Our consulting team can assist you with business development, operations, marketing, accounting, financing and more. In addition, our consultants can provide you with specialized assistance in a variety of topics including: international trade, government and corporate contracting, retail and restaurant operations.
We speak: Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Funding is not an endorsement of any product, opinion, or service. All programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
Funded in part through a Grant with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
Areas of Expertise
Experience
Roger has led several startups to over $200m in revenue in both retail and artificial intelligence. He has over 15 years of experience in the franchise industry where he led one of the fastest-growing franchises in the country.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
Embrace change and never stand still.
Areas of Expertise
Experience
Alicia has twelve years of marketing experience with a focus on digital marketing for high-tech startups. Her background includes brand strategy, competitive/customer analysis, content creation, video production, growth hacking, and PR.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
If someone is repeating something they’ve told you before, still listen. This might be the time where you learn something new.
Areas of Expertise
Experience
As a seasoned and accomplished marketing strategist, Annie strives to teach clients about various marketing and business development topics in both consumer and business-to-business environments. She has provided business leaders and client executives with marketing transformation projects to deliver tangible improvements in topline growth. Annie was also a producer for a top-ranked technology podcast and has received international media interviews for her expertise in the past.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often. Winston Churchill
Languages
Chinese and Japanese
Areas of Expertise
Experience
Brendan Ryan is an industrial designer with 7 years of experience. He has worked largely in the automotive field on concept and production cars – there’s a chance you drive some of his work. Upon departing Karma Automotive in 2020 he became one half of a multi-disciplinary design consultancy operating in Southern California.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
A closed door is still a door. Open it, that’s how doors work.
Languages
Some Spanish
Areas of Expertise
Experience
Fred has 20 years of experience in lead generation, marketing operations, project management, and more. Having owned two separate businesses, he understands the needs and struggles business owners go through. Fred is an AIPB Certified Bookkeeper and has a Bachelor’s degree in both Marketing and Accounting.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
Bosses make deals, employees complete tasks.
Languages
Spanish
Areas of Expertise
Experience
Gisele has been in marketing for over 20 years, focused on digital marketing for the past fifteen years. Gisele’s background includes brand strategy, competitive/customer analysis, strategic planning, cross-channel marketing campaigns, affiliate marketing, and big data in client-direct and agency settings.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
Whatever you do – give it 100%
Languages
Spanish
Areas of Expertise
Experience
Nanci has been a part of the Small Business Development Center since 2006. She has worked in different roles throughout the years. Currently, she is the Business Services Coordinator; she plans, budgets, implements, and coordinates business services, training, and entrepreneurship programs and oversees the daily operations and services. Her passion is seeing entrepreneurs come in with an idea and turning their dreams into reality!
The best advice I have ever been given is:
Find a mentor and do what they’re doing.
Languages
Spanish
Experience
Ngoc is a project management intern at the SBDC Digital Marketing Lab. She is a recent graduate from the University of California, San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in General Biology. Her responsibilities include the preparation of reports, project coordination, documentation, and research.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
When you can’t control what is happening, try to control the way you react to what is happening.
Areas of Expertise
Experience
Pamela is best known for her sense of humor and commitment to customer services, not only toward clients but with her project team members. She started Pamiz Studio, a media and video production service, in support of other small businesses. She uses her skills to help small business owners at the Digital Marketing Lab; she is dedicated to her role as a consultant, photographer, and videographer as it is her sincere goal to assist local businesses in making an impact on their community.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
Always dignify others.
Areas of Expertise
Experience
Paul has over 20 years of experience in entertainment, marketing, and corporate PR. He has worked as a podcast producer and host for 10 years and created Orange County’s only online radio station and live podcasting platform, OC Talk Radio, based out of UCI Beall Applied Innovation Center. In 2018, Paul won the Innovator Award from Radio World Magazine.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
In today’s online world, perception is reality.
Areas of Expertise
Experience
Rachel Svoboda is the CEO of Sunday Brunch Advertising/PR Agency and the Founder and visionary behind Lynxx Spirits. Svoboda has represented companies across Southern California for the past 20-years. Svoboda has handled advertising, marketing, and public relations for clients ranging across industries from restaurants to technology, real estate, design, nonprofits, and many more. She is currently an official MBA mentor at Chapman University and a featured speaker on the university’s inaugural Women in Business Association series. Svoboda was also named Women of the Year by The National Association of Professional Women.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
The harder I work, the luckier I get!
Areas of Expertise
Experience
As an experienced and accomplished marketer and creative marketing director, Silvano has a wide range of experience within all areas of the industry. Since the start of his career, he has done marketing for branding, packaging, websites, social media, and print for hundreds of clients. His most recent projects have been for clients in the beauty industry, retail chained stores, cosmetics, Hyundai Motors of America, Asiana Airlines, and Banks.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; just go for it!
Languages
Korean
Areas of Expertise
Experience
Steve is a digital media and marketing leader who has built a unique group of organizations in Southern California. He specializes in creating go-to-market strategies for local businesses and nonprofits to exceed organizational growth goals. He has expertise in digital executions, including search, social, programmatic targeting, and streaming video. Steve also has experience leading teams and building significant digital business units in several companies.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
Match your skill and passion with market needs, and never, ever give up.
Areas of Expertise
Experience
Tony Crisp is a marketing consultant who is helping businesses fight commoditization to increase the sales of their own branded products. In addition to being the Founder and Chief Strategist at CRISPx, an award-winning, data-driven, creative agency, Crisp is a speaker at the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine and at the UCLA Anderson School of Business, where he is an Alumni. Crisp also sits on the Advisory Board of the Emerging Media and Design Program for the Trever Clair School of Arts at UC Irvine and serves on the Board of Directors of the Tech Coast Venture Network.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
Leave it better than you found it…including humans. – Mom
Areas of Expertise
Experience
Violet self-started the digital marketing agency, OhViolet Agency, and is the executive coordinator of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County. She has experience working with a variety of small businesses including beauty, technology, real estate, educational institutions, lawyers, and more. She also has over nine years of experience in graphic design and has worked with National Geographic to help design their online store.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord
Languages
Korean
Areas of Expertise
Experience
Vivian has 8 years of experience in both digital marketing and marketing strategy. Additionally, she has a wide range of experience in the tech, restaurant, and senior care industries. She has taken a single start-up franchise and grown it to 50 locations. She also has won first and third place in Start-up Weekend OC.
The best advice I have ever been given is:
Never be afraid to ask for anything
Languages
Vietnamese, Some Spanish
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English
Chinese (Simplified)
Korean
Spanish
Vietnamese