The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America’s future, and to helping the United States compete in today’s global marketplace. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam.
America’s SBDC represents America’s nationwide network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) – the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States and its territories. Visit >>>
In the heart of Orange County lies Rancho Santiago Community College District, home of one of the state’s oldest community colleges, Santa Ana College, and also one of its newest, Santiago Canyon College. Centered in a growing and dynamic area, the district serves a population of more than 700,000 residents in the communities of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Santa Ana, Villa Park and portions of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove and Tustin.
Located in one of the most vibrant and entrepreneurial business communities in the United States, the College of Business and Economics at California State University, Fullerton is the largest accredited business school on the West Coast, nationally recognized for accreditation in both its business and accounting programs.
Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. Our success is driven by our people and their commitment to get results the right way—by operating responsibly, executing with excellence, applying innovative technologies and capturing new opportunities for profitable growth. We are involved in virtually every facet of the energy industry. We explore for, produce and transport crude oil and natural gas; refine, market and distribute transportation fuels and lubricants; manufacture and sell petrochemical products; generate power and produce geothermal energy; provide renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions; and develop the energy resources of the future, including research into advanced biofuels.
Founded in 1993, AlvaradoSmith is a Professional Corporation with offices throughout California that include Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco and affiliated offices in Mexico.
As a law firm located throughout California, AlvaradoSmith provides reliable legal counsel to Fortune 1000 companies, public entities, and small businesses. We provide services in multiple highly regulated practice areas, including employment, real estate, environmental, intellectual property, corporate law, and financial institutions. We distinguish ourselves from other firms by carefully listening to each and all of our clients’ needs. When approached with an issue, we confront the problem from numerous different perspectives. This method yields to us the most innovative—and most importantly, effective—resolutions for all our legal matters.
The Asian Business Association of Orange County (ABAOC) was founded in 1992, as a non-profit business under IRS 501(c) (6), to meet the needs of the growing Asian businesses in Orange County. Its vision was to build an organization that would provide all Asian Americans the opportunity to gain access to economic advancement through networking, education and community representation.
For more than 20 years, ABAOC has been a leader in community service in the Asian and small business community in Orange County. Since its establishment, it has successfully organized many major events, including networking mixers, procurement events, and outreach programs through the support of its members, sponsors and community affiliates. ABAOC events and programs inspire and stimulate small business owners, start-ups and entrepreneurs to grow and prosper through creation of new opportunities, education, networking and community participation.
Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individuals, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company serves approximately 56 million U.S. consumer and small business relationships. It is among the world’s leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading.
The CDC Small Business Finance offers a variety of low-interest financing – including Community Advantage and SBA 504 loans – that fit the needs of small businesses no matter where they are in the growth cycle.
The City of Upland was incorporated in San Bernardino County on May 15, 1906, and is nestled at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. During the 20th century, Upland has developed into a residential and retail community that has maintained its country and urban ambiance.
MUFG Union Bank, N.A., is a full-service bank with offices across the United States. We provide a wide spectrum of corporate, commercial, retail banking, and wealth management solutions to meet the needs of customers.
In an ever-changing risk landscape, the partner you choose to help protect and strengthen your business needs to offer you all of these things.
Chase Bank provides a broad range of financial services to almost half of America’s households. Over 5300 branches and 15500 ATMs nationwide. Chase for Business offers various business banking solutions that can help you.
Established in 1895, the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce is the premier business organization in Anaheim and strives to build a strong local economy, promote and brand the Anaheim community, create networking through business development opportunities and represent business interests in government.
Our mission is to create access to capital and procurement opportunities, to serve as a support vehicle for members by disseminating relevant information, to strengthen the overall organization, and to support and contribute to the general welfare and progress of the African American community through economic development.
Caltrans manages more than 50,000 miles of California’s highway and freeway lanes, provides inter-city rail services, permits more than 400 public-use airports and special-use hospital heliports, and works with local agencies. Caltrans carries out its mission of providing a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance California’s economy and livability, with six primary programs: Aeronautics, Highway Transportation, Mass Transportation, Transportation Planning, Administration and the Equipment Service Center.
California’s trusted resource for a thriving manufacturing industry. CMTC is recognized as the only organization exclusively servicing the manufacturing sector with the capability to deliver a broad array of services from the production floor to the discovery of new products and markets.
The City of Lake Forest is located in the heart of South Orange County and the beautiful Saddleback Valley. The City’s motto, “remember the past, challenge the future,” is the Lake Forest way of life.
Located in the center of Orange County, the city of Santa Ana ranks as the fourth densest city in the entire nation with a transportation hub just one mile from the burgeoning downtown. Known as the County seat, Santa Ana is home to the District Attorney’s Office, Orange County Courts, Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse and Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
The Department of General Services (DGS) serves as business manager for the state of California. General Services helps to better serve the public by providing a variety of services to state agencies through procurement and acquisition solutions, real estate management and design, environmentally friendly transportation, professional printing, design and web services, administrative hearings, legal services, building standards, oversight of structural safety, fire/life safety and accessibility for the design and construction of K-12 public schools and community colleges, and funding for school construction.
We serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, with 2.1 million students attending 113 colleges. Our colleges provide students with the knowledge and background necessary to compete in today’s economy.
The Employment Development Department (EDD) is one of the largest state departments with employees at hundreds of service locations throughout the state. For more than 70 years, we have connected millions of job seekers and employers in an effort to build the economy of the Golden State.
The Fullerton Chamber of Commerce is the premier voice of business in North Orange County; we promote growth and prosperity of our diverse membership; and our membership investment is seen as an excellent value.
Experience the La Habra Chamber of Commerce. It quickly becomes part of your essential business resources.
The Irvine Chamber is one of the largest and most influential Chambers in Orange County. Our mission is to promote an economic climate that strengthens the competitiveness of businesses.
America’s premier port and Southern California’s gateway to international commerce, the Port of Los Angeles has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit Southern California’s economy and quality of life.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a regional wholesaler that delivers water to 26 member public agencies – 14 cities, 11 municipal water districts, one county water authority – which in turn provides water to more than 19 million people in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties.
The National Hispanic Business Women Association (NHBWA) is a non-profit organization in Orange County, California established in 1997. NHBWA’s purpose is to empower and encourage women and business owners to develop and increase their business through educational seminars and speakers, by offering mutual support, the sharing of information, business referrals, and networking.
Founded in 1975, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) is the unified voice of over 10.1 million women-owned businesses in the United States representing the fastest growing segment of the economy.
The NAWIC provides its members with opportunities for professional development, education, networking, leadership training, public service and more.
The National Women Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC) has led the way for women business owners to obtain WBE Certification. Created in 1995, NWBOC was established to increase competition for corporate and government contracts through implementation of a national certification program for women business owners.
The Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of and provides access to Orange County’s 30,000 Hispanic-owned businesses. We support the development of these businesses by providing opportunities for networking, legislative advocacy, access to capital, education and training programs.
Since its formation in 1991, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has kept residents and commuters moving throughout the 34 cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County. OCTA’s responsibilities, programs and services impact every aspect of transportation within the state’s third largest county.
The OCDB oversees Orange County’s workforce development activities and establishes programs in response to the workforce needs of Orange County, including labor market information, employment and training services, and business assistance.
Rutan & Tucker’s lawyers are widely known as the best and most effective attorneys in California. Rutan recruits top lawyers from the finest law schools around the country.
Established in 1989, the California Centers for International Trade Development (CITD) are funded by the Chancellor’s Office of the State of California to promote the state’s international trade and competitiveness, assist exporters and importers, and advance economic and job growth.
Established in 1879 by a constitutional amendment, the BOE was initially charged with responsibility for ensuring that county property tax assessment practices were equal and uniform throughout the state.
Turner is a North America-based, international construction services company and is a leading builder in diverse market segments. The company has earned recognition for undertaking large, complex projects, fostering innovation, embracing emerging technologies, and making a difference for their clients, employees and community.
The Supplier Clearinghouse is a Commission-supervised entity whose primary purpose is to audit and verify the status of WMDVBEs/LGBTBEs on behalf of the individual utility companies.
The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. U.S. Commercial Service trade professionals in over 100 U.S. cities and in more than 75 countries help U.S. companies get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets.
The VACOC will honor its responsibility of promoting and supporting chamber members: business, education and community partners in order to benefit commerce, education and philanthropy to advance economic growth.
WBEC-West is a regional partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a coalition of corporations, WBEs and regionally focused women’s business organizations.
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Funded in part through a grant with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
Mike Daniel is the network director of the Orange County Inland Empire SBDC Network, which assists aspiring entrepreneurs and current business owners throughout Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Mike was formerly the director of the SBDC office at Long Beach City College. As business owner and entrepreneur himself, he started his career as the owner of a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory location in Manhattan Beach and went on to open a second location in Long Beach in 2001. In 2007, Mike sold the Manhattan Beach store for an above-market offer then invested in several additional locations as a minority shareholder. Mike further expanded his candy empire with venture located in Shoreline Village in Long Beach called Sugar Daddies Sweet Shoppe, based on fill-it yourself candy options.
Mike has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton.
