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MEET OUR 2024 SPEAKERS
Complete speaker bios and images, coming soon!
Through more than 20 years in the field of economic and community development, Inna Kinney has devoted her career to helping people across Ohio find financial and professional stability through small business ownership.
She started this work when she developed and managed an entrepreneurship program to assist new Americans who were resettling in Central Ohio, as part of her role with Jewish Family Services – the same organization that helped her family settle in Columbus when they immigrated from the former Soviet Union in 1974.
Inna witnessed, firsthand, the opportunities – as well as the struggles – that small business entrepreneurship presented to her family and others in her community. Her personal experience as a member of an immigrant family and, later, as an advisor to others, inspired and informed the development of ECDI in 2004.
The organization is based on the principle of leveling the playing field for those who face systemic barriers on the road to business ownership. ECDI invests in individuals through funding, business training, and mentorship, with the goal of making a lasting impact on communities by creating social and economic change.
Since 2021 ECDI has been the top SBA microlender in the United States. As a leader in the CDFI industry, Inna continues to ensure ECDI leaves a lasting legacy by establishing new ways of serving those who are underserved by traditional systems.
Inna serves the community on local and national boards, including the Columbus Jewish Foundation.
Speaking on topics including:
Creative Lending Approaches, Small Business Insights
Geri Sanchez Aglipay was appointed by President Biden to oversee the SBA programs and field offices operations in the SBA’s Great Lakes region, serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. She is a second-generation American and the daughter of a veteran with over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, economic development, and workforce development and is a former self-employed entrepreneur. Ms. Aglipay is the first Filipino American to receive a presidential appointment as a regional administrator at the SBA.
Prior to SBA, she served as Director of the Midwest Region and National Director of Women’s Entrepreneurship for Small Business Majority. Regional Administrator Aglipay has experience in crafting equity-focused legislative and administrative policies that affect small businesses such as banking and fair lending, health care, leave and other workplace benefits, and taxes and appropriations. In addition to impactful outreach strategy and administration experience. she led the small business sector advocacy for Illinois to be the first state to propose legislation that combats online predatory small business lending, developed and led the launch of Chicago’s first mission-based lender match platform, and spearheaded a toolkit to measure ecosystem impact of small business services in underserved areas that is now referenced by nonprofits and philanthropy nationwide.
Ms. Aglipay lectures regularly at Northwestern Kellogg School of Business, serves on the Federal Reserve Board of Chicago Small Business Advisory Council; and is a commissioner of the Cook County Commission for Social Innovation. Her other volunteer activities also include civic engagement and civil rights having served on boards on various non-profit organizations. She is a graduate of Bradley University and pursued graduate study in community development finance from the University of New Hampshire.
Speaking on topics including:
Keynote Welcome
Ericka Adams is the owner of Adams Dental Assisting Academy and has been in the dental assisting field for over 30 years. She has been teaching dental assisting since 2006 and is passionate about the dental field and her students.
From The Ohio State University, Ericka Adams received her Bachelor of Arts degree and served in The United States Army Reserves where she first studied to become a dental assistant.
Aside from loving her career as an entrepreneur, she also loves spending time with her husband Guy and their two fur babies, Bailey, and Moriah. She’s looking forward to expanding her school and continuing helping students achieve their goals, one dream at a time.
Speaking on topics including:
Entrepreneur Insight: Removing Barriers in Underserved Markets
Maggie is Senior Vice President, Small Business and SBA Director, for Huntington National Bank, a $180 billion-dollar regional bank based out of Columbus, Ohio. With a background in financial underwriting, commercial closing and due diligence, and SBA Program Eligibility, Maggie has built a career specializing in business lending and is very active as a small business advocate in the communities that Huntington serves. Maggie works closely with private and public segment leaders nationwide to communicate Huntington’s mission for small business. She is the business representative on the bank’s ESG (Environmental Social and Governance) Board, focusing on Huntington’s impact on our customers, colleagues, and community. Maggie earned her BSBA degree from Ohio Dominican University and is a graduate of the CBA Executive School of Banking at Furman University, SC.
Speaking on topics including:
Creative Lending Approaches, More Equitable Professional and Team Development
A business leader with a diverse entrepreneurial background, Brian Brooks is someone to know. Since 2001, Brian has served as President of E.E. Ward
Moving & Storage Co., an agent of North American Van Lines, a SIRVA
Relocation company. E.E. Ward provides professional relocation services for local,
long distance and international household goods relocation, commercial office
moving and corporate employee relocation.
Founded in 1881, E.E. Ward is one of the oldest African-American-owned
businesses in the United States. Under Brian’s leadership, E.E. Ward has achieved
awards from American Moving & Storage Association, North American Van
Lines, Cartus Relocation, WHR Global, Lexicon Relocation, BBB of Central Ohio,
Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Minority Supplier Development
Council.
In 2015, Brian was instrumental in creating the ‘Laps for Lunches’ event, which
took aim at reducing food insecurity in the Woodland Park community of
Columbus. In 2017, the event evolved into ‘Laps for Learning’, an effort focused
on safety around water training for children in the areas serviced by the Eldon &
Elsie Ward, Hilltop and North YMCA’s of Central Ohio.
Brian currently serves on the boards of the North American Agents Mover
Association, BBB of Central Ohio and Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio.
Speaking on topics including:
Entrepreneur Insight:
Weathering the years, as the oldest Black-owned business in the country
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther is serving his second term as the 53rd mayor of the City of Columbus, Ohio. He previously served on Columbus City Council from 2007-15, and was president of Council from 2011 until assuming the Office of the Mayor on January 1, 2016. Under his leadership, Columbus has been named “America’s Opportunity City” while setting new records for job creation and population growth.
Speaking on topics including:
In 2012, Lisa Gutierrez left her Cheesecake Factory manager position of 10 years to follow a wild dream of starting a food truck business with her husband. They started with nothing but a borrowed food truck, $2,000 in savings, and a whole lot of ambition.
Through these hopes and aspirations, they brought Dos Hermanos Taco Truck to life, bringing Vicente’s family’s authentic Oaxacan-style recipes to their community. This authenticity is what would eventually lead long lines and raving fans to their truck. Over a decade later, Dos Hermanos has 4 brick-and-mortar locations, 4 mobile food trucks, a taco cart, a concession stand inside the Greater Columbus Convention Center, as well as catering services for events of all sizes. Through hard work and strategic connections, Lisa has grown Dos Hermanos to a 7-figure business. Over the years, Lisa’s hard work did not go unrecognized. In 2019, the SBA named Lisa as Minority Owned Small Business Person of the Year. Also, during multiple, recent, consecutive years, Dos
Hermanos was recognized by the ICIC as one of the fastest growing inner-city companies in America in terms of revenue and job creation. Further, in 2022, Lisa was the recipient of the Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance’s Rising Star award. That same year, Lisa was personally invited to attend an event at the residence of the Vice President of the United States in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Then, in 2023, Lisa was personally invited by the President of the United States to attend an event at The White House. As Lisa works to keep her business growing, create new job opportunities for her community, and collaborate with other small businesses, she also finds time to sit on the Executive Board of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce as President Elect, as well as being on the Board Member for the Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. Additionally, Lisa is President of Service!, a relief program for hospitality workers, and she also sits on the Advisory Board for the Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity. Lisa’s most recent accomplishments are launching both her public speaking company, Lisa G. Speaks, where she enjoys teaching business owners how to gain momentum and run a profitable business, and Food Truck Millionaire, a coaching platform where Lisa takes food truck owners from the concession window to the CEO seat. Lisa, having no prior business education, knows the struggles of starting from zero with no connections. This drives her desire to share all the knowledge she has to lead other aspiring entrepreneurs to the path of success.
Speaking on topics including:
Small Business Insights
Speaking on topics including:
Small Business Insights
Romualdo (Romy) Ancog is the Lead Export Finance Manager covering Michigan, Indiana, and Northern Ohio for the SBA Office of International Trade whose mission is to enhance the ability of small businesses to compete in the global marketplace. Working out of the US Export Assistance Center in Detroit, Romy helps brings traditional trade finance services typically reserved for large corporations to small businesses. He works with lenders to structure complex foreign buyer transactions using SBA loan programs as well as credit insurance and other partner programs. Romy joined the SBA in 2008 following a long career in commercial banking. Leading the Michigan SBA Lending team, he grew SBA lending in the state to over $1 billion for the first time. Romy created and managed the Great Lakes Lenders Conference. His diverse background in finance has made him a foremost authority on small business lending. He is an alumnus of the University of Michigan where he received his BA, and Romy has an MBA from the University of Detroit.
Speaking on topics including:
Small Business Export and Procurement
Ed joined the Office of International Trade team in October 2021. Prior to joining the SBA, Ed worked at several regional banks marketing different trade finance programs with an emphasis on doing business in Latin America. Among his responsibilities was to promote US exports by offering financing to foreign buyers purchasing US made equipment.
At the SBA, Ed is responsible for promoting SBA’s three core export programs to businesses and lenders in Pennsylvania, Delaware and southern Ohio. He also works with the Resource Partners throughout his footprint. Based in Pittsburgh-PA, Ed is fluent in Portuguese and proficient in Spanish.
Speaking on topics including:
SBA Lending Tactical
Nick Jellum is the President of Jellum Law, P.A. where he focuses his practice on advising the firm’s lending institution clients throughout the Country on all aspects of commercial loan transactions, from loan documentation and loan workouts to collections and liquidation, specifically focusing on U.S. Small Business Administration lending programs. Nick is an active member of a number of banking and lending organizations and associations, has served as a Director for an SBA 504 certified development company, and is a frequent speaker on a wide variety of SBA and conventional commercial lending issues.
Speaking on topics including:
SBA Best Practices, Closing Pitfalls to Avoid
Everett M. Woodel Jr. serves as the district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration's Central and Southern Ohio District Office, overseeing the delivery of the agency's financial assistance, technical assistance and government contracting activities to customers and stakeholders throughout Ohio. Director Woodel has more than 20 years of public service experience at both the state and federal level and joined the SBA after serving as the Midwest Regional Director for VEIC, a nonprofit sustainable energy company based in Burlington, Vermont. Woodel was named to the Association of Ohio Commodores in June 2019. The association recognizes those who are dedicated to Ohio's advancement in all areas contributing to the economic growth & development of the state. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Ohio University. He is a veteran of both the U.S. Army and the Ohio Army National Guard
Speaking on topics including:
Welcome address
Carolyn Cassin is a nationally recognized healthcare CEO and social change agent. She is an expert in operational leadership, financial analysis, and innovative strategies that drive profitability and market share. Carolyn started two hospice companies, one of which became a publicly traded company in 2005, VistaCare (NASDAQ:VSTA) and led the turnaround of two other failing hospice organizations into highly profitable exits. Her expertise is in growing and scaling companies from $200k - $250 million with top and bottom line growth and positive EBITDA. Carolyn also has extensive regulatory compliance and public policy experience and led a team that wrote and vetted the development of national Medicare Hospice Rules and Regulations.
In 2010 Carolyn launched the first of three Venture Capital Funds under the BELLE Michigan brand, the first women General Partner of a fund that invests in women owned businesses with her own resources. Her third fund, BELLE Michigan Impact Fund, launched in 2018 with 67 women investors. Seven years ago, Carolyn created a statewide micro finance program for women entrepreneurs, Michigan Women Forward, which now invests in over 100 low to moderate income women annually.
Speaking on topics including:
State-Specific SSBCI Programming
Chris Cook serves as Managing Director – Capital Access for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. In this role, Chris is responsible for developing and managing MEDC’s small business lending programs with a focus on supporting the MEDC’s effort in helping Michigan based companies obtain commercial financing which would otherwise not be available under conventional terms. Since their creation these programs have resulted in over $1 billion in new private sector investment in Michigan. This includes oversight the Michigan Strategic Fund’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (“SSBCI”) allocation. Chris is responsible for development and application for the loan and equity programs funded by SSBCI 2.0.
Speaking on topics including:
State-Specific SSBCI Programming
Dawn DeRidder has enjoyed over 30 years in her SBA Lending career. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Finance in 1990 from Grand Valley State University, and her NAGGL diploma in 2005, and is a true advocate for small business lending.
Speaking on topics including:
Best Practices in your SBA Department
Jermaine Perry is the Director of Surety Guarantees at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). In this role, he is responsible for developing and managing program strategies, operations, policies, regulations, and strategic partnerships. Jermaine's leadership ensures the effectiveness and efficiency of the Surety Bond Guarantee Program, supporting small business contractors across the nation. Under his leadership, he enabled small business contractors to secure $2.5 billion dollars in construction, service, supply, and manufacturing contracts in FY23. Before joining the SBA, Jermaine gained extensive experience in the private sector, working at a major insurance company where he assisted small business owners with customer acquisition and marketing execution. His entrepreneurial nature led him to own and operate a small logistics company, providing him with firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by small business owners. Jermaine's career is marked by a diverse range of roles in business operations and development. His commitment to unveiling economic opportunities and small business development was further demonstrated through his service as an economic and community development volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps. Jermaine holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Central State University (OH), a Historically Black College/University, and a Master of Business Administration from Ohio Dominican University. His educational background and professional experience equip him with the knowledge and skills to lead and innovate within the small business community.
Speaking on topics including:
Construction Financing and Surety Bonds
Nicole Liatos is the Vice President of Entrepreneurial Programs at the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), where she oversees client services including five Women’s Business Centers across the state, a Minority Contractor Resource Center, and special projects. With a background in entrepreneurship and as a native Ohioan, Nicole is deeply passionate about empowering women entrepreneurs to reach their full potential.
In her role as Vice President, she focuses on creating opportunities for advancing black and brown businesses, and advocating for minority business owners. Nicole is dedicated to leveling the playing field for women and minorities in business, championing entrepreneurship and fostering equitable opportunities for all.
With a wealth of experience in securing diverse capital, forging strategic partnerships, and leading economic development policy, Nicole has successfully incubated and scaled small business initiatives throughout Ohio. She also collaborates with corporations and philanthropic organizations to develop programs supporting entrepreneurship in women-led, diverse, and urban communities. Additionally, Nicole serves on the board of directors for the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC).
Speaking on topics including:
Leveraging TA to Remove Barriers in Underserved Markets
Speaking on topics including:
Conference Introductions, About Your Host: ECDI
A Chartered Financial Analyst with more than 35 years’ experience, John offers market expertise often featured on major news outlets such as Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Fox News and Bloomberg. As Chief Investment Officer for Huntington Private Bank, John oversees more than $23 billion in assets under management. His experience includes roles as senior portfolio manager, mutual funds manager, equity team leader, investment strategist, market strategist and economic strategist.
John’s investment career started when he opened his first brokerage account while still in high school, and over the years has stuck to these simple financial rules: 1) Know what you own and why you own it; 2) Everything works some of the time, so stay disciplined, diversified, and dynamic; 3) Patience, patience, patience.
Speaking on topics including:
Economic Updates
Boris Chudnovsky joined ECDI in July of 2022. During his time with ECDI, he has closed over 100 loans each year consecutively. Boris is the lending manager for ECDI’ s Ohio Refugee Microenterprise Program. The Program helps refugee entrepreneurs in Ohio and surrounding counties gain financial independence through small business loans combined with business and financial coaching. Boris has experience in Lending and Finance and is a former Business owner who created his own successful E-commerce Company.
Born in Ukraine, Boris immigrated to Columbus OH at age 14 in 2004. Boris earned his Bachelor degree from The Ohio State University. He speaks four languages and has lived in various countries. He has a diverse background, working with Refugees, Immigrants and Minorities.
Speaking on topics including:
Best Practices in Serving New American and Refugee Communities
Speaking on topics including:
Best Practices in SBA Partner Collaboration
Speaking on topics including:
Best Practices in SBA Partner Collaboration
Dawn Hylbert is the Program Manager and Advisor for the West Virginia Women’s Business Center. She has founded multiple small businesses. She has supported development efforts in West Virginia from neighborhood revitalization and improvement to economic development.
She has a bachelor’s degree from California State University and is studying for a Master of Science in Adult and Continuing Education at Marshall University. She is a Certified Business Advisor through Kent State University.
Speaking on topics including:
Speaking on topics including:
Main Street Revitalization in Rural Communities
Vice President of Business Growth Development & Fundraising for ECDI
Faculty at Cuyahoga Community College and Instructor at Oberlin College
With more than 12 years of experience advising small businesses through nonprofit financial and commercial banking institutions, Jasmine is a leader in providing capital access for under-resourced entrepreneurs. She offers a unique expertise in program development, including identifying the needs of business owners within a market, developing innovative programs and resources to serve those needs, aligning partnerships, and raising funds to support programming requirements. She has spearheaded major initiatives in the Cleveland market, such as ECDI’s Set Up Shop retail incubator.
Her work has been highlighted in local media outlets:
•Crain’s Cleveland Business
•Ideastream
•Fresh Water Cleveland
•News Channel 5
She has also been featured as an expert speaker at Cleveland’s FutureLAND conference.
As a member of ECDI’s mission-driven team, she focuses on fostering social and economic justice by creating more equitable access to opportunity for all entrepreneurs. She is also a faculty member for Cleveland’s Goldman Sachs 10000 Small Businesses program, facilitating the Being Bankable module and the You Are the Lender clinic.
Jasmine takes pride in being a valued resource for underserved entrepreneurs and has earned credibility as an active ecosystem collaborator. When she’s not working to advance racial equity, she enjoys spending time with her family and hiking through some of America's most beautiful national parks.
Speaking on topics including:
More Equitable Professional and Team Development
Bob Carpenter has been with SBA since 1990 and began serving as the Senior Regulatory Specialist in the 7(a) Program in October 2019. Bob’s current duties include Assisting the Director, OFA and the 7(a) Program Chief in reviewing requests for exceptions and reconsiderations; assisting in the development and implementation of SBA Business Loan Program procedures, policies, and regulations; developing training for SBA staff and SBA Lenders on SBA Loan Program eligibility, procedures, policies, and regulations; and providing guidance as needed.
Speaking on topics including:
7a Lending, 5010 7
Ken has provided wholesale SBA 504 1st mortgages for Morgan Stanley through CDC Capital Markets since 2010 and has been with CDC Small Business Finance since 1991. His depth of knowledge, a result of over 30 years of experience in the SBA lending industry, allows him to navigate the process efficiently and smartly. Ken has closed over 1,000 SBA 504 deals while always prioritizing superior customer service.
Speaking on topics including:
Secondary Markets
Anthony Berin began his career at the age of 14 in Cincinnati, working in restaurants, eventually gaining the title of Executive Chef at age 19. He earned an undergraduate degree in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs from Miami University and attended culinary school at Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte. While in school, he accepted the position of Executive Chef of a local restaurant group. In five years, Anthony grew the concept and helped expand to multiple locations. In 2014, Anthony and his wife chose to move back home to Cincinnati to be closer to family.
After successfully opening a fourth restaurant, and with 16 years of experience, Anthony wanted to find a way to make more of a difference. He found an opportunity to put his experience to more meaningful use as the Incubator Manager of the non-profit incubator, Findlay Kitchen, where he helped other passionate food entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Shortly after, work began developing Findlay Culinary Training and Social OTR, a social enterprise working with returning citizens, which saw 40 students graduate from the program in its first year. After 5 years in the non-profit sector focused on economic development through entrepreneurship, Anthony returned to the for-profit sector as National R&D Project Manager with Taylor Farms where he helped manage the relationship with the Kroger Company. Anthony joined the ECDI team in 2022 as the Senior Director of Food Incubation Services to help build the program, expanding ECDI’s statewide efforts working to build new programing and access to opportunities for Ohio-based food and beverage businesses. Now, as Vice President of Food Incubation, Anthony continues the effort assisting small businesses start, grow, and scale with the goal of affecting economic and social change in communities through entrepreneurship.
Speaking on topics including:
The Impact and Structure of Successful Food Business Incubation Programs
Steve Pricco joined the MCDC as Director of SBA 7(a) Lending in August of 2017. For over 20 years Steve has worked with the SBA 7(a) Program and was twice awarded Michigan’s PLP Lender of the Year. Over the last 12 years, Steve has served as a SBA 7(a) Lender Service Provider (LSP) for banks nationwide, where he and his team work with approving, closing, 1502 reporting, selling, servicing, and liquidating the SBA 7(a) loans. Steve also works with the USDA Business and Industry loan guaranty program where he was awarded top Michigan Lender of the Year four times during his career.
Steve earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a minor in Finance from Michigan State University.
Speaking on topics including:
7(a) Liquidiations
Director - Business Valuation, Certified Valuation Analyst by the NACVA
Reliant Business Valuation
Robert Vafiadou, CVA, is the Director of Business Valuation at Reliant Business Valuation, a tech-enabled business valuation and equipment appraisal firm specializing in SBA related valuations nationwide. Robert is a graduate of The College of New Jersey, with a degree in Business Management, while minoring in Finance. Robert has been with Reliant for over 11 years. He has been a Certified Valuation Analyst through the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) since 2016.
Speaking on topics including:
Advanced Business Valuations and Buyout
Jessie Yankee is the Vice President of Programs for the Association of Women's Business Centers, focused on program development, advocacy, and capacity building for Women's Business Centers nationwide. Previously she was the Director of the Missouri Women's Business Center, focused on economic inclusion and access to capital for the historically underserved.
Jessie holds a lifelong passion for equitable small business development and entrepreneurship for women, and previously owned and operated an award-winning commercial IT business. Jessie is also a mother of two, Benny (12), and Ella (11).
Speaking on topics including:
Leveraging TA to Remove Barriers in Underserved Markets
Stacey Poynter is Director for the SBA Indiana District located in the state capital, Indianapolis. As District Director, he is responsible for the delivery of all SBA programs and services throughout Indiana. Poynter joined the SBA in 2008 as a Lender Relations Specialist where he had the opportunity to educate and assist banks providing SBA loans to their clients. He has also served in the Indiana District Office as a Lead Lender Relations Specialist and the Deputy District Director.
Prior to coming to the SBA, Poynter worked for over 15 years in financial services management and sales with an emphasis on consumer and commercial lending. An Indiana native, Poynter grew up in Columbus. He graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette with a degree in Management.
Speaking on topics including:
Welcome address
Randy Monhemius is the Business Program Director for USDA Rural Development in Ohio. He has worked with the Business Programs Division of Rural Development as a Business Program Specialist for 26 of the last 27 years providing assistance to rural businesses and lenders through the various programs available with this agency.
Randy’s experience involves work with the Business & Industry Loan Guarantee Program; the Rural Energy for America Program; and other various grant, loan, and loan guarantee programs. His ability to examine loan guarantee and grant requests as they relate to the various programs helps to ensure eligible projects are awarded the funds requested. Randy received a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from The Ohio State University in 1985.
Speaking on topics including:
USDA Lending
Senior Vice President, Regional Community Development Market Manager, CRA Officer
Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Ndeda N. Letson is the Senior Vice President and Regional Community Development Market Manager for Citizens. She oversees the Bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) strategy in Ohio, Michigan, South Florida, New York City, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia, guiding financial services to low- and moderate-income communities and small businesses. She also develops strategic initiatives with public, private, and non-profit partners.
Previously, Ndeda led urban real estate development, owned a professional services company, and worked as a management consultant for a Fortune 500 firm. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Baldwin-Wallace College and a Master’s in Urban Planning from Cleveland State University.
Ndeda is the Founding Chairwoman of Growth Opportunity Partners, Inc. and serves on the Cleveland Local Advisory Board of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
Speaking on topics including:
More Equitable Professional and Team Development
Laura Frum is the President of Community Capital Development Corporation (CCDC), overseeing daily operations, accounting, marketing, and human resources. She manages a team of five professionals who provide services for various economic development loan programs. Laura's expertise in enhanced lending programs aids small business growth and job creation in Ohio.
She rejoined CCDC in 2014 after 18 years in the private and public sectors, including roles at JP Morgan Chase, Ohio Statewide Development Corporation, Huntington National Bank, and Merrill Lynch. Laura is a member of several professional organizations and volunteers with USAID, teaching financial literacy in emerging countries like Kenya and The Philippines.
Speaking on topics including:
504 Loans
Emily Doxzon is the Assistant Center Director for the National Guaranty Purchase Center in Herndon, Virginia, leading the Purchase Department. Emily began her career at SBA in early 2020. During that time, she worked with COVID EIDL, and in all facets of the Paycheck Protection Program, leading efforts to improve processes and procedures, before accepting a permanent role in May of 2022 at the NGPC. Prior to Federal Service, Emily spent her career in banking, primarily focused in Commercial Lending roles with community to regional sized banking institutions. She is a graduate of Millersville University of Pennsylvania studying Education. Emily resides in Stewartstown, Pennsylvania with her husband, Randy, and their three children on their family farm. Emily is an active volunteer in her community, and welcomes the opportunity to continue to help America’s small businesses.
Speaking on topics including:
Guaranty Purchase Case Studies
Assoc. Professor (Tenured) and Director of Graduate Business Programs, Ohio Dominican University
Executive Director, SBC Small Business Consulting
Dr. Thomas Eveland is a nationally known advocate of business education and entrepreneurship, leveraging his experience and education to empower students and entrepreneurs from underserved populations. As the Founder and Executive Director of SBC Consulting, the Midwest's largest private provider of cost-free business advising, he leads a team of 20 business consultants who have provided cost-free consulting to more than 3000 small businesses, particularly those owned by women and minorities, in the last three years.
Currently an Associate Professor at Ohio Dominican University and with nearly two decades of teaching at the university level, Dr. Eveland guides students through learning and research in business, finance, and negotiation strategy. His commitment to academic excellence is reflected in his published articles on entrepreneurship, finance, and business education in rigorous journals across the U.S., U.K., and Africa. Driven by a passion for fostering success, he has not only founded and led a thriving company but also navigated modest exits from two startups of his own. Thomas has an MBA and earned PhD from Ohio University, has been quoted in Forbes.com and print media for his expertise in small business programs, and remains dedicated to supporting the underrepresented in their journey towards success.
Speaking on topics including:
Benefits of Training and Assistance in Lending
Alison Brown is an attorney with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to joining USCRI, she was the owner of Brown Immigration Legal Services, LLC focusing on appellate work and complex immigration matters. Alison Brown was an Immigration Judge (IJ) with the Cleveland Immigration Court from 2010 to 2019. Before becoming an IJ, she worked for various nonprofit organizations specializing in immigration law with a focus on family reunification, asylum and removal defense. Alison received her Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina and is a member of the North Carolina Bar.
Speaking on topics including:
Underserved markets
Speaking on topics including:
Underserved markets
Isabelle Foisy has supported the SBA's Fiscal Transfer Agent (FTA) at Guidehouse for 2 years. As an advisory team member, she focuses on process improvements, technology modernization efforts, and product development geared towards increased operational efficiency for 7(a) 1502 reporting and beyond.
Since joining the FTA, Isabelle has worked alongside 7(a) subject matter experts to gather feedback, implement technology enhancements, and optimize processes affecting the small business lending community.
Isabelle is passionate about supporting small businesses and enjoys taking advantage of the opportunities to do so in her local area of New York City
Speaking on topics including:
1503 Reporting
Speaking on topics including:
Best Practices in Serving New American and Refugee Communities
Speaking on topics including:
Business Best Practices, E-Tran
Speaking on topics including:
Lender Match
Clark Bihag is the SBA Cleveland District Office Deputy District Director who, in coordination with the District Director, collaborate with public and private sector agencies, organizations, and individuals to ensure that identified underserved communities have knowledge of and access to SBA and other federal, state, and community programs and resources that support entrepreneurs and small business owners. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran and has over 8 years of experience with the federal government. Clark holds an M.S. in business administration.
Speaking on topics including:
Welcome address
Since joining Turner in 2010, Jonathan has held many roles and currently serves as the Regional Procurement & Supplier Diversity Manager. In this role, he oversees the bidding process and champions equitable contracting practices across the region. His main project focus is on clients with strong diversity and inclusion programs. Additionally, Jonathan supports and develops diverse businesses. This includes both subcontractors and potential partners for Turner. He tracks and reports on these development efforts, measuring the positive economic impact on the communities Turner serves.
Some of the other roles Jonathan has held during his tenure at Turner include Cost Controller, Project Engineer, Project Manager, Procurement Manager and Preconstruction Manager. Jonathan has a passion for connecting businesses with opportunities with an emphasis on supplier diversity efforts. This passion plays out within the work he does with the Turner School of Construction Management, as well as his role
on the Board of Directors with the Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (OMSDC) as well as the Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI).
Speaking on topics including:
Serving the Under-Served Entrepreneur in the Procurement Economy
Speaking on topics including:
Serving the Under-Served Entrepreneur in the Procurement Economy
In the dynamic world of finance and lending, my story unfolds as a testament to adaptability, resourcefulness, and the power of embracing change. For over a decade, from 1996 to 2009, I was the owner of The Financial Web, Inc., a thriving lending company that specialized in residential and commercial loans. With a dedicated team of 24 professionals, we navigated the intricate landscape of acquisition, development, and construction loans, coupled with strategic residential takeout mortgages. Our ventures extended beyond lending, as we ventured into property acquisition, rehabilitation, and rentals. In order to prevent massive wealth issues I got married and had 5 children.
However, the tides of fate took an unexpected turn as the 2009 bank failures sent shockwaves through the real estate and financing market place. Recognizing the need to evolve, I transitioned my career and found a new home at the Small Business Administration's National Guarantee Purchase Center (NGPC). This marked a significant milestone – my first-ever W2 job. Embracing this new chapter, I embarked on a journey of public service and leadership.
At NGPC, I undertook the responsibility of purchasing SBA-guaranteed loans while overseeing a dedicated team of six individuals.
In 2012, I shifted my focus to the microloan team, assuming the role of an analyst. Through relentless dedication and innovative thinking, I steadily ascended the ranks, ultimately achieving the position of Deputy Chief in 2014.
Speaking on topics including:
Community Advantage and underserved lending
Speaking on topics including:
SBA Best Practices
Speaking on topics including:
State of Small Business
Speaking on topics including:
CRA Program, Underserved Markets
J. M “Chuck” Evans is an experienced entrepreneur with a 30+ year history of working in the financial services industry. Chuck serves as Executive Director of Lenders Cooperative, located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He has been an “SBA Lender Service Provider” for the last sixteen years. Prior to that, he served as the Director for an Eastern Pennsylvania based SBA Certified Development Company, where Chuck grew the SBA 504 program and started a 7(a)-lender services support program for community banks in the greater Philadelphia area.
Chuck started his career as a commercial lender with Wachovia Bank in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and subsequently moved to Pennsylvania and managed a small business lending group at Meridian Bank.
Chuck is an active industry stakeholder, supporter of the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (“NAGGL”), the National Association of Development Companies (“NADCO”), frequent speaker and trainer at the SBA regional conferences and hosts a monthly SBA focused webinar.
Chuck enjoys sailing and he and his wife, Karen reside in Port Deposit, MD
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Kai Lewars, Principal and Founder of Kaiker Development + Construction, has been passionate about construction from a young age. Inspired by the positive impact of development projects, he pursued education in Business Administration and Construction Engineering Management at Oregon State University. Kai gained valuable experience interning with Bremik Construction and Gores Construction, later working full-time with Gores as a service manager and safety and quality control coordinator.
Kai then transitioned to a project manager role for facilities and asset management at Portland Public Schools. In 2016, seeking new opportunities, he relocated to Cincinnati to grow his real estate portfolio and career. Kai managed projects at Terrex Development & Construction before founding Kaiker Development + Construction in 2021.
In his free time, Kai enjoys traveling, sports, music concerts, and spending time outdoors with his family and friends.
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Serving the Under-Served Entrepreneur in the Procurement Economy
An accomplished leader recognized for her ability to build collaborative relationships and streamline business processes. Her outstanding skills in facilitation, negotiation, and complex problem-solving are a testament to her entrepreneurial expertise and dedication to lifelong learning, which she has demonstrated through leadership in business operations and university teaching.
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Serving the Under-Served Entrepreneur in the Procurement Economy
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7a Lending
Roshonda Benton Smith is a native of Cleveland, Ohio and Senior Vice-President, Black Business Engagement Manager at Huntington National Bank. She is a proud alumna of Bowling Green State University.
Roshonda has volunteered her time and resources to Northeast Ohio organizations such as Junior Achievement, True 2 U, Dress for Success Cleveland, Home Repair Resource Center, Harvard Community Service Center, City Mission, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, and Bessie’s Angels.
Roshonda has been honored by organizations that recognize her distinctive service and leadership including being inducted into the 40 under 40 Club, featured in the 2010 Women’s Issue of Kaleidoscope Magazine and Who’s Who in Black Cleveland. She was recognized as a Place.Maker by the Cleveland Foundation and named a Woman of Professional Excellence by the YWCA Greater Cleveland. She is a member of the NAACP, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Jack and Jill of America Inc. and The Links, Incorporated.
Roshonda serves as an advisory member of the Greater Cleveland Digital Equity Coalition, CHN Housing Capital, Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition, Workforce Funders Group, and leads the Greater Cleveland CRA Roundtable. She is an enthusiastic board member for The Karamu House and Youth Opportunities Unlimited. Roshonda is an appointed board member to the Cuyahoga County Convention Facilities Development Corporation (Huntington Convention Center). She is an alumna of the YWCA Leadership Boot Camp, Cleveland Leadership Center’s Civic Leadership Institute, and Cleveland Bridge Builders Class of 2021. Roshonda is alumna of the Marshall Memorial Fellowship through the German Marshall Fund.
Roshonda is also an entrepreneur who resides in Cleveland with her husband and daughter who is a college student.
Speaking on topics including:
Leveraging TA to Remove Barriers in Underserved Markets
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Underserved Small Business Ecosystem Development
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Marcus is a two-time Bowling Green State University Alumni where he received a bachelor's in journalism with a specialization in Public Relations and a master's in public administration. During his undergraduate studies, Marcus remained active on campus by serving in multiple roles, including President of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG).
Prior to joining LISC, Marcus worked for BGSU's Center For Regional Development’s Reimaging Rural Regions Initiative, which focused on bolstering rural economies through various placemaking initiatives. As a graduate assistant, Marcus worked to lead research teams and served on various community steering committees focused on regional economic development improvement in The Village of Gibsonburg and The City of Bowling Green.
In his spare time, Marcus enjoys exercising, watching Marvel movies, and going on road trips with friends
Speaking on topics including:
Underserved Small Business Ecosystem Development
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President/Chief Visionary Officer
Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporatoin (WWBIC)
Speaking on topics including:
SBA Lending Programs, Underserved Small Business Ecosystem Development, Creative Lending Approaches
Ms. Gambrell was appointed as President & CEO of Appalachian Community Capital in May 2017, after serving several months as the organization’s interim CEO. Prior to her current position, Ms. Gambrell served as the Director of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund). She is the longest-serving and first African American woman to hold this position. During her tenure from 2007 to 2013, the CDFI Fund experienced significant growth, more than doubling funding under its flagship program, thus enabling a CDFI industry to provide affordable capital, credit, and financial services to low-income communities across the country. Ms. Gambrell retired from federal government service in December 2013.
Speaking on topics including:
Creative Lending Approaches, SBA Lending Programs, Underserved Small Business Ecosystem Development
Speaking on topics including:
Creative Lending Approaches, SBA Lending Programs, Underserved Small Business Ecosystem Development
Chief, Minority Business Division, Office of Minority Business
Ohio Department of Development
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Kenny McDonald serves as the third president and CEO of the Columbus Partnership, a civic organization of Columbus’ top business leaders. The Partnership was founded in 2002 to strengthen the economic and cultural base of Central Ohio. McDonald is leading the effort to boost diversity and equity, growth and development, and business and civic innovation – all with the ultimate goal of making the Columbus Region the most prosperous metropolitan area in the United States.
He brings more than 25 years of experience working with metropolitan economies in Savannah, Georgia; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Charlotte, North Carolina. He also spent seven years as a global site location advisor for Fluor Corporation. McDonald has been named one of the Top 50 economic developers by
Economix and is a frequent speaker and national thought leader on regional economic development. He was also named Small Nonprofit CEO of the Year by Columbus CEO magazine.
McDonald was instrumental in creating and leading the Columbus Region’s growth strategy when he was
selected to lead Columbus 2020, a regional economic development group that was launched in 2010. Now
known as One Columbus and housed within the Columbus Partnership, the organization is consistently
ranked as one of the top 10 economic development organizations in the United States and represents a
public-private partnership of more than 300 investors and partners from an 11-county area.
McDonald has served as chairman of the International Economic Development Council and is an active
board member of the Champions of the Community/NCH Invitational, Columbus Regional Airport Authority, Experience Columbus, Ohio Business Roundtable, Ohio Excels, Timashev Center for Software Innovation Advisory Council, the Transportation Research Center, RTRX, Ohio State University’s SciTech, and United Way.
McDonald is a graduate of Dickinson State University, Georgia Southern University, the Economic
Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma, and Harvard’s Young American Leaders program. He
has been a Certified Economic Developer (CecD) for over 20 years. He is married with three children
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Katie Kramer is the Executive Director at the Ohio Statewide Development Corporation where she oversees a portfolio of 250+ small business borrowers, which represents about $110 million in loans and over $380 million of combined public and private investment in the state.
She is an accomplished non-profit executive with expertise in fundraising, grant writing, operations, and building organizational capacity. Her writing has been featured in publications and reports on development finance, including those commissioned by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, U. S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Energy, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and the World Bank. She regularly speaks about development finance and access to capital at national and local conferences and has served as guest lecturer at several U.S. colleges and universities.
Before joining OSDC, Ms. Kramer was the Vice President at the Council of Development Finance Agencies. During her time there, she was responsible for building an $18 million loan guarantee program, passing the $10 billion State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, and providing technical assistance to development finance agencies across the United States. She wrote and analyzed development finance policies for Congressional leaders, developed numerous courses in the CDFA Training Institute, and contributed to several CDFA publications on tax-exempt bonds, revolving loan funds, tax credits, and other development finance tools.
Early in her career, Ms. Kramer worked in the Assessment Division at Ballard & Tighe, Publishers and as Assistant Director of the Annual Fund at Scripps College. She studied Art History at Scripps College and holds a BA with honors from Cleveland State University.
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SBA Lending Programs
David Tedford has more than 29 years of banking experience and now serves as the SBA Sales Executive for First Commonwealth Bank covering the Bank’s Midwest footprint. David has an extensive background in SBA lending, business and commercial banking and loan production which he uses to develop relationships to assist a diverse client base with obtaining access to capital thru various SBA and USDA lending programs.
David is retired from the United States Air Force, proudly serving for 20 years in a career that took him to 43 countries in service to this nation. Additionally, David holds a multitude of degrees including a Bachelor’s of International Business from Wright State University and a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Florida. He is actively involved in his community as the Executive Director of the Family Church of Pickerington and a Veteran Mentor with the United States Veteran’s Administration.
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SBA Lending Executive
Janet M. Dery is a Shareholder in Starfield & Smith, P.C. and based out of its Fort Washington, PA office. Her practice’s primary focus is on commercial lending, business law, and real estate. Representing bank and non-bank lenders in hundreds of commercial lending transactions nationwide, she has extensive experience as closing counsel for various financial transactions, many of which involve government assisted programs and multi-jurisdictional issues and collateral. Janet is a NADCO-approved closing attorney for certified development companies which facilitate U.S. Small Business Administration loan programs. In such representation, she assists borrowers and third party lenders in understanding all the complexities in the requirements and funding process under the SBA 504 loan program. She also works closely with local SBA District Counsel to insure the eligibility of the loan submissions for inclusion in the applicable monthly debenture fundings. Janet’s practice also includes review of already closed government guaranteed loan packages to insure compliance with program requirements.
Janet is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Maryland State Bar Association, the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL), and the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO). From 2007-2008 and 2010-2012, she was named a Pennsylvania “Rising Star” by Philadelphia Magazine. Janet is a graduate from The State University of New York in Oneonta and Widener University Delaware School of Law.
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SBA Lending Executive
As Director of Knowledge & Networks with the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), Angela oversees CDFA’s food systems finance portfolio, including the W.K. Kellogg Foundation-funded initiative “Defining the Food System Asset Class,” whereby CDFA explores opportunities for advancement of local and regional food systems using development finance tools. Angela collaborates with communities across the country providing technical assistance and producing plans for development finance strategies that meet infrastructure, agriculture, and small business needs to support equitable, local food economies. Angela leads CDFA’s Food Systems Finance Advisory Council, joining the food and finance industries, and administers CDFA’s Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, connecting food-related businesses and projects with development finance professionals. In 2021, she gained certification as a Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) through the CDFA Training Institute.
A Navy Veteran, Angela holds two degrees from The Ohio State University: a Master of Public Administration with a focus on Food Policy from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, and a Bachelor of Science from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
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Meet Kenny and Chris Crump, the entrepreneurial couple behind the We Elevate You Foundation, a local non-profit dedicated to empowering BIPOC entrepreneurs on their path to success and generational wealth.
Launched in 2022, We Elevate You was born from Kenny and Chris's two-decade-long experience as successful business owners in Columbus, OH. They understand the unique challenges that BIPOC entrepreneurs face, from lack of funding and access to mentorship. These hurdles often lead to business failures within the first 18 months.
Driven by their personal entrepreneurial experiences separately, Kenny and Chris created We Elevate You Foundation to provide essential support for BIPOC entrepreneurs. The foundations mission is to offer vital resources, guidance, and mentorship to help start, scale, and sustain strong businesses.
Kenny and Chris invite the community to join their passion and purpose in fostering generational wealth for BIPOC entrepreneurs by supporting We Elevate You Foundation and its initiatives.
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Director of the Small Business Development Center at the Hispanic Business Center
Hispanic Business Center
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Tamara Morgan has been a Special Agent with the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG) since July 2008. As a Special Agent with the SBA OIG, Tamara Morgan investigates allegations of criminal, civil, and administrative violations of the SBA programs, program participants, and SBA personnel. Prior to joining SBA, Tamara Morgan was a Special Agent for 4 years with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG). While with DOJ OIG, Special Agent Morgan investigated allegations of bribery, fraud, abuse, civil rights violations, and violations of other criminal laws and administrative procedures governing DOJ personnel of the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO), Bureau of Prisons (BOP), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and all other organizations within the DOJ, as well as contractors and organizations receiving grant money from DOJ. Special Agent Morgan received her undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan and her law degree from Howard University. Special Agent Morgan is currently a member of the Michigan State Bar Association and the Maryland State Bar Association and is a Certified Fraud Examiner.
Speaking on topics including:
SBA Best Practices
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LGPC Screen Outs, 7a Lending, SBA Best Practices
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Small Business Insights
Daniel Upham is currently managing SBA’s Microenterprise Development Division including the Microloan Program, PRIME Program, and ILP Program. He joined SBA in October 2009 as a Financial Analyst on the Microloan team and was promoted in April 2014 to the Deputy Chief role. In October 2014, he took his first supervisory role at SBA as Chief for SBA’s Community Advantage Pilot Loan Program. In February 2015 he became the Chief for the Microloan Program. Dan also performed the role of Acting Director for the Office of Economic Opportunity from January 2018 to June 2019 when that office was transitioned into the Office of Financial Assistance. Prior to joining SBA, Dan worked on a multi-billion dollar Federal Grants program for victims effected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Dan also has experience with real estate lending and has owned several businesses specializing in commercial finance. One business specialized in commercial aircraft leasing and another in general equipment leasing.
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Microlending
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Origination for newer lenders, Liquidation, Servicing
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Lender Oversight and Risk Rating
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Main Street Revitalization in Rural Communities
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Small Business Insights
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1502 Reporting
As a visionary social and community impact leader, Rahman Khan is renowned for forging meaningful connections and driving positive change across sectors. With a diverse career that includes roles as a K-12 educator, entrepreneur, and media host at GoodWorks Media Group as well as leadership positions in corporate diversity and inclusion, Rahman has consistently served as a catalyst for progress. Currently, Rahman leads the charge in developing strategies that enhance and uplift local communities as the Group Vice President of Community Impact for Charter Communications, a leading broadband connectivity company, and cable operator with services available to more than 57 million homes and businesses in 41 states through its Spectrum brand.
Since he began his role at Charter in 2016, Rahman has launched several impactful programs. This includes, Spectrum Community Center Assist, a $30 million effort to revitalize 100 local community centers nationwide and invest in their job training programs, Spectrum Digital Education, a $10M program which supports nonprofits that use connectivity to enhance the lives of community members through digital skills training and access to technology, and Spectrum Employee Community Grants, which offers valuable resources to employee-nominated nonprofits providing critical social service needs such as food, clothing, and shelter, investing $2.5M since 2019.
Understanding the importance of small businesses' impact on local communities, in 2023, Rahman also began an initiative to coalesce Charter's internal resources that address small businesses, creating a small business support collective. To date, this cross-functional group has partnered and held engaging roadshows across the country, as well as curated a Small Business Roundtable discussion to have valuable conversations with small businesses on their needs and available resources from Charter and its nonprofit partners
An alumnus of Florida A&M University, Rahman holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees and has garnered numerous personal and professional honors. Notably, in 2023, he was recognized as one of the most influential multi-ethnic executives in the cable broadband industry across the U.S.
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Prior to her role as the Office of Women's Business Ownership at the Office of Women's Business Ownership, she served as the Associate Administrator for the Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL), where she provided executive leadership and direction to OCPL operations and nationwide programs. She has more than 20 years of executive experience working with business leaders in government and civil society. Before joining the SBA, she served as Head of Communications at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, where she oversaw the Agency’s strategic communications, including planning, development, and implementation. In 2012, she was elected to serve in the Indiana General Assembly, where she worked with a focus on supporting the success of employers, the workforce, and the economy. She has led teams, projects, and offices throughout the United States and several countries in Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Ms. Hale was a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar and graduated from Purdue University.
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