Mar. 24—The Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center has a new executive director.

Brandon Eldridge, with more than 22 years of management experience in technology, banking and retail, will oversee the center as it continues to help small businesses become established, expand and hire, a news release from the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & EDC said this week.

The Chamber & EDC this year became the hosting agency for the Small Business Development Center, taking over for El Paso County.

Eldridge fills the position that Aikta Marcoulier left after she was chosen last April to head the Small Business Administration’s regional office in Denver.

Eldridge managed the business sales department and community engagement as a market director at Underline Infrastructure, a fiber optic network company, the release said.

At the Small Business Development Center, which provides consulting at low or no cost and plugs small-business owners into resources and financing, Eldridge hopes to further the center’s community impact, according to the release.

“I am excited to join the Pikes Peak SBDC and work with other community partners to support small businesses,” Eldridge said in the release.

“I have a passion for the Pikes Peak region, and I can’t wait to help businesses and identify solutions to help them thrive.”

Eldridge moved to Colorado Springs in 1998. He serves as the president of Leadership Pikes Peak and president of the Council of Neighbors Organizations, a community-building organization.

He will assume his position with the Small Business Development Center on April 3, according to the release.