Grand Opening of Mountain’s Business Center Is Festive, Focused

  • A laughing Diane Howerton (front row, center, above) enjoyed the well-attended grand opening celebration for the Mountain Communities’ very own Small Business Development Center satellite office in Frazier Park. Howerton, with the University of California, Merced in Fresno, is Regional Director for the SBDC network serving 15 counties. Angel Cottrell of Women’s Economic Ventures and Small Business Loan Fund (WEV) is the Mountain Communities’ center director.

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    A laughing Diane Howerton (front row, center, above) enjoyed the well-attended grand opening celebration for the Mountain Communities’ very own Small Business Development Center satellite office in Frazier Park. Howerton, with the University of California, Merced in Fresno, is Regional Director for the SBDC network serving 15 counties. Angel Cottrell of Women’s Economic Ventures and Small Business Loan Fund (WEV) is the Mountain Communities’ center director.

  • Private Meetings with business owners are held at 3717 Mt. Pinos Way, in the Mountain Communities Chamber office. Helping to celebrate the new service were (l-r) Tea Silvestre, WEV Staff; Marsha Bailey, WEV CEO and Founder; Melissa Tatham, Associate Regional Director UC Merced SBDC Regional Network; Diane Howerton, Direc-
tor UC Merced SBDC Regional Network; Shana Pearson, WEV Staff; Kathleen O’Donnell, WEV Development Director; Devon Johnson, WEV Staff; Julie Karpenko, WEV Staff; Angel Cottrell, WEV Client Services Director; Stacey Havener, Chamber President. Carlos Mendoza of the SBA, Michael Berg and many more also helped to cut the ribbon.

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    Private Meetings with business owners are held at 3717 Mt. Pinos Way, in the Mountain Communities Chamber office. Helping to celebrate the new service were (l-r) Tea Silvestre, WEV Staff; Marsha Bailey, WEV CEO and Founder; Melissa Tatham, Associate Regional Director UC Merced SBDC Regional Network; Diane Howerton, Direc- tor UC Merced SBDC Regional Network; Shana Pearson, WEV Staff; Kathleen O’Donnell, WEV Development Director; Devon Johnson, WEV Staff; Julie Karpenko, WEV Staff; Angel Cottrell, WEV Client Services Director; Stacey Havener, Chamber President. Carlos Mendoza of the SBA, Michael Berg and many more also helped to cut the ribbon.

An impressive network of friends has grown out of the Synergy Summit’s business meetings last year. Local business owners, with coordination from The Mountain Enterprise, partnership from the Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce and support of the Pine Mountain Village Merchants Association, researched resources to help local business owners develop strong business strategies. Now our own Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is opening in Frazier Park. A series of free workshops will begin next month. The first is on Social Media Marketing, Sept. 16, 6-8 p.m. at Cuddy Hall.

This is part of the August 27, 2010 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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