Small Business Capital Access Forum
Join us in San Francisco for a half-day forum designed to help small business owners better understand and navigate the funding landscape. This event brings together lenders, industry experts, and community partners to share insights on current financing trends and opportunities available to entrepreneurs.
Through a panel discussion and breakout sessions, participants will gain a big-picture understanding of capital access while also having the opportunity to connect directly with lenders and explore the right funding options for their business.
AGENDA:
9:30 – 9:45 AM | Check-in (Door opens at 9:15am)
9:45 – 10:00 AM | Welcome & Keynote
- Elmy Bermejo, Director, California Office of the Small Business Advocates
- Sharon Miller, CEO, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
- Scott Rogalski, Deputy Director, NorCal Small Business Development Center
10:00 – 10:30 AM | Trends in Small Business Financing
- Moderator: David Hincapie, Lender Relations Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration
- Sarah Simms, Community Development Finance Manager, Community Engagement and Analysis, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
- Emily Gasner, Chief Program Officer, CAMEO Network
- Rodney Fong, President & CEO, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
- Andrew Krone, SR. V.P. Sales, Marble Bridge Funding Group
10:45 – 11:30 AM | Breakout Sessions: Navigating Capital Pathways – SBA & State-Guaranteed Loans
• Breakout 1: SBA-Backed Loans
- Moderator: Gwendolyn Wright, Business Advisor, SF Small Business Development Center
- Karla De Leon, Chief Lending Officer, Main Street Launch and Working Solutions CDFI
- Philip Wong, Market Strategist of Northern California – Zero Barriers to Business, BMO
- Steve Ward, SVP Business Services, Redwood Credit Union
- Mary Norris, Business Loan Advisor Manager - Calif & Nevada, Wells Fargo
- Ole Tustin, Vice President, SBA Division - Business Development, U.S. Bank
• Breakout 2: State-Guaranteed Loans
- Moderator: Scott Rogalski, Deputy Director, NorCal SBDC
- Titi Ikhile, Chief Program Officer, Working Solutions CDFI
- Alberto Enriquez, Senior Credit Analyst, Pacific Community Ventures
- Byron Phillips, Executive Vice President & Director Loan Production, NorCal Financial Development Corporation
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Break/Snacks
12:00 – 12:45 PM | Small Business Owner Panel
- Tonia Weakland, Owner, Your Happy Place
- Lindsay Knox, Owner, Ladha Jewelry
- Peter Dorrance, Owner, Outta Sight Pizza
12:45 – 1:45 PM | Networking / Meet the Lenders (Optional)