A woman who’s served in leadership roles in mentoring youth and women coaches and also operates a small business has been hired to lead the Small Business Development Center network in Colorado.

As the new state director, Hannah Krieger will administer programs and services offered at 14 full-time centers and 50 satellite offices across Colorado. That includes the SBDC that operates out of the Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction.

A division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the SBDC network offers range of services, including free and low-cost counseling and instruction on all aspects of starting and growing businesses.

“I’m thrilled to join OEDIT and the SBDC,” Krieger said. “I’m excited to support this great network, the individuals pursuing their dreams and the small businesses that help our communities and the Colorado economy thrive.”

Krieger previously served as executive director of MENTOR Colorado, where she worked to improve the quality and reach of youth mentoring organizations.

Before that, she served as director of strategic relationships for WeCOACH, a nonprofit organization serving women coaches of all sports at all levels across the United States. She also served as executive director of Sportswomen Colorado, a nonprofit empowering girls and women in sports. She started and administered Soccer for Success, serving youth, coaches and volunteers. She served for eight years as a national facilitator and trainer with the U.S. Soccer Foundation.

She operates Roots to Harvest, a garden coaching and plant start business.

“Krieger’s combination of skills and professional experience make her uniquely suited to serving the SBDC network’s 14 statewide centers and the small businesses they support,” said Nikki Malony, director of the OEDIT business support division. “As the owner of Roots to Harvest, she understands both the challenges and opportunities that are unique to Colorado’s small businesses. She is also well-prepared to build on the SBDC’s successful statewide programming to help even more of those small businesses achieve their goals.”