leaders with revenues between $0 and $40 million. With extensive experience in a variety of industries, the services I provide are focused on financial analysis and growth, projections/budgets/forecasts, cash flow planning, dashboards and visualizations, data cleansing and bookkeeping, and debt/equity capital raises.

Todd received his degree in accounting from Saint John’s University with a concentration in finance. Todd is pursuing an MBA from St. Cloud State University, with a focus on Finance and Leadership. In his free time, he enjoys being at the lake with family and playing or watching sports.

Duane Hoversten

Duane has been a part time consultant with the SW Minnesota SBDC for 25 plus years. He has a BS degree from Mankato State University and an MBA from Cardinal Stritch. Duane has started and owned a number of his different businesses. He also taught Small Business Management at Ridgewater College and South Central Colleges for 20 years, giving a broad background and experience to work with small businesses in the region.

Ruth Ann Karty

Ruth Ann served as a Professional Business Consultant for the SW MN SBDC for more than 25 years. Her areas of expertise include business planning, cash flow projection, loan packaging, financial and profitability analysis, exit/succession planning, managing record-keeping, financial literacy, resolving pre-start and post-start issues, and various other aspects of business development. 

Ruth Ann has worked with all types of businesses across the 18 County Region of Southwest Minnesota.  Ruth Ann was honored to be selected Minnesota’s SBA Financial Services Champion in 2014. 

Ruth Ann and her husband live on a farm in Yellow Medicine County. She is a grandmother of nine. Ruth Ann is dedicated to supporting economic development, education, and job creation in Southwest Minnesota to provide opportunities for future generations to live and work here.

Ruth Ann is now serving as a Consultant Advisor.

Pam Lehmann

Since 2015, Pam has served as a Professional Business Consultant with the SBDC, leveraging her extensive experience in economic development, vocational education, finance, management, human resources, recruitment, sales, and marketing, including social media and basic website design. Pam provides assistance with pre-venture planning, business planning, cash flow projections, profitability analysis, loan packaging, succession planning, digital marketing, business branding, human resources, bookkeeping, financial literacy, and various other business development or expansion projects.

Pam is currently certified by the National Development Council as an Economic Development Finance Professional and has completed training for the QuickBooks Desktop ProAdvisor examination.

Pam lives in rural Boyd MN on the family farm with her husband Dean and they are blessed to have all of their children and grandchildren living nearby.

Cara Menz

Cara is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in direct sales, consistently leading large teams and achieving top-tier sales results, often ranking in the top 10% of the companies she has partnered with. Her passion for entrepreneurship extends beyond direct sales as she has successfully launched and is currently developing new business ventures. Cara believes in the power of action—turning ideas into reality through resourceful and determined efforts.

Residing in Redwood Falls with her husband, Cara finds inspiration and rejuvenation in the beauty of nature. She enjoys outdoor activities with each season, including walking, deep conversations with friends, and the transformative experience of sauna and cold plunge.

Married with two adult sons, Cara values personal growth and enjoys being immersed in the natural world, which constantly renews her spirit. Her approach emphasizes the importance of trying new things, learning from each experience, and embracing the unknown to discover areas of strength and areas for growth.

Paul Pierson

Paul Pierson provided services to southwest Minnesota for over thirty years as a USDA Business and Industry Area Specialist.

Paul has maintained his role as a Professional Small Business Development Center consultant for the Southwest SBDC, providing guidance to both startup ventures and existing businesses within the region.

Mike Ricart

Mike's prior experience was dedicated to the retail sector, continuing as an executive trainee at Dayton’s and concluding as a Senior Vice President of Stores for Herberger’s.

In more recent years, he has been passionately involved in guiding business owners, offering detailed consulting services, with a focus on various sectors, including restaurants, grocery stores, breweries, retail, and small industries. Mike has also been gifted with the ability to speak Spanish. He is committed to assisting entrepreneurs in maximizing their business potential in the marketplace which fuels his enthusiasm as a proud member of SBDC. Mike looks forward to contributing to the success of businesses and fostering growth in our community.

Liz Struve

Liz has filled many roles within the SBDC, with over 20 years previously serving as the SBDC regional director.

In her new role as a Professional Business Consultant, she provides confidential one-on-one assistance to current or prospective small business owners.

Liz and her husband live in rural Slayton and enjoy spending time with their three children and six grandchildren. 

Cynthia Zimmer-Robinson

For more than 5 years, Cindi has served as a dedicated business consultant at SBDC, also playing a crucial role as the link between SBDC and the Lower Sioux Community. Drawing from her own experience as a business owner, she possesses a deep comprehension of the requirements specific to Native American entrepreneurs.

Alongside a colleague, Cindi will be taking the lead in hosting workshops throughout the upcoming autumn and winter seasons, with a special emphasis on Native American arts and crafts.

Residing in Redwood Falls, Cindi shares her home with her husband, with her children and grandchildren living nearby.