First Step to Starting Your Business

Kutztown University

MSU, Room 250

Thursday, March 24, 2016

3pm – 5pm

Panelists

Dr. Ernie Post, D. Ed (post@kutztown.edu) has been director of Kutztown University's Small Business Development Center since 1998. Under his leadership, the center was recognized in 2007 and 2008 by the U.S. Small Business Administration as an SBDC center of excellence for innovation and quality. In 2007, Post helped launch the Latino Business Resource Center. Today, the SBDC serves as a National Best Practice Site for the Small Business Development Center national network. More recently, the center has been recognized for its leadership with its cooperative effort with the Berks County Community Foundation to launch a brick-and-mortar incubator for business startups in Reading. Post received his master's degree in business and a doctorate in education from Penn State University.

A. Mark Rentschler (Rentschler@kutztown.edu) is the Finance Specialist and Technology & Strategic Planning Specialist of Kutztown University's Small Business Development Center. He has over 25 years of experience administering local, state, and federal incentive loan programs in the public, non-profit and private sectors. Extensive knowledge of Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs (7(a) and 504), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania loan programs, and USDA Business and Industry loan program. Areas of Expertise: Loan structuring, credit analysis, loan underwriting, business plans, strategic planning, and technology commercialization. Educational Background: Masters of Business Administration, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA; Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA; National Development Council, Business Credit Analysis, Chicago, IL; and PA Bankers Association Central Atlantic School of Commercial Lending, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA.

Matthew M. Mayer, Esquire (mmayer@leisawitzheller.com) is an Associate at the law firm of Leisawitz Heller. As an international/operational law attorney in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, then-Captain Matthew Mayer served as the Army’s sole legal representative in Europe at numerous planning conferences for military exercises in Poland, Italy, Romania, Israel and the Ukraine. In that position, he negotiated and drafted multimillion-dollar contracts on the Army’s behalf with various other European nations. In a previous position as the command judge advocate for Headquarters, Fifth Signal Command in Mannheim, Germany, Captain Mayer was the sole legal advisor to a two-star general for the entire European Signal command. Along the way, he advised clients from the lowest-grade private to four-star generals.

Today, Matt Mayer is drawing from his JAG experience, applying it as an attorney for Leisawitz Heller’s Business Group, where he focuses on general corporate and commercial transactions, along with work in the estate planning and business representation fields. He has been admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the Virginia Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the Berks County Bar Association. His diverse military clientele has prepared him to serve a wide variety of clients, from small family businesses to multimillion-dollar corporations.

An All-Berks soccer player and alumnus of Fleetwood High School, Matt continued his soccer career at Moravian College where he was an All-Conference captain of his soccer team and a cum laude graduate. Mayer received his Juris Doctor degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. He currently resides in Sinking Spring and is an avid sports enthusiast and stays active in golf, soccer, running and weightlifting. “For me,” says Matt, “staying in good physical shape is essential to being mentally fit. Keeping myself fit is part of my personal obligation as an attorney.”

Greg Knies (greg@kniesinsurance.com) is President of Knies Insurance Group, Inc. He has 16 years’ experience in the Property & Casualty Insurance industry, 7 years as co-owner of Knies Insurance Group Inc., licensed in PA, DE, MD, and NJ.  Areas of Expertise: Working with small to medium sized businesses to properly fit insurance products with their needs. Educational Background: Bachelor of Science in Public Policy from Pennsylvania State University in 1993; PA Property/Casualty Insurance License obtained 1999; PA Life/Health Insurance License obtained 2000.

Colin Waszkiewicz (Colin@financialguide.com ) is a Financial Services Professional at The W Group Financial Services. He served in the United States Army and completed two combat tours in Iraq. In 2006, he was honorably discharged as a Sergeant after completing a four-year military career and receiving the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device. A graduate of West Chester University, Colin has immersed himself into his profession and has received numerous industry awards and recognitions, including the MassMutual Rising Leaders Award during his first two years as financial services professional. Colin, his wife Laura, his daughter Piper, and his son Jonah reside in the Reading, Pennsylvania area where they enjoy spending time with family and friends. Areas of Expertise: Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance, Estate, and Succession Planning, Investments

Craig Peiffer (craig.peiffer@readingpa.org) has been the Zoning Administrator for the City of Reading since 2012.  He manages Zoning, Planning, and Historic Preservation.  He previously worked for the City of Harrisburg, in their Planning Bureau, and in the private sector for three architectural firms.  Areas of Expertise Include: Land Use Planning, with a specialization in Urban Planning and Design; Historic Preservation; Economic Development and Architecture. Craig earned a Bachelor of Arts in History with a Minor in Urban Studies from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and studied Architecture and Technical Theatre at Harrisburg Area Community College.