SBDC Consultants

In addition to practical experience in operating small businesses themselves, our staff have many years of combined business experience and hold a variety of advanced business degrees. The SBDC also taps the expertise of industry experts, successful entrepreneurs, and other business professionals to deliver its educational programs.

Dr. Mary T. McKinney is the director of the Duquesne University SBDC. She has over 25 years of experience in curriculum development, training, marketing, and management. Under her guidance, the SBDC and CITRA conduct over 50 training events and consult with approximately 500 firms annually. The SBDC specializes in global trade and technology commercialization. Dr. McKinney has supervised grants from several state and federal agencies including Pa DCED, US SBA, USAID, USDOJ, USDOC, USDOE, and the European Union. She obtained her doctorate in Public Administration and Master of Public and International Affairs (MPIA) from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

Cheryl joined the Duquesne University Small Business Development Center in November 2015. She has over 20 years of accounting experience including many years working at the University of Pittsburgh with federal and non-profit funding agencies. Before leaving the University of Pittsburgh, she served as the Administrative Director of the Family Medicine Department, where she was responsible for the financial and operations management of the department.
Cheryl holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Robert Morris University and an M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh.