Heidi Melancon is Director of the Louisiana Small Business Development Center at University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  She began working for the network in 2005 and worked as a Senior Business Consultant until she took over as director in 2014.   She is responsible for the management and operation of an eight parish region in furthering the mission of the SBDC and helping start-up and existing entrepreneurs.   She continues to consult with clients in the areas of strategic planning, business development, financial evaluation, and marketing.  In addition to her primary duties, she is the Acadiana area coordinator and consultant for Louisiana Economic Development’s Small & Emerging Business Development Program.  Heidi earned her MBA degree in 2000 from the B.I. Moody III College of Business at University of Louisiana at Lafayette.