The Western Region of the Maryland network of Small Business Development Centers covers 4 counties: Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett. Our staff includes:

Mark Malec- Regional Director- located in Frostburg, MD

Chris Olson- Consultant-Frederick, MD

Chris Olson is a native of Frederick County and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. He founded Olson Business Development at the age of 23 and for 15 years worked with hundreds of small businesses throughout the United States, assisting them with business plan development, financing acquisition, marketing, and other issues. He has also served as art director for three local publications, vice president for a local venture capital & financing company, and chief operating officer for a mail & data processing company.

Chris joined the Small Business Development Center in March of 2005, and provides training, guidance, and one-on-one counseling to hundreds of existing and pre-start companies each year.

He is the coordinator of the Frederick Entrepreneur Support Network, president of the Entrepreneur Council of Frederick County, and the facilitator of the Frederick “Coalition of Chambers,” a regular meeting of diverse business support and advocacy associations.

Alice Growden- Consultant-Hagerstown, MD

Pam Rose- Consultant- Cumberland, MD

Sandy Mehalko- Consultant-Frostburg, MD

Sandy is a native western Pennsylvanian but has lived in several Maryland cities. She has over 15 years of experience starting and running small businesses, has a B.S. in biology/medical technology and worked in several clinical laboratories helping to save lives. She then got involved in the business side of health care and earned an MBA and then helped people create marketing materials in the health care field. She then began a direct mail advertising franchise. She has been buying and selling her own businesses for years, and then became a business broker to help others sell their businesses.

Sandy joined the SBDC in 2009 and consults with small business owners on start-up issues, marketing, self-employment, business plans, and financial statements.

Dr. Steve Wilkinson- Consultant- Frostburg, MD