Welcome to your North Idaho Small Business Development Center

Deborah Dickerson, PMP, MBA has been involved in project management for almost 20 years across many industries. She has an MBA in sustainable business as well as leadership training from Landmark Worldwide and lives in Sandpoint, Idaho.

She was a partner in a digital marketing firm for two years while doing contract work an additional three years with non-profits and small businesses. Most recently, she worked at Spokane Falls Community as an organizational wide project lead.

Deborah has created and executed digital marketing strategies utilizing Facebook and LinkedIn including email marketing. She also developed websites on a number of platforms.

When not working, she can be found biking, hiking, and skiing in the mountains or paddling around Sandpoint. She also enjoys serving at her church.

Michael is a former marketing & sales executive, serial entrepreneur and successful small business owner. He has a keen passion for transforming ideas from the back of a napkin into viable business opportunities. Michael was most recently Chief Revenue Officer for a leading social media management software company, responsible for global sales and marketing.

Michael also currently owns a successful small business which won ‘Best New Business’ in Oregon by Mainstreet America. Michael lives with his wife, daughter and dog in Rathdrum where he is busy making mistakes learning permaculture practices.

Doug has spent 30+ years in banking and economic development. He has helped to fund businesses in virtually every stage of development in many industries including; professional services, retail, manufacturing, hospitality, real estate and many business acquisitions. He has deep experience with SBA funding tools. His passion continues to be supporting the success of small businesses in the Pacific Northwest.

Doug, a native of the Northwest, participates in the ownership of a small business.  He was graduated from Montana State University with a B.S. in Economics.  He went on to obtain an M.S. in Applied Economics from the same institution.

Teree Taylor is a longtime supporter of the SBDC. In her career as Communications Director with the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber she helped spread the word about SBDC activities in chamber communications and publications. Prior to moving to Coeur d’Alene in 2010 she lived in Sandpoint, ID and managed a local bar/restaurant for 7 years.

Teree is a native Californian, before moving to Idaho in 1996 she enjoyed a twenty-year career in the fashion industry primarily in advertising and sportswear manufacturing. She completed the graphic design program at NIC, attended marketing and advertising classes at LCSC and has an AA in Merchandise Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles. Teree and her son run a growing CNC Manufacturing business in Post Falls. Teree is also a licensed Idaho Realtor® and notary.

For the majority of his career, Dennis worked for a major international aerospace company. As a member of the senior leadership team he helped to design and build world class aerospace products.

He started his career working in the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering of aerospace graphite parts and subsequently held a variety of leadership positions in the U.S. and Europe.

Dennis served on the board of a software development company and ran his own Financial and Tax planning business. In addition, he taught classes in business management and Corporate Finance at both the graduate and undergraduate level.

Dennis and his wife moved to North Idaho in 2010. In 2016, he accepted the position as Director of Boundary Economic Development Council.

Linden Burzell, Ph.D., has over 40 years of experience as a business owner and manager, with specializations in manufacturing, large-scale aquaculture, and international trade.  He pioneered the development of the technology behind large-scale commercial shrimp aquaculture, fish hatcheries, and farms in Hawaii, Asia, and South America.  In addition, he’s worked in various executive capacities in India, Malaysia, China, Ecuador, Russia, Fiji, Australia, American Samoa, and the US.

As an owner, he manufactured after-market automotive braking products sold in over 25 countries.  Prior to retirement, he spent 10 years as the General Manager of a public water supply agency.

Lin is married to Kimberly, a writer. They live in CDA with their two dogs.  Lin is an avid fisherman and can be found on and around lakes and streams from North Idaho to Alaska when not at work.

Bill has served as the Director of the Idaho Small Business Development Center at the North Idaho College since October 2005. Prior to joining Idaho SBDC, Bill served as the Executive Pastor of a large church. He has also performed strategic planning and organizational alignment for World Vision, an international relief and development agency.

As an entrepreneur he started two ventures and turned around two failing businesses. He also worked as a management consultant to Fortune 1000 companies in manufacturing, service, and non-profit industries. He began his career designing, building and running manufacturing plants.