Areas of Expertise

• Dining industry
• Retail industry
• Graphic Design

Experience
Alexa is a Cal State Fullerton alumni and was raised in an entrepreneurial household, exposed to business since she was young. Although her background is in customer service and hospitality, Alexa admires the many challenges small businesses face and conquer. As an administrative assistant, Alexa is looking forward to helping her team continue supporting and strengthening small businesses.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

What you feel, you make real. So focus on what you want to create for yourself, not on what you are lacking.

Areas of Expertise

• Digital Marketing Strategy
• Content Creation
• Video Production Growth-Hacking

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.

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Areas of Expertise

• Personnel & Management
• Conflict Resolution & Group Dynamics
• Social Media
• Branding & Marketing
• Retail & Operations

Experience
Angela is a retail and specialty service business owner and trained organizational psychologist who has been involved in entrepreneurial small business ownership and operations for the last ten years. Specializing in management and personnel operations, social media marketing, branding, and retail, she is driven to help small businesses inclusively operate and adapt to the ever-changing consumer and business world.

Languages:

English, Spanish

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Areas of Expertise

• Management
• Processes
• Franchising 

Experience

Languages:

English, German

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Areas of Expertise

• Digital Marketing
• Business Growth
• Branding Marketing
• Technology
• Pricing
• Cost Reduction
• Channel Management

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

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Areas of Expertise

• Asia/South East Asia
• Strategy
• Operations
• Manufacturing

Experience
Brian has 32 years of business experience in international trade, foreign investment, and operations. He spent 23 years launching new businesses in Vietnam in the industries of oil & gas, wood & metal manufacturing, building materials, cosmetics, and education. He first started his international career leading California manufacturers overseas to expand exports. Brian later moved to Vietnam to develop and implement market entry strategies for American companies. As a result, Brian later launched his own trading company that imports and distributes USA-branded industrial and consumer goods.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

You must have an unwavering commitment to seize every dollar of opportunity and obliterate any and all resistance to that objective.

Languages:

Vietnamese

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Areas of Expertise

• Finance
• Commercial and Business Banking

Experience

Damon is a Navy veteran with over 25 years of experience in the commercial and business banking industry. He has managed and financed hundreds of businesses from large, syndicated deals to micro businesses. Besides financing, Damon takes the time to understand all facets of a business to help solve their problems. He also has a history of volunteering for organizations that support local communities in the Inland Empire. Damon has served as a board member for Steven’s Hope for Children and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Ontario. In addition, he has volunteered for organizations such as Shoes That Fit. Damon’s passion for small business comes from his grandmother who owned and operated restaurants in the City of Los Angeles for over 30 years. She told Damon about the struggles of owning a small business as a woman and how she persevered over the years. He is a fourth-generation Angeleno that has lived in the Inland Empire for the last 30 years. Damon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from California State University, Los Angeles.

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Areas of Expertise

• Traditional and Digital Marketing
• Social Media
• Branding
• Graphic Design
• Integrated Marketing
• Public Relations

Experience

Edgar is an entrepreneur dedicated to developing and elevating other entrepreneurs. For over 12 years, he ran an integrated marketing and communications agency focused on digitizing and growing chambers of commerce, nonprofit business associations, and entrepreneurial ecosystems across the U.S. Edgar has also worked on marketing small business programs developed by Southwest Airlines, Google, Goldman Sachs, Twitter, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Staples, YouTube, Wells Fargo, AFLAC, and more. In addition, he has served as Marketing and Social Media Director for Maria Shriver’s California Women’s Conference and was a member of the NASA Social Media Civilian Team for several years. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Edgar served as Small Business Program Manager at the LA Area Chamber of Commerce and then went on to serve as Executive Director of the Latin Business Association. There, he designed and produced a multi-million-dollar business convention that featured two U.S. Presidents as keynote speakers and drew more than 10,000 entrepreneurs from across the U.S. Currently as a bilingual consultant, Edgar assists in traditional, digital, and integrated marketing, branding, design, messaging, PR through social media, and event marketing for businesses and nonprofits in Texas and California. He holds a communications degree with an emphasis in graphic design, and an MBA with a focus on social entrepreneurship.

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Areas of Expertise

• Accounting
• Bookkeeping
• QuickBooks Pro
• Payroll
• Tax Preparation

Experience

Giovandi earned a Bachelor of Science degree from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. She has worked in the accounting, and tax preparation field for over 30 years. Giovandi is an entrepreneur, IRS enrolled agent, member of the CA Society of Enrolled Agents, QuickBooks Pro consultant, and member of the Inland Valley Chamber of Commerce. As an entrepreneur, she specializes in accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll for small to medium-sized businesses and organizations. Giovandi has assisted hundreds of companies and organizations with business formations including corporations, non-profits, and LLCs. As an IRS Enrolled Agent, the highest credential the IRS awards, she has represented taxpayers (Corporations, Non-Profits, and LLC) before the Internal Revenue Service, the State of CA Franchise Tax Board, and various state and local tax agencies.

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Areas of Expertise

• Digital Marketing Strategy
• Cross Channel Media Buying
• Big Data

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

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Areas of Expertise

• Restaurants
• Retail Food
• Operations Management
• Business Management
  
• Profit and Loss Management

Experience

Eric has been involved in the restaurant industry for over 20 years in various categories. Eric most recently served as an operations executive for Santa Monica Seafood Retail Markets and Cafes where he was awarded 2020 MVP by the Board of Directors for record-setting sales figures. 

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Areas of Expertise

• Email and Social Marketing
• SEO
• Web Development
• Management

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

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Areas of Expertise

• Business Planning
• Marketing/Digital Marketing
• Communications/PR
• Market Research

Experience
Isabelle currently leads a social enterprise incubator and accelerator, helping impact start-ups build scalable and sustainable businesses. Isabelle has been an Innovation Advisor/Expert-in-Residence at the UCI Wayfinder incubator since 2015. Her first job out of business school was CRM consultant. She has led digital transformation and medtech teams in her previous position, resulting in unprecedented growth in annual membership for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses in 2017.

The best advice I have ever been given is:
Just go for it

Languages
French and Spanish

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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

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Areas of Expertise

• Food and beverage cost control
• Menu development
• Menu Design
• Purchasing
• Inventory management
• Labor forecast
• Budgeting
• Operating systems
• In-house marketing
• Local store marketing
• Bookkeeping

Experience

Joe has been in the restaurant business for more than 35 years and has worked with a variety of concepts ranging from fast-casual to fine dining. He has a hands on approach to management and is comfortable whether it be on the kitchen line or delivering drinks to the table. As a former owner, he has an appreciation for all the challenges that restaurants can offer and he looks forward to helping other businesses overcome any obstacle.

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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.

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Areas of Expertise

• Food Industry
• Project Management
• Social Media Management
• Graphic Design
• Localization

Experience
Kyu has been involved in the restaurant industry for the past 3 years. He started EATS89 LLC from the ground up and took care of its daily operations as Bubble & Leaf in Cypress, CA. Kyu has a background in business technical management and has previously worked in software publishing and development.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Life is full of setbacks, what really matters is how you overcome them.

Languages:

Spanish, Korean

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Areas of Expertise

• Accounting and Finance
• Management
• Operations
• Strategic Planning

Experience
Larry has extensive experience working with start-ups and companies under $15 million in revenue. His goal is to provide financial and management consulting services to ensure the entity is operating most efficiently and cost-effectively. He has owned and operated several small businesses since 2000 and is very intimate with every aspect of the business. He has worked closely with advertising, marketing, operations, accounting, finance, and business development professionals.

The best advice I have ever been given is:
Be the best where your feet are at!

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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%

Areas of Expertise

• International Expansion
• Exporting
• Importing
• International Marketing
• Training
• International Trade Missions/Shows
• Foreign Direct Investment

Experience
Lynn has 30 years of international trade experience as an exporter, consultant, and teacher. She ran the Orange County Center for International Trade Development. There, she assisted importers, exporters, and foreign investors in expanding their businesses. Lynn has also done business in over thirty countries and worked in various business industries as a trade consultant and business advisor. She is also a NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) and trainer. She has received awards for her contributions to advancing international trade in both Orange County and the state of California.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Your target market is not EVERYONE.

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Areas of Expertise

• Brand and Digital Marketing
• Content Strategy
• Social Media
• Real Estate
• Technology

Experience
With over 23 years of marketing experience, Michelle has helped build notable brands such as Starbucks, Chevron, and Staples. During her marketing tenure, she has helped launch the green tea lineup at Starbucks and supported the establishment of go-to-market for Chevron’s Extra Mile convenience store program. Most recently, Michelle served in a marketing leadership capacity for some technology companies, where she led rebranding initiatives that elevated brand value and increased revenue shares.

The best advice I have ever been given is:
Successful marketing is about understanding your audience and delivering a solution to their needs with a tremendous amount of passion.

Languages
Mandarin and Cantonese

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Areas of Expertise

• Startup
• Business Plan/Business Formation
• Business Management/Operations
• Financial Analysis/Projections
• Quickbooks/Payroll
• Leadership
• Clarifying Vision/Mission
• Service Based Marketing
• Community Integration
• Customer Service

Experience

Nicolette launched her first successful startup at the age of 20 in the fitness service and retail industry. Since then, she has built and led multiple thriving business ventures. One of Nicolette’s ventures reached #2 in the national transportation industry by providing extraordinary customer service and driven by her corporate vision, resulting in $4.7M gross revenue by year three. Now she devotes time to lead wine industry education and experiences, pours into kids with challenging lives, and guides budding entrepreneurs.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Everything rises and falls on leadership (John Maxwell)

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Areas of Expertise

• Strategic Management
• International Business
• Entrepreneurship
• Tech
• Sales
• Marketing

Experience

Paul has over 20 years of experience teaching at the university level and consulting entrepreneurs. He has previously started two non-profit organizations and comes from a family of small business owners. Paul currently teaches entrepreneurship, strategic management, and international business at several universities in southern California. His consultancy experience has included businesses across various industries, including medical, manufacturing, and software industries. Paul holds a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Twente in the Netherlands, focusing on the network development of global start-up firms and how technology entrepreneurs develop their networks to start and grow their companies. Before starting his academic career, Paul worked as a business development officer in a high-tech startup and worked in various sales and marketing roles.

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Areas of Expertise

• Startups
• Business Planning
• E-commerce (Etsy)
• Marketing
• Public Relations
• Event Management
• Strategic Planning
• Leadership

Experience

Rachel has a passion for driving success and fostering growth. Throughout her career, Rachel has made significant contributions across nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, as well as small businesses and startups. Her versatility and adaptability have allowed her to thrive in various settings, consistently delivering outstanding results. Beyond her consultancy work, Rachel is an accomplished business owner. She has a talent for launching thriving e-commerce stores on Etsy and is proud to be a top seller on the platform. Rachel has also been featured on CNBC, the Today Show, and Business Insider and loves to help her clients bring their entrepreneurial stories to life to attract attention and grow their businesses. Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship with a minor in Finance. She also has an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Management from California State University, San Bernardino, and advanced studies in Positive Organizational Psychology at Claremont Graduate University, enabling her to apply an insightful and holistic approach to her consulting practice.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

If you’re not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.

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Areas of Expertise

• International Trade
• Sales
• Marketing
• Operations
• eCommerce
• Go to Market Strategy
• Packaging Design
• Logistics
• Accounting
• Customer Service

Experience
Robb is the former Founder and CEO of PureFit, the world’s first gluten-free protein bar. After expanding its distribution in over 20 countries, he sold the company in 2020. Before starting PureFit, he was heavily involved in the growth of PR*Bar, which was later sold to Twinlab. Robb specializes in helping grow businesses both domestically and internationally.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

It takes a long time to build a successful company.

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Areas of Expertise

• Sales
• Marketing
• Finance
• Management

Experience
Robert is a business executive with 40 years of experience leading businesses to grow revenue and profit. He has successfully helped clients leverage sales technologies, software, and CRM data to identify, analyze and act upon leads, opportunities, and sales funnels. Robert’s top priority when working with clients is to exceed expectations by being a personable communicator.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Never give up

Languages:

Korean

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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

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Areas of Expertise

• Export and Import
• Trade Agreements
• Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers
• Political Risk
• Trade Facilitation and Capacity Building
• Textile and Apparel
• Food Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Services Sector
• Market Research
• Competitive Strategy
• Qualitative Methods

Experience
Sarita has extensive experience assisting small businesses as the owner of an international trade research firm and the Global Research Institute of International Trade, LLC, which was awarded the SCORE Los Angeles Certificate of Entrepreneurship. She has collaborated with several universities and government agencies throughout Southern California to offer customized market research to small businesses, train on conducting proper research to identify the right markets, and develop a competitive strategy for a company’s product or service. As a result, small businesses have better assessed their global competitiveness and were connected with the funding sources to expand. Lastly, Sarita’s most recent book, International Trade in Services: Effective Practice and Policy, was published by Routledge Taylor & Francis Group in 2021.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Gain in-depth, hands-on experience at a small company first! Working with smaller firms will allow you to expand your knowledge and offer you tools to succeed in the future.

Languages:

Spanish

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Areas of Expertise

• Go-to-Market Strategy
• Business Management
• Strategic Planning
• Sales and Business Development
• Corporate Partnerships

Experience

Sergio has seven years of experience in business management and start-ups within various industries such as fintech, e-commerce, licensing/brand management, cannabis/hemp, and spirits. With a primary expertise in sales and business development, he has also learned how to properly execute marketing, operations, and strategy of small-midsize businesses. Sergio is looking to return to graduate school for his MBA in order to continue developing his business knowledge.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

You make your mistakes, your mistakes never make you.

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Areas of Expertise

• Marketing
• Customer Service
• Retail

Experience
Sherri has a background in customer service. She is a recent graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Marketing. Sherri admires the effort the consultants put in to support their clients. As an admin for the Global Trade Center, she wants to see more small businesses grow and make their way to the international market.

Languages:

Vietnamese

Areas of Expertise

• Marketing
• Digital Marketing
• Design
• Branding
• Events
• Beauty Industry
• SEO/SMO
• Retail
• Photography

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

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Areas of Expertise

• Government Contracts
• Validating Business Ideas and Models
• Business Development Strategies
• Business Operations
• Business Start-up
• SWOT Analysis

Experience

Troy is a government contracting ambassador and small business advocate with 28 years of experience in the Acquisition Career Field. He uses his experience as a former Contingency Contracting Officer to teach companies how to properly compete for government contracts and grow their business with the government. Troy is a small business owner and a key member of several high-performing teams. He helps companies start, grow, and expand via the government contracting marketplace. Troy is a retired US Marine with 20 years of service.

The best advice I have ever been given is:

Execution is key!

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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.

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