Marcella Hurley serves as State Program Director for South Dakota APEX Accelerator, with offices in Yankton, Rapid City, Pierre, and Sioux Falls, assisting businesses in state, local and federal contracting. The APEX Accelerator program, formerly known as Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP), under management of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), plays a critical role in the Department’s efforts to identify and help a wide range of businesses enter and participate in the defense supply-chain.

Marcella previously served as Lender Relations Specialist for Small Business Development Center (SBA) South Dakota Regional Office; as Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center; and as Procurement Technical Assistance Counselor for Central and Upper Midwest South Dakota.

Marcella collaborates with SBDC offices statewide, planning districts, economic development corporations, Community Development Finance Institutions, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce, and the Small Business Administration.

She is an adjunct instructor for state universities and consults and trains in the understanding of the dynamics of the business environment, the elements of creating a business, and the fundamentals for financing, marketing, and maintaining a profitable business, and the importance of enhancing business strategies through the development of banking relationships.

She is a licensed member of the International Society of Business Appraisers, LLC. She also provides feasibility analyses for existing companies relative to growth and expansion plans, as well as exit strategies.