Anna Bier is a Technology Business Consultant for the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC).  Anna brings extensive experience with federal grants and contracts to the MI-SBTDC as well as engineering research and development and other various aspects of creating and running many divisions of a high-tech business enterprise. 

Before joining the MI-SBTDC, Anna spent seven years as the Vice President/Chief Financial Officer/Scientist of her co-owned small high-tech business in Virginia with ~30 employees and 7 consultants.  As such she has researched, written, negotiated and managed over 30 Phase I and Phase II SBIR and STTR contracts/grants for several U.S. Government agencies including the DoE, DoT, NSF, NIH, NRC, EPA, USDA, DoD, and NIST.  Before the company was sold, 3 products were moved successfully into Phase III commercialization.  Additionally, she has written, presented, and had published several papers at various conferences relating to her engineering and scientific research and served as a technology and commercialization advisor for the NSF, DoE and NIH proposal programs. 

Anna received a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Virginia Tech in 2002.  She also received a Master's of Science in Physics from Texas A&M University in 1995 and a Bachelor's of Science in Physics (with minors in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Russian History) from Virginia Tech in 1993.

top of page         

Mary Sue Hoffman 

Mary Sue Hoffman received her B.A. in Business Administration from Michigan State University and J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.  She began her career in as a tax attorney with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Pittsburgh. She later joined Fortune 500 specialty steel producer, Allegheny Technologies, Inc., where she assumed responsibility for its legal-tax function.  As Tax Counsel, she successfully argued before state tax tribunals, conducted due diligence, and negotiated settlements with the Internal Revenue Service.  Following a labor dispute, she was promoted to Director of Employee Relations to initiate changes in the management-employee relationship. Managing a staff of 20 professionals, her responsibilities encompassed employee relations, training and development, recruiting, compensation, and employee communication for over 1,600 employees at multiple locations.  Following a combination with Teledyne, Inc., she was promoted to General Manager of Human Resources with added responsibilities at the Metals Segment level for over 5,000 employees. 

In 2001, Mary Sue returned to her home state of Michigan and joined Grand Valley State University as a Technology Business Consultant with the MI-SBTDC where she conducts due diligence on behalf of venture capital and angel groups, and provides counsel to start-up and existing technology businesses.

top of page     

Mr. Piette is the MI-SBTDC Technology Team manager. In his most recent assignment, Alain was president of an advanced manufacturing company. The company was a technology spinout from a large automotive supplier. His activities included the technology spinout, the marketing and commercialization and leading the advanced R&D activities. The company focused its efforts in the aerospace, military and transportation industries. Alain has also worked in Europe, Southern Africa, Central and South America for international corporations such as DuPont, Sherwin Williams and Kongsberg Automotive. He has also been involved with turn-around, startup and M&A activities. Alain brings his extensive experience in organizational development, manufacturing, R&D, market development, technology transfer and international expansion to the team.

Alain earned and BSBA and MBA from Wayne State University.

top of page          

Phil Tepley is the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center Director of Technology Commercialization Services.  Under his leadership beginning in 2007, the “Tech Team” grew to a statewide group of eight business consultants that assist Michigan’s emerging technology based companies with their commercialization, financing, and growth strategies. Since Tepley began managing the team, it has helped its clients to raise over $200 million in capital formation and to create over 800 jobs.   In 2008, Tepley launched the Michigan Emerging Technologies Fund with annual funding of $1.4 million to provide commercialization funding to match federal SBIR/STTR research and development grants and contracts.  In 2012 he launched the $3 million Business Accelerator Fund that is accessed by Michigan’s business accelerator network to provide specialized services to their high-tech clients.  He serves on the board of directors of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Local Development Finance Authority, BBC Entrepreneurial Training Corporation, and Recycle Ann Arbor.  He is a former President and VP of Programming at Ann Arbor’s investor forum, the New Enterprise Forum.  

top of page

Dave Grossman is the founder and principal of the Dynamic Strategy Group LLC, a Rochester Hills, Michigan consulting firm specializing in innovation, strategic planning, technology roadmapping, business model development, and product and process development.  His background includes over thirty five years of diversified domestic and international management and consulting experience. He has expert skills in innovation, leadership, organization, motivation, teamwork, and creativity. He has demonstrated proficiencies for taking abstract vision and creative ideas and converting them into actionable plans and marketable products and services.

Prior to forming the Dynamic Strategy Group LLC, Dave was director of Global Technology Planning for General Motors Corporation located in Warren, Michigan. In this position he led the process development and implementation of technology roadmapping on an enterprise wide basis and creation of a web based, global technology database. He directed the design of a technology portfolio selection / evaluation tool and managed the product development gate review process. Much of his focus was on identifying high potential future technologies, commercializing technologies, and improving the linkage between R&D, engineering, finance, marketing, and the supplier community He had the opportunity to work with numerous small companies to assist in developing the application path for new technologies. He held many domestic and international executive positions in planning, engineering, and management during his 32 years with GM.

Dave is currently working with the MI-SBTDC to expand the capability of entrepreneurial and startup companies to use technology roadmapping and other highly visual techniques to better target their work to meet the latent and explicit needs of the market and identify required resources, complementary technologies, and partners to ensure successful commercialization. He provides consulting, training, and tool development to the MISBTDC.

Dave has a degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

top of page

John Balbach’s background includes close to twenty years of diverse and executive-level experience spanning the nonprofit sector, large corporations, early-stage technology ventures and public-private partnerships.  As one of the initial members of Silicon Valley Bank’s Seattle office, he played an integral role in the bank’s establishment of a strong and lasting presence in the region’s early-stage market. In addition, while at Seattle-based software company Viathan Corporation, Balbach led the financial efforts that closed on both $23 million in venture capital and the company’s eventual acquisition.  He has served as a commercialization plan reviewer for the National Science Foundation, led an Impact Investing Fund focused on the life science sector, and worked on a high-profile corporate consulting engagement for a company seeking to infuse cleantech solutions into its supply chain.  His background includes extensive experience in strategic planning, business plan creation, business plan analysis, venture financing and early-stage commercial lending. Balbach holds a B.S in Finance from Miami (Ohio) University, and a M.A. from St. John’s College.

top of page   

Over the past twenty years, Tom Kelly has directed marketing for the tenth largest industrial distributor in the United States; spearheaded innovation and sales automation at Dow Jones & Co., NY as a consultant with IBM's Salesforce Transformation practice; patented and launched revolutionary automatic 3D model generation software in the CAD industry, winning the Cadence magazine Best of Showaward at the National Design and Manufacturing Expo in Chicago and; successfully launched three separate start-up companies for angel, VC, and corporate investors in the fields of software, manufacturing technology, and distribution.    Through these experiences, Mr. Kelly applied his expertise in sales, marketing, and executive management, as well as his energy and enthusiasm, to companies at all stages of corporate evolution, from early stage and high growth to Fortune 100 companies.  Tom has a BS in electrical engineering from Clarkson University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

top of page

Jason Pliml is an entrepreneur, business consultant, and experienced investor. Jason founded and managed three profitable businesses, the most recent being Mock Draft Central, a fantasy sports company grown from infancy to acquisition.  During his time running Mock Draft Central, the company achieved annual revenue growth averaging 108%, inked fifteen software and content licensing agreements, and won consecutive industry awards for best drafting software, beating rivals ESPN and CBS Sports.  Prior to Mock Draft Central, Jason built a profitable boutique software development firm in Grand Rapids, MI with clients ranging from ACE Insurance, ASR Corporation, Steelcase' Dealer Network, Fleetwood Group, and numerous regional and startup businesses.  

Pliml provides a range of knowledge including technology development, alternative energy, sales & marketing, cash flow planning, and lean startup concepts.  He continues to share his knowledge and experience by regularly speaking at events on topics such as lean startup principles, investing in the energy sector, and growing businesses beyond the startup phase.

Jason graduated with honors from Lake Superior State University with a BS in computer science and mathematics.  He continues to supplement his experience, particularly in accounting and finance, and has served on several non-profit boards as treasurer and chairperson.

top of page   

Throughout his 20+ year professional career Mr. Ramirez has been extensively involved with early stage companies. As an attorney with Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosti he advised start-up companies with financing, commercial, corporate governance and intellectual property issues. In financings alone, he directed projects exceeding $15M.

From the practice of law, Mr. Ramirez transitioned into entrepreneurial ventures -organizing, securing financing, operating and selling two companies, including one of the first venture-funded transaction based internet sites, Do It Sports.  Mr. Ramirez has also served on the management team and acted as a business consultant to numerous early-stage companies.

In addition, Mr. Ramirez has been engaged as a management consultant by a number of Fortune 50 companies including AT&T, Intel and Ford Motor Company. Engagements included: new product development strategy, customer segmentation and restructuring, financial process re-engineering, and private marketplace strategy projects. These projects saved/earned clients millions of dollars.

Mr. Ramirez received his business education at the University of Michigan Business School.  He earned his Juris Doctorate from Stanford Law School and his B.A. with highest honors from the University of Michigan. Mr. Ramirez resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan; he has two children and is an internationally competitive Triathlete.

top of page

Prior to joining the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center as a Technology Business Consultant, Sandra Cochrane spent over seven years as the Chief Operating Officer of the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center.  Ms. Cochrane shepherded the Innovation Center through its start-up phase and is credited with the development, construction, and programming of the Innovation Center facility.  Ms. Cochrane is viewed as an expert in the incubation industry and currently serves on the board of directors of the National Business Incubation Association as well as the Michigan Business Incubator Association.   In addition, Ms. Cochrane serves as a reviewer for the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Program. She enjoys serving as a reviewer for Biotech & Chemical Technologies. Evaluating cutting edge research and discussing commercialization proposals with experts from across America keeps her sharp and better able to assist her clients. Ms. Cochrane earned a B.A. and an M.B.A. from Michigan State University and earned the rigorous NBIA Incubator Management Certificate in 2008.

top of page