Carter Merkle advises companies selling to federal, state, local and tribal government agencies. He works as a procurement counselor with the TGI APEX Accelerator, a Native American APEX Accelerator serving tribal-owned businesses and Native-owned businesses located in the Eastern Oklahoma and the Southern Plains regions of the BIA.

He managed the Oklahoma APEX Accelerator from 2002 to 2023. Prior to 2002 Merkle worked in retail management and news reporting.

Ronald DeGiacomo serves as the APEX Accelerator at Kiamichi Technology Centers. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from East Central University, where he has also completed several courses towards his Master’s of Science degree.

With two decades of experience as a retail assistant manager and small business owner, Ronnie brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. For the past 19 years, he has been dedicated to Kiamichi Technology Centers as the APEX Accelerator. In this capacity, he provides expert counseling to business and industry clients, offering marketing and technical assistance for selling their products and services to federal, state and local governments.

Ronald’s primary goal is to stimulate job creation and economic growth in Southeast Oklahoma by delivering valuable resources to Oklahoma businesses. He currently supports more than 80 businesses within the Kiamichi Tech District.

For inquiries, Ronnie can be reached at [email protected] or 918-424-8530.

Jennifer Edwards has been with REI Oklahoma since fall 2009.  She is proud to serve as the Coordinator of the Women’s Business Center, where she works to support women entrepreneurs and provide resources and technical assistance to aid in their success. Believing that entrepreneurship is our state and nation’s lifeline, Jennifer spearheads efforts from the Oklahoma City office and provides services to the 35 counties of Central and Western Oklahoma.

Jennifer holds a degree in Public Relations and Sociology.  Her background is in communications, women’s issues, nonprofit and business management, and foundation funding.  She is passionate about community involvement and is active in several community and leadership development groups including serving as secretary of the board for Center for Children & Families, Chairperson of the board for the Moore Involved Young Professionals Group, Co-Chair of the Leadership Moore Program, the OK Cooperative Extension Service Advisory Committee, the Francis Tuttle Business & Industry Services Advisory Committee, the OK Women’s Coalition’s Work and Family Committee, Moore Chamber of Commerce Business Development Committee, Journey Leadership Institute, and is involved in various other charitable and civic activities.

Dr. Michele Hockersmith has served as State Director for Oklahoma Small Business Development Center network since 2018.  Prior to her current role, she served as Assistant State Director for OKSBDC for four years.  Before joining OKSBDC, she served in various education roles at her alma mater (Southeastern Oklahoma State University).  She holds an LPC and has been a counselor and director for 17 years in the U.S. Department of Education TRIO programs.  

She also spent five years in the Office of the President coordinating strategic partnerships and collaborative opportunities with internal and external constituencies for SOSU. Michele is a Leadership Oklahoma graduate (Class XXIII), and since graduation has been very active with the LOK Board and various committee appointments.

She has been selected as 50 Oklahoma Women Making a Difference in 2013, 2016, and 2018 by the Journal Record and was named to the Journal Record’s Circle of Excellence for her three-time selection.  She was honored with the 2017 Leadership Oklahoma Distinguished Leadership Award and chosen as an Outstanding Alum by her hometown alumni organization (Healdton, OK).  She was also featured in the March 2019 Oklahoma magazine for her work with OKSBDC.

Michele is a member of the Stephenson Cancer Center Board of Advocates, the Durant Fortnightly Club, Chapter DJ P.E.O., and the First Baptist Church of Durant.  Michele is a member of the National Small Business Development Center Leadership Committee. She obtained her BA and MBS from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a PhD from Swansea University/UCO in Wales.  She also serves on America’s SBDC National Board.