Lisa Boenker, Director of the Brazos Valley SBDC, is a proud Aggie and longtime resident of Brazos County. She has dedicated over three decades to supporting and guiding small businesses in the Brazos Valley region. After earning a Business Management degree from Texas A&M University, she began her career at Dun & Bradstreet as a Business Analyst before joining the Brazos Valley Small Business Development Center (BVSBDC) in 1991. With 30 years of experience in small business advising, Boenker has built a remarkable career supporting startups, business expansions, and crafting business plans. She has provided expert guidance to countless entrepreneurs, helping them navigate the complexities of starting and growing their businesses.

Boenker's dedication and expertise have been instrumental in the success of many small businesses. Raised in an entrepreneurial family, Boenker started her first business as a teenager, raising guinea pigs and parakeets, which she sold to regional pet stores. Additionally, Boenker and her husband own and operate a cattle business. Through her extensive experience and active community involvement, Boenker has become a trusted advisor in the small business community, known for her commitment to fostering entrepreneurial growth and economic development.

 

Shay Iacoponelli has more than seventeen years of experience in the banking industry and another decade in information technology. She previously served as a member of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) management team as the President of the IBAT Education Foundation where she oversaw industry training for bankers across the state of Texas. Prior to joining IBAT she served as the Chief Development Officer for TrustTexas Bank, as well as a board member, where her responsibilities included identifying opportunities for corporate growth and development, marketing for the bank, and training and development of new employees, in addition to heading all retail functions.

Prior to her time at TrustTexas Bank, roles Iacoponelli held include president of SBI Solutions, Global Education Coordinator for BMC Software, Sales Coordinator for Marriott Corporation, and Customer Briefing Center Coordinator for IBM Corporation. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts, Houston Baptist University with a Master of Liberal Arts, and a graduate of Class 50 Southwest Graduate School of Banking.

 

Lesley Walton has extensive experience in both higher education and running a small business, Walton brings a wealth of knowledge to the Brazos Valley SBDC team. She has spent almost 14 years running her own home-based business and knows first-hand the challenges many small business owners face. In the past, she also worked for Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) teaching English to International Students and managing their World Language Center.

Prior to working at NVCC, Walton was a Faculty Research Assistant for the Center for Advanced Study of Language at the University of Maryland where she conducted research for and presented findings to various government agencies. While working at the University of Maryland, Walton received her Master’s in Instructional Systems Design with an emphasis on TESOL and adult education from University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

She also graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and minors in Spanish and Arabic.