Kansas SBDC at
Fort Hays State University
785-628-5615
600 Park Street,
Hammond Hall 253
Hays, KS 67601
Meet the Team
Laurie Pieper
Dr. Pieper is responsible for services, programs and partnerships for western and north central Kansas which are served by the Kansas SBDC at FHSU. She is a NASBITE certified Global Business Professional and has a Ph. D. from UCLA. Her areas of expertise include rural outreach, innovation, and international trade. She enjoys working with entrepreneurs at any stage of business.
Brenda Hampton
As OTO Coordinator, Brenda is often a new client’s first point of contact at the SBDC at FHSU and she assists with connecting them to the right Advisor(s). Brenda brings over 30 years of experience with administration, supervision, management, public relations, fundraising, planning & development, to the Kansas SBDC position. Previously, Brenda was the Director of Athletics for Iowa Western Community College and recently inducted into the NACDA Hall of Fame. She earned her master’s degree in Athletic Administration from the University of Nebraska and her B.S. and B.A. degrees from Chadron State College.
Susan Rundle
As Program Specialist, Sue keeps the office running smoothly and supports the Assistant State Director with program coordination, documentation, team trainings, and event planning for the Kansas SBDC at FHSU. Sue also supports the team through conducting secondary market research. Sue’s professional interests include cybersecurity and tools for productivity and collaboration. She is a graduate of FHSU and has an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Sue is a long-time resident of Hays and western Kansas and has been with the Kansas SBDC since 2017.
Susan Penka
Susan Penka joined the Kansas SBDC at FHSU in August 2020. She has lived in Central Kansas the majority of her life. After high school, she attended Fort Hays State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in French. She is currently pursuing her MBA. Susan has had a diverse career in public relations, sales, and marketing and is a seasoned business owner. She enjoys helping startup businesses and existing businesses in making better and more informed business decisions so they can achieve financial success. Susan is also a certified exit planning advisor and is skilled in assisting business owners that are ready to transition out of their business.
