The SBDC's staff have the experience & passion to help your small business get started or grow

Rick LeJuerrne

Rick LeJuerrne is the Regional Director for the Washburn University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and adjunct faculty at Washburn University where he teaches Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Law.

Rick joined the SBDC in 2003. Since that time, the SBDC has consulted with over 2,000 clients and provided seminars to more than 4,000 participants, helping entrepreneurs with everything from starting a business to accessing capital to perfecting their marketing strategies.

Prior to joining the SBDC, Rick was part owner in a family business that manufactured and sold automotive products where he experienced the exhilaration of growing a small business and the daily challenges of the entrepreneurial path.

Rick is a graduate of Washburn University and the University of Kansas where he received his B.B.A. in Accounting and his J.D. in Law. Prior experience also includes time as a financial auditor for a Fortune 500 company and the practice of business law. Rick now lives in Tecumseh, KS and is married with two young daughters.

Rick may be reached at rick.lejuerrne@washburn.edu or 785-234-3235.

Scott E. Taddiken

As Assistant Director for Training, Scott Taddiken’s focus with the Washburn SBDC is to ensure that workshop and seminar training on a variety of topics is readily available for business owners at convenient times and locations.

Scott’s background includes a Marketing degree from Kansas State University (where he started and sold two businesses with the assistance of the Small Business Development Center), and a law degree and MBA from Washburn University. Scott has worked in marketing and finance for both large and small businesses and prior to joining Washburn, spent five years starting and owning a law practice, practicing in the areas of estate planning and business and corporate law. Scott currently teaches as an adjunct professor at Washburn University, and enjoys working with business owners on a variety of matters including legal structure and related issues, and marketing. Scott lives in Topeka, with his wife and two daughters.

Scott may be reached at scott.taddiken@washburn.edu or 785-234-3235.

John Addessi

John Addessi is a Consultant with Washburn University’s Small Business Development Center, helping entrepreneurs in Riley, Geary and Pottawatomie counties start and grow their businesses.

Prior to joining the KSBDC, John spent 15 years in management in the public and private sectors; he supervised the Language Learning Center at the University of Rhode Island and was Sales Manager for central Kansas with CellularONE. He received his B.A. in Russian and his M.B.A. in general management from the University of Rhode Island. Today, John teaches seminars and provides free, confidential, one-to-one consultation to current or prospective business owners on topics such as financing, business plans, marketing and more. John currently owns two e-commerce sites and thus is no stranger to the challenges facing small businesses in a competitive market.

John may be reached at john.addessi@washburn.edu or 785-587-9917.

Mary Ann Riederer

Mary Ann Riederer is a Consultant with the Washburn University KSBDC in Glacial Hills. She serves clients in Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Jefferson and Nemaha counties.

Mary Ann is a graduate of Kansas State University and has earned degrees in Management and in Marketing. Prior to joining the KSBDC, Mary Ann worked in large and small business settings, was an independent contractor, and owned her own business.

Recognizing that each entrepreneur comes to their business with a unique skill set, Mary Ann enjoys working with each person toward a complete business balance that includes creative marketing plans, routine accounting and evaluation practices, and constructive management techniques.

Mary Ann can be reached by email at maryann.riederer@washburn.edu or (785) 866-2095.

Shirley Kreipe

Shirley Kreipe is the Administrative Assistant for the Washburn University Small Business Development Center, where she answers questions and helps to direct entrepreneurs to the appropriate resources.

She has worked at the Washburn University SBDC since 1984, shortly after the program was launched in the State of Kansas. Before coming to Washburn, Shirley worked for Honeywell Information Systems in Phoenix, Arizona. It has been very rewarding working with entrepreneurs, watching them grow and become successful. It has also been a wonderful experience to be a part of the growth of the Small Business Development Center throughout the State of Kansas.

Shirley is a great starting point as she can either answer your small business question or direct you to a consultant for help.

Shirley may be reached at shirley.kreipe@washburn.edu or 785-234-3235.

Les Streit

Les Streit is a part-time consultant with the Washburn Small Business Development Center and primarily serves entrepreneurs in Shawnee, Jackson, Brown and Nemaha counties. Streit served as the Washburn Center Director from 2000-2005 before going part-time.

 Prior to joining the KSBDC Network, Streit has owned and operated several small businesses. He first came to Topeka as a specialist in writing training manuals and completed projects for Farmer’s Home Administration (now known as Farm Services Administration) and Payless ShoeSource in updating the Store Operations Manual. These publishing projects lead to business starts in the laser printer cartridge recycling and service industries. StreitLine Recharging started in a small garage in 1988 and grew to 6 full-time employees in 1996 when it was sold to Dynamic Computer Solutions of Kansas City. Several years later, Streit established Great Plains Cartridge Recycling and setup recycling routes to purchase OEM cartridge empties to be resold to cartridge remanufacturers around the country. Great Plains Recycling was sold in 2007.

Prior to small business ownership, Les Streit served as an adult educator and manager of media service centers at Kansas State University. Streit started his career teaching agricultural entrepreneurship to high school FFA students in Russell, Kansas. After completing graduate education at Kansas State, he taught six years at Oregon State University before returning to Kansas in 1986.

Les may be reached at les.streit@washburn.edu or 785-234-3235.