Northeast Indiana SBDC
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
*Meetings with business advisors by appointment only
Northeast SBDC Staff
- Wes Shie - Regional Director
- Billie Wunderlich - Associate Regional Director
- Alice Robinson - Business Advisor
- Karen Koester - Office Administrator
- Lynne Koepper - Ecosystem Navigator
Wesley Shie
Regional Director
Wes Shie joined the Northeast Indiana SBDC staff as a business advisor in 2010 and has served as the Regional Director since 2014. He came to the center with years of experience in banking and financial services from previously working as a relationship manager for Wells Fargo and Chase Bank. Prior to working in commercial banking, Shie also served as a finance specialist for the Community Development Corporation (CDC) of Fort Wayne. The Fort Wayne native is a graduate of Northrop High School and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership and Supervision, with a minor in General Business.
Billie Wunderlich
Associate Regional Director
With more than 23 years of experience at the Northeast Indiana SBDC, Billie is passionate about helping individuals achieve their dream of business ownership. She enjoys working with entrepreneurs as they start and grow their businesses, building lasting relationships and providing trusted guidance every step of the way. As a Fort Wayne, Indiana, native, she is dedicated to serving her community and helping clients succeed. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and is an avid reader.
Alice Robinson
Business Advisor
Alice Robinson is a business advisor at Northeast Indiana SBDC. In this position, she meets with small business owners offering guidance and support on marketing, budgeting, and strategy. She is a small business owner herself and brings the experience of navigating those waters to her clients. Before owning her own business, she was an executive in healthcare marketing for over 20 years. She also worked as a producer in television news for several years. She holds a master's degree in management from Indiana Wesleyan University and was a double major in journalism and political science at Indiana University-Bloomington. Alice enjoys being an amateur photographer and spending time with her family.
Office Administrator
Karen is an administrative professional with more than 20 years of experience supporting organizational operations, managing administrative processes, and providing exceptional customer service. She earned a General Studies degree from IPFW in 2009 and joined the Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in December 2025. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching her kids play various sports or relaxing with a good book.
Ecosystem Navigator
Lynne has been guiding and growing Northeast Indiana’s entrepreneurial landscape as an Ecosystem Navigator since early 2023. With over a decade of first-hand experience as the co-owner of LaOtto Brewing, she pairs real-world business grit with a diverse professional background in leadership, career coaching, and human resources. A true lifelong learner, Lynne holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from Purdue University Fort Wayne, alongside degrees in business administration and HR management from Trine University. Deeply invested in her community, she currently serves on the board of Historic Downtown Kendallville and is the Vice President of BeNoble (Noble County EDC).
Trainings & Events
Northeast Small Business Spotlight
Game Plan for Success
Williams Distributing, LLC, an independent distributor based in Fort Wayne, operates a route delivery business for Pepperidge Farms/Campbell’s. Williams Distributing distinguishes its services by setting the standard for customer service in the grocery retail industry.
Click here to view more Northeast Regional Updates
Hosted by Purdue University Fort Wayne
Richard T. Doermer School of Business




Karen Koester