TA Advisors Services

TA Advisors provides custom consulting, coaching and fractional leadership for economic development, higher education, and other not-for-profit organizations. Services particularly tailored to organizations managing federal and other government grants. 

Areas of Expertise

Leadership and Program Management/Fractional CEO
Strategic Planning
Organizational Assessments
SBDC Accreditation
Grants - Proposal Development, Management, Reporting
Leadership Transition
Resource Cultivation/Funder Relations
Operational Efficiency
Data Analytics (trending and benchmarking)
Organizational Culture and Staff Assessment
Stakeholder and Customer Needs Assessments (interviews, surveys, primary research)
SBDC Partnerships

Sample Past Projects

Leadership

Executive State Director of the Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania SBDC networks

Launched and led the America’s SBDC Leadership Institute

Organizational Assessments

  • Florida Atlantic University and the University of West Florida/Florida SBDC
  • Howard University/Washington DC SBDC
  • University of Kentucky/Kentucky SBDC
  • Lane Community College/ Oregon SBDC
  • University of Mississippi/Mississippi SBDC

Accreditation Support

  • Maricopa Community College/Arizona SBDC
  • Howard University/Washington DC SBDC
  • Fort Hays State University/Kansas SBDC
  • The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania/ Pennsylvania SBDC
  • University of Wisconsin/Wisconsin SBDC
  • America's SBDC Accreditation Committee Member - 20 years

Leadership Coaching & Operational Support

  • Arizona SBDC
  • Kansas SBDC
  • Louisiana SBDC
  • Michigan SBDC
  • Washington DC SBDC

Leadership Professional Development

  • ALEX - America's SBDC Leadership Exchange 
  • Leadership Roundtables
  • New Leaders Peer Exchange
  • Orientation to Managing an SBDC Network
  • ROSY - The Results-oriented Operating System
  • Tool Tips

Partnerships

Conceived, pitched and landed a $10 million unrestricted donation from Google.org to establish a national network of AI clinics to engage students in supporting business adoption of digital technologies.

Established partnerships with the transactional law clinics at Harvard Law School and Penn State University to provide pro-bono legal services to small businesses and entrepreneurs. 

Strategic Planning

  • America’s SBDC
  • University of Alabama/Alabama SBDC
  • Maricopa Community College District/Arizona SBDC
  • Howard University/Washington DC SBDC
  • Fort Hays State University/Kansas SBDC
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst/Massachusetts SBDC
  • Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development/Minnesota SBDC
  • University of Nebraska Omaha/Nebraska SBDC
  • Cal Poly Humboldt/Northern California SBDC
  • The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania/Pennsylvania SBDC

Leadership Transitions

  • Baltimore SBDC
  • Central Massachusetts SBDC
  • Connecticut SBDC
  • Florida SBDC
  • Guam SBDC
  • Kansas SBDC
  • Kentucky SBDC
  • Louisiana SBDC
  • Minnesota SBDC
  • Missouri SBDC
  • Nevada SBDC
  • New York SBDC
  • North Dakota SBDC
  • Northwest Texas SBDC
  • Rhode Island SBDC
  • San Diego Imperial SBDC
  • Virgin Islands SBDC
  • Washington SBDC
  • West Virginia SBDC
  • Wyoming SBDC

Federal Grant Agencies

  • DLA
  • DOD
  • EDA
  • EPA
  • SBA
  • USDA

Strategic Planning Feedback

A renewed awareness that my core values align with the SBDC as an organization and with the core values of my colleagues. And with a new articulation of those values, we can move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and drive to help our clients achieve their goals.
MN SBDC
The time together strengthened relationships across the network and gave us a shared sense of direction. It was a positive, collaborative experience that built trust and familiarity among peers. We're building alignment and goodwill, which are valuable foundations for future work.
MN SBDC
Well done. Very good use of my time to help us move the program forward!
AZ SBDC
Everything was perfect. I felt heard and I heard the voices of each of my colleagues. What could have been tense and heavy felt light, thoughtful and intentional. Anything more would be fluff.
MN SBDC
I feel like we "actually" accomplished something. :)
AZ SBDC
Thank you for your calm thoughtful guidance. You helped us turn many meandering and disparate thoughts into a cohesive plan for our organization. Thank you!
MN SBDC
We took the time to have meaningful discussions instead of rushing through a process.
DC SBDC
I walked away with a feeling that my input was heard and would be considered in the strategic planning process.
KS SBDC
 I received very positive feedback on the process and learned a lot from you along the way about strategic planning. It was an excellent experience for me and will be a useful tool for us in the future!
NE SBDC

Christian Conroy

Principal 
TA Advisors and the TA Leadership Institute is lead by Christian Conroy.

Christian Conroy has over 30 years of experience in executive-level leadership and management. He has managed $120 million in grants and contracts to build and deliver services to support the transformation of entrepreneurs, organizations and communities. The organizations he has led have helped to launch more than 13,000 new businesses, impact over 120,000 jobs, and secure more than $1.2 billion in start-up and growth capital.

At the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Christian led the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers, the largest provider of entrepreneurial technical assistance in the state. He also served as leader of the SBDC programs in Kansas, Kentucky and Massachusetts while supporting their search processes for permanent leadership.

Christian launched the America’s SBDC Leadership Institute in 2018 to provide customized leadership coaching, consulting and training on strategic thinking, planning and doing; performance and operations improvement; and sustainability to support the 63 SBDC networks that serve all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the territories. In this role he obtained a $10 million grant from Google to build capacity in AI and digital technology adoption.

Christian has a master’s degree in urban studies and non-profit management from the University of Pennsylvania, and undergraduate degrees in economics and psychology from the University of New York at Albany. He has testified before both houses of Congress in support of bills to support entrepreneurs and small businesses.
LET'S Connect

TA Advisors

Christian Conroy
Principal 
  • christian@taadvisors.org
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