I initiate economic opportunities for our region thru grants & resource development, strategic partnerships, & community relations.
I'm passionate about economic development & how, thru education, we can make a significant impact in our region. 19% of our region has a degree, 25% live in poverty; we need to create strong programs that create results. We do this by focusing on 3 areas; entrepreneurship, career pathways & STEM; which lead to high wage, high demand jobs. Our vision is to establish a competitive economic ecosystem to foster economic prosperity with our partners.
Makerspace Initiative
Multimedia, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, culinary, and building & construction skills. These talent development resources will be designed to create educational, career, and business exploration & interest opportunities for our maker community.
Small Business Startup & Growth
We strive to create opportunities for new businesses & to help our entrepreneurs create solid growth strategies they can implement which will create more jobs & better the economy.
International Business
Thru partnerships, we engage with foreign representative & government agents to expose entrepreneurs to business relocation and investment, and both import/export trade opportunities. Our goal is to build a diverse business and economic base that aligns with our colleges to accelerate the ongoing competitiveness of our business & workforce.
Access to Capital
We work with a network of angel investors, local government, private equity firms, and traditional lenders to establish opportunities to ensure survivability, growth, and diversification.
Kauffman Foundation - 1 Million Cups
With angel investors, SBIAA, and the Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA) we are inspiring small business creation thru monthly discussions allowing both aspiring entrepreneurs & business owners to learn & collaborate.