Our Staff & Advisors
Our experienced SBDC team is comprised of former entrepreneurs, bankers, product managers, technology experts, and business professionals dedicated to helping you grow your business.
Management Team
Mike Daniel
Client Supervisor
Janice Grass
Program Specialist
Business Advisors & Area of Expertise
Charlie Lowe
(Bilingual) – Specialty: Business Start-ups, Business Plans, Marketing & General Business Operations
Charlie has extensive experience in business development and start-ups as well as International Trade, Marketing, and entrepreneurial training programs.
Frank Guzman
pecialty: Federal, State, and County Small Business Certifications
Frank has over 15 years of small business certification with a specialty in 8A Government Contracting. Frank was also a branch manager of a local bank for more than 10 years.
Philmore Glover
Specialty: Marketing, New Product Launches, General Business Operations & the Food Industry
Phil has more than 20 years of marketing and management expertise including gathering intel on markets and competitors, how to brand and capture business and how to develop detailed successful marketing and business plans. Phil works with clients on strategy, new business and product launches, customer acquisition and retention.
Carolina Marin-Henriquez
(Bilingual) – Specialty: Corporate/International Law, Real Estate & Estate Planning
Co-founder of a bilingual (English/Spanish) Business Law Firm, Carolina is a licensed California attorney, notary and real estate broker, with a strong background in the law and regulations of business development and international trade.
George Mehale
Specialty: General Business Operations, Fitness/Health Industry & the Food Industry
The founder of two successful service businesses, George works with entrepreneurs on the verge of launching their own business and specializes in small business tactics and operations, buy/sell situations and marketing tactics on a limited budget.
Ryan Smolar
Specialty: Website Strategy and Development
Ryan owns and operates his own web development company, Smolarcorp. He works well with start-ups who are beginning their first website and can also review already-built websites for seasoned companies.
Larry Trujillo
Specialty: Finance & Business Loan Education
Founder of a consulting firm specializing in finance and professional intervention for sustaining growth and profitability. Larry has an extensive background in commercial banking and has expertise in loan packaging for small businesses.
Edward Von Leffern
pecialty: Credit Management, Finance & Business Loan Education
Corporate executive with 30 years of client-focused experience managing credit and marketing functions. As chief credit officer,
Ed assisted business owners in obtaining loans through credit consulting. Ed is a faculty member at Cal State Polytechnic Univ.,
Pomona teaching management, marketing, strategic planning, entrepreneurship, critical thinking, international business, and
corporate responsibility.
Megan Hearts
As an entrepreneur, Meghan has used Social Media to help market her own business. She is an expert in Twitter, Face Book, My Space, and LinkedIn. Kimberly is also the lead instructor of the Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) at Long Beach City College.