Dan Ripke, a native of Northern California, holds a B.S. in international business, a B.A. in French, and a master’s degree in business administration from California State University, Chico. He has worked for the Northeastern California Small Business Development Center for ten years, serving as director for the center’s twentyone-county service region. In this capacity, he provides economic development and planning technical assistance to over 20 percent of the state of California. Dan is a member of the American Economic Development Council, the California Association for Local Economic Development, and the National Association of Development Organizations. His areas of special training include data analysis and economic impact analysis.

Courtney Danehy joined the Northeastern California Small Business Development Center in August 1999 as the project manager and editor for the Annual Economic & Demographic Profile Series. The purpose of the profiles is to make economic and demographic information available to the general public, so decisions can be made using the most timely and reliable data. After two years with the NECSBDC, Ms. Danehy was hired by a land use planning consulting firm in Berkeley, California, where she served as their production manager for two years. Her responsibilities included editing and producing all material for the firm, as well as Web site and staff management. Clients included city and county departments, local and state government agencies, and other agencies from the private and public sector. In February 2003, Ms. Danehy returned to the NECSBDC as the Regional Research Program manager and recently became the Assistant Director in September of 2005. Ms. Danehy graduated from California State University, Chico, in May 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in English and a certificate in literary editing and publishing. In December of 2005, she completed the master’s in English literature, also from CSU, Chico. She is a member of the California State University Leadership Honor Society.

Andria Gilbert, a native of Northern California, is a graduate of Willows High School and Heald Business School of Sacramento. She has been involved in office management at the county and federal levels for fifteen years. She joined the NECSBDC’s staff in 1991 and assumed the office management position. Her responsibilities include oversight of all office operations, staff, and correspondence; newsletter layout; purchasing; filing; preparing quarterly and annual reports; preparing grant applications and contracts; and preparing and maintaining the NECSBDC’s financial records. She has coordinated, edited, and designed such reports as “Northeastern California: A Regional Profile,” “Arbuckle Hotel Business Plan,” “Mendocino County Impact Study,” “Tehama County Infrastructure Study,” “Norcal Survey,” “City of Chico Rental Survey,” “Leadership Training,” and the “Colusa County Hospital Feasibility Study.” She has also coordinated workshops such as “The Return of the Great American Neighborhood,” “Planning Commissioners,” “Alternative Techniques for Managing Growth,” “ Predicting Traffic Impacts of Land Development,” “Environmental Impact Analysis,” “General Plan,” and “Planning and Zoning Law”. She has been trained to use software such as Microsoft Word, Pagemaker, Filemaker Pro, Excel, Quickbooks Pro, PowerPoint, and Act.

Warren is a Chico native who graduated from California State University, Chico, in May 1997, with a double major in economics and geography with an option in rural and town planning. He has been working with the Northeastern California Small Business Development Center since June 1996, and since November 1999, he has coordinated the Applied Research Program. Warren is a regional economist specializing in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. He manages projects involving economic impact analysis, surveys, socioeconomic indicator reports, target industry studies, and independent estimates and projections. Warren’s clients include local government, non profit organizations, and consultants located throughout California. Warren is a skilled analyst and has experience with many statistical tools, including economic base, shift/share, various gravity models, and projection methodology. He is also an experienced computer operator, with advanced knowledge of Windows, Mac OS, MS Office, Goldmine, ArcView GIS, and IMPLAN Pro.

Eileen Chavez has joined NECSBDC's staff after returning to Chico. Eileen has been living in Los Angeles for the past eleven years. During her time in Los Angeles, Eileen worked for ING Advisors Network for eight years. During her tenure with ING, she held positions in the Commission Accounting Department and Business Development, performing various accounting, research responsibilities, and training of new sales representatives. Eileen is currently enrolled at Saint Leo University . Center for On-Line learning bachelor program, majoring in business administration. She plans on completing her degree in 2008.

Eileen's responsibilities at NECSBDC will be as the project specialist for the SBA. Her responsibilities will include assisting in the planning and administering of the Small Business Development program for the six Small Business Development Centers. In addition, she will oversee and maintain the WebCats database, provide support with planning and organizing meetings, and assisting with compiling the annual region-wide grant proposal including budgets, budget narratives, and milestones.

Brenton Farrell began working for the CED in June 2005 and is currently the technical writer for the Annual County Economic & Demographic Profile Series. In addition to his work at the CED, Brenton is an instructor at California State University, Chico, and Yuba College where he teaches English Composition. Brenton received his bachelor.s degree in English from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo and his master.s degree in English Literature from CSU, Chico. In addition to his teaching and writing career, he is the disc jockey for the popular local radio station KZFR.

Meghan Danehy joined the Northeastern California Small Business Development Center in June of 2003 as the NECSBDC’s clerical assistant. Her main responsibilities consist of filing and maintaining accurate records for the NECSBDC’s secretary, as well as the project managers. She is an integral component in handling and maintaining the registration process and accounting for the NECSBDC’s annual economic forecast conference. Meghan also assists with the production and distribution of the Annual County Profile Series. She recently graduated with her degree in Child Development and is currently attending California State University, Chico, pursuing her master’s degree in Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy. Her professional ambitions include working as a child therapist and opening her own practice.

Professor David Gallo studied engineering before changing his major to economics during his undergraduate years. He received his B.A. degree at Penn State University and his M.A. and PhD. Degrees at the University of Oregon. He has been teaching at California State University, Chico since 1970, specializing in environmental and energy economics during recent years. Dr. Gallo has been a consultant to the California Energy Commission; a number of private companies engaged in energy research including several years as a staff economist with JBS engineering in Sacramento; and is currently doing research with the Center for Economic Development at CSU, Chico (CED). In conjunction with the CED he has completed a number of projects, primarily economic impact studies, for a wide range of clients. He has completed reports under contract to public agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Game; quasi-public groups such as the California Redevelopment Association; and private companies including the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, New Urban Builders, and Calpine Corporation. Among the many studies he has completed, Dr. Gallo has examined the economic and/or environmental impacts of geothermal energy development; restoration of riparian habitat along a number of California rivers; airport construction in Weaverville, California; changes in minimum flow requirements for Pitt River power plant relicensing; redevelopment agency construction activity; and new urbanist development patterns.

Jude started working at NECSBDC as an intern in fall of 2005. He was involved in the creation of the On-line Community that will serve as a tool for local governments to increase communication. Jude has recently graduted from CSU, Chico with a double major in Communication Design and Economics. In the following year he will be applying to various graduate schools while living and working in Chico.

Rich Wagner is a student at California State University, Chico. He is currently pursing a double major in Economics and Business Administration Finance. He would like to pursue a minor in Mathematics and plans to graduate in the Spring of 2008. He has been at the NECSBDC since June of 2004 where he started as in intern research assistant, he then became employed as a Research Assistant in September. Rich has worked on projects involving economic feasibility studies, site surveying, marketing research, and demographic research and communication.

Edward began at NECSBDC in spring of 2006 as an intern. He is currently attending CSU, Chico as a double major in business with an emphasis in finance and economics and a minor in math. He has helped research and analyzes data for projects including economic feasibility studies, enterprise zones, and economic impact studies. Edward is planning on graduating in 2008. His hobbies include mountain unicycling/bicycling, snowboarding, and playing the guitar.