The University of Mary Washington Center for Economic Development collaborates with business, government, education, and private parties to promote personal, professional and economic growth by advancing knowledge through entrepreneurship, small business development, innovation and competitiveness, research and analysis, and outreach and engagement. We do this by providing entrepreneurial advising, management training, supportive research, immersive business incubation and facilitating access to student and faculty talents with the broader community.
Meet the Staff
Susan Ball is the Director of the University of Mary Washington’s Small Business Development Center. She is a Certified Business Analyst, a certified NxLevel instructor, and a GrowthWheel advisor. UMW SBDC consultants work with clients to evaluate business opportunities, forecast cash flows, develop marketing strategies, prepare loan proposals, and write business plans. The center serves clients throughout Planning Districts 16, 17, and 18, which includes Fredericksburg and the surrounding counties, the Middle Peninsula, and the Northern Neck. Susan has been with the UMW SBDC since the fall of 2007 and has worked with more than 2,000 clients during that time.
Susan has participated in the Veteran Business Bootcamp program since its inception in 2012. She oversees the Government Contracting Assistance Center (GCAC). The GCAC assists clients in registering to do business with state and federal agencies and obtaining applicable minority business certifications; it partners with the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (VSBSD) and the Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Center (VPTAC) to provide training and one-on-one advising on marketing to the government.
Susan earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics from the University of Mary Washington and an MBA in finance from the University of Florida. Prior to working with the SBDC, Susan co-authored finance textbooks, helped found a church-based preschool, and taught high school mathematics. With her husband and sons, she owned and operated a franchise pizza restaurant, Papa’s Pizza To-Go, in Orange, Virginia. She and her husband currently own an Airbnb in Mathews, Virginia, with their son and daughter-in-law.
Angela Kelley is a senior business consultant with UMW SBDC. She joined the Small Business Development Center in 2017 as an Early Venture Business Consultant. She works diligently with new businesses to form new business entities, project monthly cash flows, create loan packages, and register to sell to state and federal government agencies. In addition to working with SBDC clients she assists with StartupUMW, a student entrepreneur program designed to provide an introduction to small business ownership for UMW and Germanna students.
Angie teaches the Blue Print Business Plan Workshop every 6 weeks which guides attendees through the creation of their business plan. She also created the First Steps to Starting a Business Online Learning Module which is designed for first time small business owners to learn the basics of what it takes to start a small business. In addition to her teaching roles, she is also responsible for the coordination and advertisement of the many classes offered at the Center for Economic Development.
Angie earned a bachelor’s degree in business management with a focus in marketing from the University of Mary Washington and later went back to complete her MBA also from the University of Mary Washington. Prior to working with the SBDC, Angela dedicated all of her time to helping her husband start and operate a local landscaping company which has been in business since 2001.
Matthew Fleming is part-time business consultant with UMW SBDC. A retired Navy Captain and proven Small Business Owner, he and his wife have started six different successful small businesses in the Stafford area, including property management, healthcare and consulting. He has experience in exiting a business as well as investing in properties. Matthew understands leadership, resource management and how to make a business successful.
During the fourteen years Matthew and his wife owned Fleming Therapy Services, Inc., he performed duties as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President for Operations and Business Development. He was responsible for all accounts payable, accounts receivable, office buildouts, IT, Human Resources and Company policies. He is a proven expert in HIPAA, medical billing and practice management systems to support health care companies.
Matthew is a 1990 graduate of Norwich University, the military college of Vermont earning a BS in Biology. He has earned a MS in Management degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA and a MS degree in Resourcing a National Security Strategy from National Defense University in Washington DC.
Matthew and his wife have a National consulting and coaching business for pediatric therapy business owners/entrepreneurs. When he is not working, he and his wife spend time together in the Fredericksburg region or at their Lake cabin. They also enjoy time with their 6 children and 2 dogs and extended family and friends.
Bianka Rosales Palma is the Finance, Grants and Operations Administrator at the University of Mary Washington Center for Economic Development. She is in charge of the Financial operations for all Funds and Grants of the department, liaison communications for Eagle Works Business Incubation Program and assures the department operates in compliance with all UMW, Common Wealth of Virginia and Federal policies, requirements and regulations pertinent to UMW CED operations.
Bianka graduated from University of Mary Washington in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Leadership and Management. While in school, she was already part of UMW Center for Economic staff team for several years where she developed skills in Finance and marketing along the years. She assisted several programs implementing new ideas for events and training at the center. She also innovated methods to implement new internal control of software usage for customer service improvement. Bianka is incredibly passionate to use skills to improve daily operations to obtain efficient results.