Advance Iowa Team
Todd E. HutchesonTodd Hutcheson is the Director of ADVANCE IOWA and the Center for Business Growth and Innovation at the University of Northern Iowa. He directs programs that promote business growth and innovation to help small to medium-sized businesses thrive and succeed. His primary focus is on business value, strategic leadership, continuous improvement, and project management. Todd holds an MBA from the University of Iowa and received his undergraduate degree from Western Illinois University. He received a Professional Certificate in Industry 4.0 from MIT in early-2024. He has been an adjunct instructor of Strategic Management at UNI for the past three years, prior to that teaching as a professor at Mount Mercy University in Business & Leadership programs for over 13 years. Education is his "family business," with parents, siblings, and children pursuing careers in that field as well as understanding the importance of life-long learning. Prior to moving into the fields of education and business consulting, Todd spent 32 years engaged in a wide variety of functional departments and roles, focused on continuous improvement, system implementation and strategic management for Rockwell Collins, a premier aerospace and defense company. He states his life's mission simply as "helping others become (even more) successful."
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Deb GiarussoDeb Giarusso is serving as senior program manager for ADVANCE IOWA, specializing in business ownership transition. She brings 35 years of expertise in corporate and investment finance. Her professional experience includes preparing capital budgeting analysis for Oscar Mayer Foods in the early 1990s, managing a multi-million-dollar family real estate and investment portfolio for over 30 years, and being a founding principal of an RIA firm during the financial crisis of 2008.
Deb has used her skills to lead financial projects, collaborate with board members to develop investment policies, monitor investment advisors, and forecast models. She is excellent at identifying key variables resulting in improved cash flow management and cost optimization. Additionally, Deb has been serving on multiple non-profit boards as a financial expert for a decade.As a wealth strategist, she advises business owners and their families, managing their financial resources. This illustrates her commitment to the local communities and families, fitting well into the ADVANCE IOWA team.
Deb has taught both graduate and undergraduate finance courses at the University of Northern Iowa for twenty years.
She proudly holds the designation of CFA® charter holder, CFA® Institute, and earned her MBA from the University of Iowa.
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Janell CrowJanell is a UNI graduate with a degree in Business Management. She is a lifetime resident of the Cedar Valley and has a passion for the community. Before starting her career at UNI, she worked in finance and also as a small business owner. This is a unique aspect that she brings to our team, she knows what these businesses go through and understands a lot of their struggles. She is currently serving as a Business and Program Manager and is responsible for the development, scheduling, and implementation of program events. She also assists with program marketing and business development.
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Stacy MullinexStacy Mullinex is a Senior Program Manager for ADVANCE IOWA bringing over twenty years of business experience to the team. Her career has included owning her own company as well as consultation work for various trades which range from small family shops to multi-million-dollar operations. Her role at ADVANCE IOWA follows a similar path assisting companies in identifying value drivers for business growth, providing strategic/financial valuation assessments, and offering customized succession planning with a specialization in employee ownership models. She holds a Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration PGC as well as undergraduate degrees in both Business Administration and Accounting.
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Judy ButlerJudy Butler is a Program Manager at ADVANCE IOWA, focusing on the ADVANCE Leadership Roundtable initiative. With a background in entrepreneurship, Judy has owned various small enterprises, including online and brick and mortar establishments. For the past 15 years, she has worked in higher education, frequently as a liaison between academia and the business community.
Judy is a graduate of Augustana College in Rock Island, IL where she studied business management and political science. Recently transplanted from the Illinois Quad Cities, Judy is learning her way around Iowa. She is on a mission to drive growth and sustainability for small to midsize businesses across the state. She has a deep-rooted belief in the power of collaborative efforts and specializes in implementing ADVANCE Leadership Roundtables tailored for C-Suite executives, business owners, and decision-makers.
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Annette StevensonAt ADVANCE IOWA, Annette in the Marketing and Communication Coordinator for the center. She develops multi-channel communication strategies and creates digital and print publications and social media marketing. Before continuing her career at UNI, Annette gained extensive professional design experience in agencies and while owning and operating businesses of her own. This fact substantiates her connectedness and interest in entrepreneurship and family businesses, which have always been a prevalent aspect of her life. Annette is a UNI graduate. She has a passion for community and instructs various art classes in her free time.
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