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Department: Management

Adam Melnick

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Adam Melnick, J.D. is an associate professor in the Department of Management at Metropolitan State University of Denver. His areas of expertise include entrepreneurship, small business, “conscious” business, social entrepreneurship, social impact business, sustainable business, and access to funding. Currently, he teaches Small Business Entrepreneurship, Organizational Management, Entrepreneurship Feasibility, and Entrepreneurial Business Plan.  

In addition to teaching, he is a consultant at the Colorado Small Business Development Centers Network, Rebel Bread, and FMK Agency, and a licensed attorney in both Colorado and Pennsylvania. As an active participant in the Denver community, Melnick is the co-founder and organizer of the Denver Good Business Week and is a board member for Blue Star Recyclers and committee chair for the CBUS Small Business Development program.  

Prior to joining MSU Denver, Melnick served as senior entrepreneurship officer and in-house counsel at Colorado Lending Source.  

Melnick earned his Juris Doctorate in Environmental Law from Pace University, a Master’s from Yale University, well as a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Science from Muhlenberg College. 

Elizabeth McVicker

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Elizabeth McVicker, Ph.D., J.D., is a professor in the Department of Management at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

She serves as an advisor for student internships, independent studies, individualized degree program majors; and provides academic advice to management majors, MBA students and students interested in pursuing a study of law. McVicker was instrumental in the creation of MSU Denver’s One World One Water Center (OWOW) and the Water Studies curriculum. She also has her own practice.

Her service to the community includes serving on the boards of a water conservancy district, a water enterprise authority, a nation-wide water consortium serving coalitions and collaborations focused on water quality and restoration after major fires and floods and a state-wide basin roundtable. In 2011, McVicker received the Outstanding Women Award from the Institute of Women’s Studies and Services at MSU Denver, as well as the College of Business Dean’s Award for Overall Faculty Excellence.

Her research interests include legal issues surrounding constitutional law, employment and labor law; and water law within the context of regional, national and international perspectives.

McVicker received her juris doctorate from University of Denver, doctorate in Spanish language and literature from New York University, master’s from Johns Hopkins University and bachelor’s from University of Texas. She is a licensed attorney in the state of Colorado in good standing and is current with all required continuing legal education classes.

Lynn Hoffman

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Lynn Hoffman, Ph.D., is an emeritus professor in the Department of Management at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He developed the course Organizational Management and Consulting, which prepares student teams to form a partnership with local companies. Additionally, Hoffman helped developed the entrepreneurship curriculum for the College of Business at MSU Denver and is the recipient of the College of Business Dean’s Excellence in Scholarship Award. In addition to teaching, he has served in a variety of officer positions for the Westminster Rotary Club and is an active member of the Small Business Institute. Hoffman’s areas of interest are in human resources, entrepreneurial business planning, social entrepreneurial management consulting and strategic management.

Hoffman received his Ph.D. in industrial relations and human resource management from the University of Iowa.

Debbie Gilliard

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Debbie Gilliard, Ph.D., is chair and professor in the Department of Management at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Gilliard has served as department chair since 2008 and is involved in many school and university committees. She is a faculty advisor for the International Business program, spearheaded the development of the global business programs at MSU Denver and serves on the MSU Denver Strategic Planning Task Force. Gilliard received the College of Business, Dean’s Special Award “Unsung Hero Scholarly Activity.” She is active in the community serving as representative to the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, participates in the Aurora Business and Professional Women’s Organization and is on the Board of the Western Decision Sciences Institute.

Gilliard has presented her scholarly work at regional and national conferences. Her case studies have been published in strategic management textbooks and used in the strategic management course at MSU Denver. She conducts research on strategic management and international business.

Gilliard received her doctorate in management from Arizona State University, a master’s in management from University of Colorado, Denver and a bachelor’s in management from University of Northern Colorado.

Apryl Brodersen

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