Our team of experts can help ensure your business has the foundation for success. Whether you are looking to start a new business, strengthen an existing one, export a product, secure a government contract, or formulate a succession plan, the advisors at the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC and Illinois APEX Accelerator at Champaign County EDC are here to provide advice, resources, and support — all at no cost to you.
Think of us as a valuable member of your team.
Madeleine Wolske
DIRECTOR, ILLINOIS SBDC AT CHAMPAIGN COUNTY EDC
Madeleine has served as the Director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC since February 2023. In her role, Madeleine can provide assistance in all aspects of your business including start-up assistance, business planning, marketing, financial planning, market research, and so much more.
Prior to becoming a part of the SBDC network, Madeleine was the Business Librarian at the Champaign Public Library and was a high school librarian in a local school district.
Madeleine received her Bachelor of Arts from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and her Master of Library & Information Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
In her spare time, Madeleine enjoys spending time with her husband, Eric, & their son, exploring natural areas with her dogs, renovating her home, and listening to local live music.
Are you a client of Madeleine’s? Schedule your next meeting.
Beth Patterson
SMALL BUSINESS ADVISOR
Beth has served as a Small Business Advisor at the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC since September 2024. In her role, Beth can assist your small business at every step: business formation, writing a business plan, securing funding, and so much more.
With over 20 years of sales experience, Beth enjoyed helping clients realize unearned revenue which ignited a spark to become a Six Sigma black belt to further assist clients with process improvements to their operations. Beth has worked in both the private and public sectors, each time helping multimillion-dollar companies improve their operational efficiencies. Most recently, Beth owned two laundromats, growing the business exponentially.
Beth holds dual degrees in Textile Science and the Marketing of Apparel from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she is also a lifetime member of the Alumni Association.
In her leisure time, Beth enjoys watching Fighting Illini and Pittsburgh Steelers football. She also enjoys water aerobics, walking, sewing, and upcycling items that need some TLC.
Keli Krueger-Huhra
DIRECTOR, ILLINOIS APEX ACCELERATOR AT CHAMPAIGN COUNTY EDC
Keli has served as the Director of the Illinois APEX Accelerator at Champaign County EDC since September 2024. In her role, Keli delivers critical program resources that reduce barriers for small businesses to become suppliers to the Department of Defense and other government agencies. She also develops effective and engaging technical learning experiences to train businesses on performing market analysis and navigating contracting requirements through client consulting and instructing training seminars. She commits to advancing supplier diversity with focused outreach to Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, Veteran-Owned, and Minority businesses.
Prior to joining the team at the Champaign County EDC, served as the Director of the Illinois APEX Accelerator at Bradley University’s Turner Center for Entrepreneurship for 7 years. She also has more than 25 years of progressive career growth in automotive manufacturing integrating Procurement and Supply with the organization’s strategic objectives.
Keli is an MBA graduate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Gies College of Business and has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Illinois State University
Outside of work, Keli cherishes her family time, Rotary community service opportunities, and participating on the Board of Outreach for her church.
Beatriz Ramirez
International Trade Center Specialist
br@cusbdc.org
Beatriz has served as the International Trade Specialist of the International Trade Center – Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC since April 2024. In her role, Beatriz can provide assistance in all aspects of exporting and international trade, including identifying potential export markets, foreign buyers, and distributors; assistance with foreign market entry; export documentation; financing export growth; and trade compliance support.
Beatriz has worked in the private sector and previously served as the Free Trade Agreement Specialist of the International Trade Center – Illinois Small Business Development Center at Bradley University.
Beatriz received her Bachelor of Business Management from University EAN (Bogotá, Colombia), and holds the following certifications: Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP), Certified Customs Specialist (CCS), and Certified Export Specialist (CES).
In her spare time, Beatriz enjoys gardening, reading, listening to classical music, and visiting museums.
Are you ready to unleash the power of your business?
Contact us today. We’re ready to help.