Internal Newsletter May 2019
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Small Business Month Recap
It was an exciting month for the LA SBDC Network! We celebrated Small Business Month in honor of our state's 3.9 million small businesses that keep our economy thriving.

With the goal expanding our reach and finding new clients to serve, we proudly hosted specialized, no-cost training events throughout the LA area. Topics included Social Media 101 with Deborah Deras, Build Your Business Website with Sé Reed, and the 6-week LB Retail Academy taught by Karie Williford. As you can see from the picture below, our Small Business Month activities were a huge hit!
Network Numbers
We are on target in Jobs Supported, Clients Served , and Capital Infusion and tracking behind in New Business Starts . If you have any thoughts on strategies/best practices for outreach to find pre-venture clients, please share your ideas here !

Accolades!
Congratulations to Catherine Grooms , Director of the SBDC at College of the Canyons, for earning the SBA Excellence and Innovation Award. This award recognizes her center for providing value to small businesses from diverse backgrounds, and advancing program delivery and management through innovation.

Catherine has been with the SBDC for 13 years, first as a Business Advisor, then as Associate Director and finally as Director. Her team of 25 includes Assistant Director Paul Mazbanian, 20 Business Advisors, a Client Engagement Coordinator and 4 College Assistants. 

Catherine accepted the award in front of her peers and colleagues at the SBA Awards Luncheon on May 29th. Way to go Catherine and team!
What's the recipe to COC's success? In Catherine's words:

  • Our belief in the valuable resource we offer to clients
  • Our specialties and areas of expertise that are critical for clients
  • Our flexibility and accessibility
  • Our ability to work with the clients using a comprehensive approach
  • Being inclusive and representative of the communities that we serve…
Sounds good, but what's the Secret Sauce?

"I strive to lead the center with authenticity and commitment to my team and clients - to help them grow and be a driver for innovation."


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Click here to see Catherine accept this prestigious award.

Remembering Raimone Roberts

Our hearts are heavy as we remember COC SBDC Business Advisor Raimone Roberts, who passed away in March 2019. Raimone starting working with us in 2010, and tremendously impacted clients in many ways to help inspire their entrepreneurial journey. He loved to help his clients achieve their dreams, reach their business goals, and create opportunities for themselves.

Raimone proudly served in the United States Air Force and received numerous prestigious awards throughout his service. As a youth minister, he worked with children in India, the Philippines and El Salvador. We send our deepest condolences to his wife Noelle, his son Asher, his father Charles, and his mother Nannette. Raimone was a beloved husband, father, colleague and friend and will be deeply missed.
ICYMI
On May 16th, we held the first California SBDC Professional Development Training webinar - the topic was Opportunity Zones. If you missed it, you can view the recording here .

Next Session: June 20th @ 12PM
(details to follow)
As discussed in the webinar here are three links regarding how to identify where Opportunity Zones are in California:
Congratulations
It's official! Don Loewel is now the Director of SBDC Pasadena. Let's drop the "Interim" and get this man some new business cards!

Congratulations Don, way to go!
Don Loewel Director PCC SBDC Headshot
Upcoming Network Events
June 9th: Latin Women's Expo ; exhibiting & workshop (in partnership with Google)

June 30th: POSiBLE L.A. (a Univisión event); booth & workshop presentation

Join us! If interested, please contact Kristen or Claudia .
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