Small Business Development Center at Kennesaw State University, Coles College of Business

Small Business Development Center at KSU


Lydia C. Jones Georgia SBDC State Star 2007 Georgia SBDC Network's 2006 Business Consultant of the Year B.B.A. in Accounting, Georgia State University M.B.A. in Marketing, Emory University International Business Course, London Business School, London England Babson College Course on Entrepreneurship
Ms. Jones is the Director of the Kennesaw State University Small Business Development Center Her previous work experience includes upper management and executive-level functions in several mid-sized companies. She has extensive experience in all phases of organizational operations, including financial, human resources, and marketing management. Her experience also includes business ownership and service on several corporate boards.	Prior to joining the KSU/SBDC, Ms. Jones was a business consultant and instructor at the Georgia State University Small Business Development Center. She is certified by the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership to facilitate FastTrac Planning® and New Venture™ programs, and by the National Women Business Owners Corporation for WBE Certification, a process that assists with certification of women-owned businesses. She is also a taskforce member of the Georgia Women Entrepreneurs (GWEN). In 2002, she developed and co-facilitated FastTrac® Planning™ for Women Entrepreneurs: Creating a Vision of Success for Women Business Owners, the first targeted program of its kind in the state. In 2004 she was the recipient of a statewide award for excellence in programming for development of CPEs for CPAs. She was again the recipient of statewide recognition for Outstanding Project of the Year for the 2005 GWEN Conference. She presents regularly to several national conferences (including the Association of Small Business Development Centers in New Orleans in 2004), and she is frequently interviewed by media and quoted in publications such as Atlanta Business Chronicle, Altanta Journal Constitution, Marietta Daily Journal, Atlanta Woman Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine and Georgia Trend.She has written numerous articles that have been published by local sources and by one as far away as Scientia, South Africa.

Drew Tonsmeire B.B.A., University of Georgia M.B.A. Georgia State University Named Business Consultant of the Year for the Georgia SBDC
Drew Tonsmeire serves as a Business Consultant with the Kennesaw State University Small Business Development Center (KSU/SBDC). With more than seven years experience within the Georgia SBDC Network, his consulting expertise in strategic marketing, financial packaging, and overall business management is widely known. His background includes service as President and CEO of a local Chamber of Commerce, as well as, experience in retail, manufacturing, and service environments. Drew is also a certified instructor for eBay University and FastTrac®.


Andy Fried B.A. in Economics, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, NY M.B.A. in Accounting, University of Rochester, NY CPA
	Andy has over twenty-five years experience in the financial, retail and real estate sectors. He began his career as a CPA with Laventhol and Horwath in New York. In 1984, Andy became owner and President of a retail business with locations throughout the New York tri-state area. Andy sold his retail interests and moved to Atlanta where he became an owner, manager and agent of commercial real estate properties. Mr. Fried holds a Georgia real estate license.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administrationand the University of Georgia. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Lydia C. Jones, Director, KSU SBDC, Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Road, #3303, Kennesaw, GA 30144 or 770-423-6450