Leah Pitts Named Assistant State Director for Operations & Compliance
AMES, Iowa – America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Iowa is pleased to announce the promotion of Leah Pitts to Assistant State Director for Operations and Compliance.
Pitts brings more than five years of experience within the Iowa SBDC network and a strong record of leadership in statewide operations, regulatory compliance, and performance management. In her new role, she provides statewide leadership and strategic oversight of daily operations for Iowa’s SBDC network, advancing operational consistency, regulatory compliance, and data-driven performance improvement while partnering closely with the State Director on policy, planning, and statewide initiatives.
Pitts previously served as Regulatory Data Coordinator, where she led statewide reporting, CRM data integrity, and accreditation efforts while supporting strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives. Her work strengthened data-driven decision-making, streamlined reporting processes, and enhanced operational alignment across the network.
“Leah is a deeply respected colleague and leader within the Iowa SBDC, and I am truly excited to see her step into the role of Assistant State Director,” said Austin Strawhacker, State Director of America’s SBDC Iowa. “Over the past five years, she has poured an extraordinary amount of care, diligence, and integrity into strengthening our operations, data, and compliance. What sets Leah apart is not only her technical expertise, but her genuine passion for this program and for the small business owners and entrepreneurs we serve. This promotion is a well-earned recognition of her impact, and our network is stronger because of her leadership.”
Pitts holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Dakota and a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Iowa State University. She is certified through the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity and is a participant in the ASBDC Rising Leadership Program. She also serves on national ASBDC committees focused on research, data, and system modernization.
America’s SBDC Iowa is an outreach program of Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations. Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, America’s SBDC Iowa has 15 regional assistance centers located strategically across the state. Since the program's inception in 1981, the SBDC has helped Iowa businesses and entrepreneurs through no fee, confidential, customized, professional business counseling and practical, affordable training workshops.
Press Contacts:
Austin Strawhacker, America’s SBDC Iowa, 515-294-2030, astraw@iastate.edu
Leah Pitts, America’s SBDC Iowa, 515-294-0041 lmpitts@iastate.edu
Leah Pitts, Assistant State Director for Operations & Compliance
