About Us | Business Development Center

Ileen Kelly

Business Development Center Director and APEX Accelerator Program Manager
Email: kellyi421@cod.edu

Dr. Ileen Kelly, who joined the team in July 2019 as the Program Coordinator, now holds dual positions as the Business Development Center Manager and Illinois APEX Accelerator Program Manager.

Bringing with her over a decade of experience in Leadership and Capacity Building training for small businesses and non-profit organizations, Dr. Kelly has established herself as a formidable asset to the team. Her expertise spans various sectors, having spent more than 10 years in workforce development at the City Colleges of Chicago, where she assessed and provided training for both incumbent and future workforce across multiple industries.

Prior to her tenure in academia, Dr. Kelly amassed over 30 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and public relations with Chicago Tribune Media. During her time there, she managed the public messaging for national clients and brands, demonstrating her proficiency in strategic communication and brand management.

In her new capacity, Dr. Kelly's primary responsibility is to advise clients on growing their businesses through local, state, and federal government contracting. This includes assisting clients in processing their Certification applications for the set-aside programs offered by various government agencies. Additionally, she serves as the team leader of the Business Development Center, nurturing the continued growth and success of a super dynamic team whose mission is to empower the businesses they serve.

Colleen Sall

APEX Accelerator Program Specialist
Email: sallc@cod.edu

Colleen began her career with COD’s Business Development Center (BDC) in January 2023. Her primary responsibility is to advise clients to grow their business through local, state, and federal government contracting and coach clients through the certification process. Colleen has over five years of experience with College of DuPage, serving the local community within the Provost’s Office and in Continuing Education. She worked with the business incubator/accelerator Innovation DuPage, to help support the collaboration and development of entrepreneur businesses with major corporate and leading educational institution partners. Her background consists of 15 years in corporate marketing communications and product management with industry-leading and Fortune 500 companies. She has written and edited industry articles, newsletters and press releases and is an event speaker. Colleen holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an English minor.

Monica Hernandez

International Trade Center (ITC) Program Manager
Email: hernandezm68@cod.edu

Monica started her career with COD’s Business Development Center (BDC) in March 2024. Monica’s work history includes dedication to fostering global connections, promoting cultural understanding and driving successful international initiatives. She brings a wealth of expertise and has supported and facilitated seamless interactions for businesses in the global marketplace. Monica is fluent in both English and Spanish which helps her to seamlessly bridge language barriers, enhance communication and facilitate collaboration across the globe. Monica’s primary responsibility is to advise and guide small businesses in expanding into global markets, following best practices to manage growth and minimize risks.

David Lezondra

Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Program Manager
Email: lezondrad@cod.edu

David joined COD’s Business Development Center (BDC) in October 2022. In David’s role he oversees the SBDC program overall, and his responsibilities include advising business owners concerning incorporating, business model, financials, marketing and organizational structures. His career and expertise is in all things “small business” and began with Bank of America where he became a top-ranked Small Business Consultant and financial advisor in the Chicago area for over 15 years. He then parlayed to a career in Workforce Development, working at DuPage County’s WorkNet DuPage as a Business Services Representative and Job Developer where he created and nurtured strategic alliances and partnerships with local businesses and entrepreneurs, while promoting no-cost, state-funded, and needs-based workforce grants and resources for businesses. David holds bachelor’s degrees in business administration, majoring in Business Management, and Visual Communications, with a major in Graphic Design.

Doug Voegtle

Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Business Advisor
Email: voegtled@cod.edu

Doug joined COD’s Business Development Center (BDC) in October 2019. In his position, Doug leverages teaching, marketing, and strategic planning expertise for small business clients. During his advertising career Doug developed a specialty for naming, packaging, and launching brands. Doug has led workshops on creativity, marketing, and communications for UW-Madison School of Journalism, JDRF, Loyola University Chicago, and industry events in Dallas, Chicago, and Madison. Creative credits include a TV commercial for Pepsi, and a multi-channel campaign for a Fortune 500 company that ran for 15 years. For fun he composes for musical theater and teaches the art of improvisational acting at Players Workshop Chicago.

Jennifer Weggeman

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Program Specialist
Email: weggemanj@cod.edu
Jennifer joined COD's Business Development Center (BDC) in June 2024. Jennifer's career included eight years in workforce development coaching thousands of job seekers and career changers and teaching a variety of workshops on job search skills to the local DuPage County community at workNet DuPage Career Center. Additionally, prior to most recent role, she coached entrepreneurs and freelancers using creative problem-solving techniques to develop strategies for personal and professional success. She coaches career professionals to enhance individual & team performance, and her industry background includes working within a large network of executive leaders in corporate, government, not-for-profit and entrepreneurial organizations.

Jennifer received her Master of Arts degree from DePaul University with a focus area of Coaching and Leading Groups. As an instructor with the School of Continuing Professional Studies (SCPS)at DePaul, she has been teaching career skills building, leadership skills and career development courses since 2007.

Hilary Burkinshaw

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Mentor
Email: burkinshawh@cod.edu
Hilary Burkinshaw has been the SBDC Mentor for Business Development Center (BDC) since 2017. She is an accomplished trainer and speaker and an expert in entrepreneurial and small business financing, growth and development, business strategy development, and implementation and market development. Hilary was the Director of the CenterPoint Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Governors State University. Hilary has a long history with Illinois small business, and was appointed as the Vice Chair of the Coordinating Council of the Illinois Small Business Development Association in 2006 and 2007.

Nancy Srock

Business Development Center Client Liaison
Email: srockn@cod.edu

Nancy joined COD’s Business Development Center (BDC) as Client Liaison in May 2024. She has an extensive experience background in high-level administration support positions, and comes to the BDC from the College of DuPage main campus. As Client Liaison, Nancy’s role is to provide an excellent experience to both new and existing BDC clients in every way, including buoying the BDC staff in all their initiatives to serve our small businesses. She handles the distribution of key communications sent to clients electronically such as industry and governmental announcements, advisory newsletters, and registration information for BDC seminars, workshops and special events.

Contact Information

Business Development Center
535 Duane Street, Office 233
Glen Ellyn IL 60137
(630) 942-2600
Email: bdc@cod.edu

Regular Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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