Subject Matter Experts

Karri Palmetier is a partner at Palmetier Law, which was founded to help small and medium-sized businesses navigate the maze of government contracting regulations. Karri brings more than two decades of experience in government contracting and aerospace and defense industries. She started her career as a U.S. Air Force judge advocate where she supported major defense programs, base operational contracting, and international and joint war operations. Karri gained additional breadth working in a major D.C. law firm on a variety of government contracting matters. Karri then joined the in-house legal department at United Launch Alliance where she supported multiple issues across the company, including major government and commercial contracts, business system compliance, Freedom of Information Act, subcontract administration, and major litigation. Before establishing her own practice, Karri acted as the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for Special Aerospace Services, a certified 8(a) woman-owned small business. She uses her unique and diverse background to advise companies on all aspects of government contracting, including translating and simplify the byzantine laws of the world of government contracts.

Steve works with leaders who recognize that sales are the constraint to their company’s growth, and help them understand why and what to do to drive profitable, sustainable revenue. Steve began developing his training and communications skills as a second grade teacher in Summit County, Colorado. An entrepreneur at heart, Steve left teaching to start his own business, and since then, has spent over 34 years as a business owner and in the corporate arena: in industrial relations, operations, quality management, mergers and acquisitions, training, marketing, sales and sales management. Coaching CEO’s and Sales Managers is what he enjoys doing the most.

Bal Patterson joined his family’s business, The Printed Page, in 1989 after years of work in advertising, publishing and product management, both in Boulder and Los Angeles. He managed the Page on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall while also serving as the Marketing Director for Downtown Boulder, and then opened Page Two in Gunbarrel. That business flourished for 25 years, combining both a book, gift and stationery retail store with a café/coffee shop. Before joining the SBDC he also served as a Project Manager for Boulder catering company Savory Cuisines, managing a corporate café and directing special projects. As a hometown fellow experienced in retail, food service, startups and business planning, he is a strong advocate for the ingenuity, creativity and determination of anyone who desires to build a business in Boulder County.

Theresa A. Pickner has been practicing law in Colorado since 1989, and she has been presenting the Start-Up Essentials workshop at the Boulder Small Business Development Center for over 20 years.

Theresa’s fields of expertise include: Existing Businesses, Business Start-Ups, Taxation, and Estate Planning. Theresa will help you understand the process and give you the confidence to make the best decisions. For over twenty years, she has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and individuals. She is the co-author of The Small Business Legal Tool Kit.