Brandon Eldridge (Courtesy Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC)
Brandon Eldridge will be the new executive director of the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center effective April 3.
He replaces Aikta Marcoulier, who left in May last year after a decade leading the Pikes Peak SBDC to become administrator of the Small Business Administration’s Region 8 office in Denver.
Eldridge was most recently market director for Underline, which has been building a fiber internet backbone and fiber to the home connections for business and residential customers across the Springs. He’s also held roles at Chase Bank and Vectra Bank, and has worked extensively with small businesses and nonprofits.
The Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, which became the new host for Pikes Peak SBDC in January, announced Eldridge’s appointment today. Pikes Peak SBDC was previously hosted by El Paso County.
The Chamber’s announcement said the SBDC executive director plays a “key role in supporting small businesses in the Pikes Peak region as they launch, grow, and create jobs.”
“Eldridge is a champion of the Colorado Springs business community and brings over 22 years of management experience that spans various sectors including technology, banking, and retail,” the announcement said. Eldridge is also president of Leadership Pikes Peak and president of the Council of Neighborhood Organizations (CONO). He graduated from Colorado Technical University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
Pikes Peak SBDC supports small businesses in the Pikes Peak region by providing small business consulting and low- or no-cost training to help them start and grow. It also connects small business owners with resources and financing available through Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, said Eldridge “brings tremendous energy and passion” to the role. “We will all work together to address business challenges, encourage growth, and support success,” she said.
According to the Chamber & EDC’s announcement: “The United States Small Business Administration notes that the demand for small business lending has outpaced supply, and fewer small firms are receiving requested financing in full. In addition, these businesses also face business operations and marketing challenges that impede growth. The Pikes Peak SBDC helps entrepreneurs navigate these setbacks.”