About Us
At SmartStart Business Development, we believe entrepreneurship is the heartbeat of every small-town and rural community. Our team is made up of experienced entrepreneurs and community leaders who have lived both sides of the journey — building businesses from the ground up and helping others do the same.
​
We created SmartStart to help communities support the microbusiness owners who drive their local economies — the Main Street shopkeepers, makers, solo service providers, pop-up retailers, and home-based entrepreneurs who are often overlooked by traditional programs. Through plug-and-play programs, practical tools, and ongoing guidance, SmartStart equips Chambers, Main Streets, and economic development leaders to build strong, connected ecosystems that make it easier for local entrepreneurs to start, grow, and thrive.
Co-Founder
Katie Kelly
Public servant turned entrepreneur, Katie learned a lot about business development the hard way. She used her experiences to help others avoid common pitfalls and launch businesses that are set up for success.
Co-Founder
Marci Goodwin
Marci is passionate about helping local small businesses thrive. She draws from her 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur, including over 12 years in marketing and small business coaching, to drive entrepreneur engagement, programming, and marketing for SmartStart.
Director of Next Steps
Leigh Ann Brown
Leigh Ann is an experienced economic development professional with a passion
for helping other leaders to develop and implement effective strategies to
support local microbusiness development. She has served as a Main Street Director, Economic Development Director and Chamber Director, and so haslived experience with the challenges and varying demands these roles face
day-to-day. She joined SmartStart to help others to meet their economic
development goals with easy, turn-key solutions so it doesn't fall to the
bottom of the task list.
Contact Us
Are you ready to learn more about how SmartStart can help you grow your local microbusiness ecosystem? Please fill out the form below and we'll be in touch!
