• (800) 616-SBDC
Schedule an Appointment
Subscribe to Newsletter
  • (800) 616-SBDC
Schedule an Appointment
Subscribe to Newsletter

Our Team

Our value proposition is truly our team; our SBDC consultants can help you start or add value to your business at any stage. Beyond our core services, our team can provide specialized assistance in: retail, franchise and service-based operations, government contracting and the hospitality industry. Some of our staff members include: Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors who can assist with your accounting systems, marketing specialists who can help you attract new clients and increase your sales, loan consultants with lending preference knowledge, procurement specialists who can help you bid on local, state, and federal solicitations and much more.

We Speak: Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, and Ukrainian

Inland Empire SBDC Leadership

Paul Nolta

Director

Inland Empire SBDC Consultants and Staff

Carla Panzera

Business Consultant

Elizabeth Gutierrez

Administrative Assistant

Jackie Guilfucci

Business Consultant

Jay Allis

Business Consultant

Karla Gonzalez

Business Consultant

Kelly Than

Business Consultant

Laura Turnbow

Budget & Data Analyst

Lupe Ramos Amith

Business Consultant

Patrick Flaherty

Business Consultant

Robert Kirkpatrick

Business Consultant

Robert Usher

Business Consultant

Victor Londot

Business Consultant

Yadira Dominguez

Business Consultant

Let’s Get Started.

Make an Appointment

Network Stakeholders

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.

© 2023
en English
zh-CN Chinese (Simplified)en Englishko Koreanes Spanishvi Vietnamese
PaulNolta-min

Paul Nolta

Director

Areas of Expertise

  • Debt finance
  • Financial Analysis 
  • Startup Feasibility
  • Strategic Planning
  • Marketing 

 

Experience

Paul Nolta has been a part of the Inland Empire SBDC for over 16 years. Paul is currently serving as the director and overseeing all operations at his center. Additionally, he is on the leadership team for the Inland Empire Center of Entrepreneurship (IECE). Paul is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a graduate of San Francisco State University. Paul has an extensive background in financial analysis, business planning, and leadership. 

 

The best advice I have ever been given is:

You will only be as strong as your network. Never stop building it. Try reaching out to at least one person a day, whether that is someone you have not spoken to in a while or someone you have been meaning to get in touch with. Then watch as, over time, good things happen and get much easier. 

 
Carla Panzera - Carla Panzera JPG-min

Carla Panzera

Business Consultant

Areas of Expertise

  • Business Lending
  • Notary Public
  • Tax Preparation
  • Social Media
  • Wedding Industry


Experience

Carla Panzera brings years of experience in financial consulting, underwriting, marketing, and business development from her previous positions in banking and other community micro-lenders. Throughout her career, Carla has coordinated training events, conducted one-on-one consulting with business owners, and evaluated the financial health of small businesses in the region.


The best advice I have ever been given is:

When someone tells you no. Ask why. Then stop, think, learn and accept the challenge.


Languages

Spanish

 

Make an Appointment!

 

 
 
Elizabeth Gutierrez - Bio Pic

Elizabeth Gutierrez

Administrative Assistant

Areas of Expertise

  • Administrative Billing
  • Written and Verbal Communication Skills
  • Excel Reports and Data Collections
  • Office Management
  • Problem-solving


Experience
Elizabeth has a strong background in customer service, communication skills, and office management. Her business background consists of extensive administrative work, primarily in clinical settings and non-profits for mental health. Elizabeth’s most notable accomplishments are her bachelor’s degree in Social Work, experience in helping launch non-profit sectors in mental health, and her beloved family.

The best advice I have ever been given is:
Invest in a car at the age of 16, so you can work and go to school.

Languages:
Spanish

Jackie Guilfucci

Business Consultant

Areas of Expertise

  • Outreach Events
  • Marketing
  • Strategic Planning
  • Project Management
  • Business Training
 

Experience
Jackie Guilfucci has a successful history of identifying and securing new business opportunities in transportation, education, and public works market sectors. She was responsible for identifying new business opportunities on behalf of prime contractors and teaming opportunities with new and existing clients.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Be transparent and ethical.

Languages:

Spanish

Make an Appointment!

 

Jay Allis - Headshot 01262021-min

Jay Allis

Business Consultant

Areas of Expertise

  • Food Industry
  • Costing and Pricing
  • Digital Optimization and Guerilla Marketing
  • Operations
  • Licensing and Permitting

 

Experience

Jay has worked for corporate and independent restaurants and caterers for over 25 years.  In that time, he has worked at Michelin-starred establishments, worked with world-class chefs, served celebrity clientele, and traveled the country practicing his trade. He started as a busboy and worked his way up to Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager, and Executive Chef.  He brings a wealth of hands-on knowledge to help business owners start, operate, and streamline their foodservice operations.

 

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Don’t just go through the motions.  Be invested and interested in everything.  Take ownership of everything you do whether you own it or not.

 


Languages

Cantonese

 

Make an Appointment!

 

KarlaGonzalez-min

Karla Gonzalez, MBA

Business Consultant

Areas of Expertise

  • Contracting
  • Business Certifications
  • Business Planning
  • Financing/Lending
  • Start-Up


Experience

Karla specializes in assisting clients to start their business by helping them through financing, licensing, the permitting process, business planning, and projections. She specializes in contracting and certifications where she assists clients in applying for the correct diverse designations and provides them with a good understanding of the contracting/procurement process. 


The best advice I have ever been given is: 

In order for a dream to become reality, you need to write it down and set goals!

 

Languages 

Spanish

 

Make an Appointment!

 

Kelly Than

Business Consultant

Areas of Expertise

  • Construction (General and Specialty Contractors)
  • Finance and Accounting Operations
  • M&A sell-side advisory
  • Real Estate (multi-family, self-storage)
  • Renewable Energy (solar photovoltaics)
  • Retail and Wholesale
 

Experience
Kelly grew up in an entrepreneurial family and worked in various roles in each new business venture, directly exposing her to business operations at a young age and influencing her career path. This experience plays a significant role in her passion for advocating for small business owners. As a consultant to small businesses, she advises clients on how to uncover new opportunities or create new efficiencies to optimize operations within their business.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

From the sadness, learn something; from the happiness, learn something. From the setback, learn something and even from the success learn something. Never stop learning from any situation in life, for that is where the wisdom lies.

Make an Appointment!

 

 

Laura Turnbow

Budget and Data Analyst

Areas of Expertise

  • Bookkeeping
 

Experience
Laura worked for over 30 years assisting local businesses while working at a local chamber of commerce. She currently assists with operations by facilitating the disbursement and accounts payable process.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Whatever you do, give it 100%

 

Lupe Ramos Amith - Lupe (1)

Lupe Ramos Watson

Business Consultant

Areas of Expertise

  • Accounting and Finance
  • Business Planning, Licensing, and Permitting
  • Marketing
  • Legislative and Governmental Affairs
  • Real Estate Acquisition
  • Food Industry


Experience
Lupe has over 30 years of experience as a small business owner. She started her career as the bookkeeper for her family businesses and has helped many start-ups by assisting them with formation, hiring, training, accounting, and business development. Most notably, she has helped hundreds of businesses secure funding for their businesses pre and post-pandemic.

The best advice I have ever been given is:
If you don’t stand up for the rights of others, then who will remain to protect yours?

Languages
Spanish

Make an Appointment!

Patrick Flaherty - photo-min

Patrick Flaherty

Business Consultant

Areas of Expertise

  • Human Resources
  • Employee Development
  • Sales Management

 

Experience

Patrick has over 40 years of experience in operations and sales management, and 20 years of experience in the outsourced human resources field. He is currently an HR instructor at several universities and founded an HR consultancy firm in 2014. Patrick holds senior HR certifications from industry associations.

 

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Do what you say you are going to do and treat your employees with respect and compassion.

 

Make an Appointment!

 

Robert Kirkpatrick

Business Consultant

Areas of Expertise

  • Commercial and Industrial Real Estate
 

Experience
Robert has extensive experience in commercial real estate serving in several senior management positions including President & CEO at The Rancon Companies, a large multi-faceted real estate company with brokerage offices in SoCal and developer/owner of $300+ million (per SEC) of commercial real estate. Robert also served as President and COO of CataList Homes, Vice Chairman of the Board and Director of Fallbrook & Community National Bank, and was the President and Co-founder of Benchmark Escrow, a full-service escrow company in Los Angeles County.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Debt is the devil

Make an Appointment!

RoberUsher-min

Robert Usher

Business Consultant

Areas of Expertise

  • Finance
  • Business Planning
  • Franchising

 

Experience

Robert has been exposed to small businesses from an early age due to his parents owning one. He managed a small business in college and then started consulting with convenience store franchisees (7-Eleven) shortly after graduating. He has worked with thousands of small business owners on everything from startup licensing to business plans to financing in his 21 years at the Inland Empire SBDC.

 

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Do or do not; there is no try.

 
 
 
 
 
Vic Londot Pic IMG_6183 (1)[75] (1)

Victor Londot

Business Consultant

Areas of Expertise

  • Aerospace and Defense Industry
  • Procurement Strategy
  • Subcontracting Pre-Award / Post-Award Performance
  • Manufacturing and Operations
  • Root Cause, Corrective Action, and Variance Analysis
 

Experience
Victor has extensive experience in the Aerospace & Defense industry and is knowledgeable in the process of requesting information, quotes, and proposal processes solicited at the U.S. Federal level. He has worked in supplier management, procurement, manufacturing, and operations roles, developing and executing strategies to achieve company goals. He has also been a speaker at several supplier diversity conferences, speaking on topics including “Demystifying the RFx Processes,” “Responding to Proposal Solicitations,” and “Doing Business within the Aerospace Industry.”

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Always take the high road.

Make an Appointment!

 

Yadira Dominguez - YD-min

Yadira Dominguez

Business Consultant

Areas of Expertise

  • Retail
  • Customer Service
  • Sales
  • Merchandising
  • Employee Training

 

Experience

Yadira is an energetic, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable consultant with over 12 years of retail experience. Yadira has worked in many different positions for a variety of large and small businesses. Because of this, she understands what it takes to be successful regardless of business size. Yadira brings a unique set of experience, skills, and perspective to any business. Her areas of expertise are transferable across many fields allowing her to assist a diverse range of clients.

 

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Things don’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.

 

 

Languages

Spanish

 

Make an Appointment!

 

 

Subscribe now

Sign up to stay updated on the latest news and resources!

Select list(s) to subscribe to

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: OCIE SBDC, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA, 92831, http://ociesmallbusiness.org. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact