Harlan native brings lifelong small-business experience to statewide leadership role

AMES — A Harlan native is using
firsthand experience in her
new position as Assistant State Director
for Operations and Compliance
for America’s Small Business
Development Center (SBDC) Iowa.
Leah 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, the organization
said.
“I have been around small businesses
my entire life, which has
greatly shaped my career path and
passion for this work. My dad, Lonnie
Pitts, owns his own chiropractic
practice, giving me firsthand
exposure to the realities of small
business ownership, and my mom,
Sue Pitts, served as a regional director
for the Small Business Development
Center for 20 years, directly
counseling small businesses
in southwest Iowa,” Pitts said.
“Through both experiences, I developed
a deep appreciation for the
role small businesses play in their
communities and the importance
of having strong support systems
in place. That background has fueled
my passion for helping entrepreneurs,
and I’m excited to continue
making a small but meaningful
impact through my work with the
Iowa SBDC.”
The Iowa Small Business Development
Center (SBDC) provides
no-cost, confidential business advising
and educational resources
to entrepreneurs and small business
owners across all 99 Iowa
counties. It supports businesses
at every stage, including startup
and business planning, growth,
expansion, and transition. Services
include one-on-one consulting,
market research, financial analysis,
and educational workshops.
In addition, the SBDC serves as a
central point of connection, helping
small businesses navigate
available resources and get the assistance
they need to start strong,
grow, and succeed.
Pitts said that in her role as Assistant
State Director for Operations
and Compliance, she will
help provide leadership and oversight
for the daily operations of the
Iowa Small Business Development
Center’s statewide network. “This
includes supporting and working
closely with our 15 regional directors,
ensuring consistency and
quality of services across all 99
Iowa counties, and helping guide
the strategic direction of the organization,”
she said.
“I will also focus on strengthening
operations, data systems, and
compliance efforts, while fostering
collaboration, professional development,
and continuous improvement
across the network. A key
part of the role is working with local,
state, and federal partners to
ensure Iowa small businesses have
access to strong resources and support
statewide.”
Pitts said growing up in a rural
environment gave her a “deep appreciation”
for the role small businesses
play in bringing people
together and sustaining vibrant
communities.
“In Harlan, locally owned businesses
are more than just places