The SMARTstart Staff

Daniel Mitchell, EDP

SMARTstart Program Director

Dan is responsible for managing the SMARTstart program, from working directly with small businesses to running the incubator locations across Pasco. Prior to joining Pasco EDC, he had been coaching individuals and businesses, as well as being an entrepreneur himself. Dan holds a B.S. in Business Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship, as well as his Certified Financial Planner accreditation.

Ashlee Underdown

SMARTstart Program Coordinator

Ashlee assists the SMARTstart Program Director with communicating to businesses and aids in conducting events. She has previous experience managing a business, and hopes to grow professionally while assisting small business owners through the SMARTstart Program. Ashlee holds an Associates of Art degree from Pasco-Hernando State College and is currently continuing her education to achieve a B.A. in Business Organization Administration.

Melanie McCann

SMARTstart Program Assistant

Melanie assists the SMARTstart Program Director with communicating to businesses and aids in conducting events. She is a seasoned office professional with several years of experience in business administration, mainly in financial and travel industries. Melanie holds an Associate of Arts degree from St. Petersburg College and is an aspiring entrepreneur.

Becky Martin

Special Program Assistant

Becky provides administrative support for the Pasco EDC staff at various levels with emphasis placed on, marketing support of social media distribution, all aspects of the Pasco Microloan Program, and support of the SMARTstart Business Incubator program. She is also responsible for updating the programs and information on the SMARTstart website. Prior to joining Pasco EDC, Becky worked for the Department of Health and The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce. She is also a graduate of Leadership Hernando 2009.

Lauren M iceli

Director of Marketing & Communications

Lauren is responsible for all marketing and communications for the Pasco EDC. Her responsibilities include ad placement, social media management, graphic design, public relations and all communication and promotions efforts. Before joining the Pasco EDC, Lauren worked for a local chamber of commerce and for the Pasco County Office of Tourism Development, giving her a familiarity with Pasco County. She holds a B.A. in Mass Communications from the University of South Florida with concentration in Public Relations. She also earned a certificate from the University of South Florida for Meeting and Event Planning.

Holly M cDowall

Marketing Coordinator

Holly works with the Director of Marketing and Communications to promote the Pasco EDC and Pasco County. Some responsibilities include social media management, graphic design, and drafting publications. Prior to joining the Pasco EDC, Holly worked with multiple non-profits including The Children’s Campaign, Relay for Life, and Metropolitan Ministries. She holds a B.S. in Media and Communication Studies and Psychology from Florida State University.