SBDC’s Carla Holland, Daniel Fitzgerald and Marquise Jackson, Congressman Juan Vargas, and SBDC’s Suderchan Shaunak. Photo taken by Mauricio Vargas.
On July 21, 2016, San Diego’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted its first of a series of “Connecting with Capital” events that brought together San Diego’s small business community with area banks and lenders.
Attended by over 100 businesses and lenders, the event offered an opportunity for private “on the spot” meetings with lenders in addition to panel discussions and speakers who offered tips and real world advice about the oftentimes complex financing process to area business owners.
“Our mission is to provide free support to the San Diego business community to get the capital they need to grow their businesses, and today was a perfect embodiment of that mission,” said Marquise Jackson, Director of the SBDC’s San Diego and Imperial Valley Network.
Held at Chula Vista’s City Council Chambers, the crowd was welcomed by U.S. Congressman Juan Vargas (D-CA 51st District), who took the podium to offer his office’s assistance as an ally and advocate to San Diego’s small business community.
A panel discussion moderated by SBDC’s Gareth Pronovost gave the audience direct access to top area lenders featuring Matt Diamond (US Bank), Cindy Gomper-Graves (South County EDC), Rosa Elena Enriquez (City of San Diego), Eddie Landeros (CDC Small Business Finance), Rosalinda Delgado (Accion), and Tim Robertson (Robertson Working Capital).
Additional speakers included Gary Halbert (City Manager of Chula Vista), and Bill Martinez of San Diego Credit Recovery.
Participating banks and lenders included Accion, Bank of Southern California, Bank of the West, Banner Bank, CDC Small Business Finance, Comerica Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, Primary Funding, Robertson Working Capital, Sea Coast Commerce Bank, Sun West Bank and US Bank.
Other participating organizations included the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce, Diamond Business Association, National City Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Credit Recovery and the South County Economic Development Council.
