Wayne Ricks, Interim Director/Business Consultant 

Wayne Ricks began his journey as a Business Consultant at the Louisiana Small Business
Development Center in January 2005. Recognized for his exceptional contributions,
he was promoted to Senior Business Consultant in 2010, assuming additional responsibilities
in guiding clients and mentoring colleagues. In 2024, Wayne was promoted to the role
of Interim Director, where he leads strategic initiatives and oversees the center’s
operations on an interim basis, continuing his commitment to fostering growth in the
Northshore region. His extensive expertise encompasses providing personalized consulting
services, business modeling, and conducting comprehensive industry research. Wayne
holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Business Administration from
Southeastern Louisiana University. He is also certified as a Certified Louisiana Economic
Development Professional (CLED) and Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP)

Karen Romero, Training Coordinator

Karen Romero is the Training Coordinator of the Southeast Louisiana Business Center
at Southeastern Louisiana University.  In this position, Karen enjoys the processes
of strategic planning, creation and execution of event calendar, marketing events,
communications, registration, on-site management, as well as other efforts to ensure
successful training programs throughout the parishes of Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Washington,
Livingston, and St. Helena. With over 20 years in leadership and combined experience
in Sales and Event Planning, Karen has a passion for supporting the growth of businesses
through building relationships and the delivery of training programs and events. Her
education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from Southeastern Louisiana
University. Outside of work, Karen enjoys a good Netflix binge, weekend getaways,
and being with family.

Dillon Sullivan, Business Consultant 

Dillon Sullivan has recently taken on the role of Business Consultant at the Louisiana
Small Business Development Center at Southeastern starting in January 2023. Dillon’s
role encompasses providing personalized consulting services to the local region, assisting
in fostering economic development, business modeling, financial analysis, and streamlining
processes. Dillon holds a Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology
from Southeastern Louisiana University, along with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology
from Louisiana Tech University.

  

 

 

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. SBA funded programs are extended
to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.