Emcee: Simone Ross
Simone D. Ross is a dynamic leader and visionary, dedicated to advancing women in business and fostering community growth. As the CEO of the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce and founder of multiple successful ventures, she is committed to driving impactful change and inspiring future leaders.
Keynote Speaker: Natriece Bryant
Essential Tools and Resources You Didn’t Know You Needed
Natriece Bryant is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in operations, strategic planning, and public-private partnerships. She serves as the Chief Operations Officer for the Denver Public Library leading the organization’s operations across 27 facilities, overseeing facilities management, security, finance, and technology. As an active community leader, Natriece serves on the boards of Canvas Credit Union, Educating Children of Color, and the Donor Alliance Foundation. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Denver. Natriece holds three master’s degrees—in Business Administration, Sociology, and Criminal Justice—and a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Colorado-Denver.
Panelist: Rob Burgan | Business Boost: Keys to Getting Funding
As a Community Lending Officer for CEF, Rob handles loans ranging from $10,000 to $1 million for various business needs and has a deep understanding of both traditional and alternative financing solutions. His 30 years of experience as a mortgage broker, including his work with clients who struggled to secure traditional loans, deepens his ability to assist businesses in securing the financing they need.
Panelist: Flaubert Toulaboe | Business Boost: Keys to Getting Funding
Flaubert is an Investment Officer at CEDS Finance, a small business lender based in Aurora. He works with loan applicants to guide them through the process and helps them find the best solutions for their needs.
Panelist: Andrea Hitner | Business Boost: Keys to Getting Funding
BMO’s purpose is to ”Boldly Grow the Good in business and life." Andrea assumes a pivotal position in spearheading a transformative initiative designed to empower women and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) entrepreneurs within the business community. Tasked with overseeing the implementation and success of this specialized credit program. Andrea's responsibilities encompass a broad spectrum of strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and operational execution. Lastly, Andrea endeavors to empower aspiring entrepreneurs, fostering a culture of innovation, diversity, and equitable opportunity within the business ecosystem.
Panelist: Steve White
How Small Business Owners Beat the Odds & Barriers to Be Successful
Steve White is the Lead Lender Relations Specialist for the Colorado District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Steve began working for the SBA as a Lender Relations Specialist in the Colorado District Office in 2013. Steve was later promoted to Senior Area Manager for Western North Carolina prior to returning as the Lead Lender Relations Specialist for the Colorado District Office in 2017. Steve’s experience with the SBA began in 1995 while working as a commercial loan packager for a privately owned bank in Tennessee. Steve also has a residential mortgage lending background. Prior to working at the SBA, Steve served in the US Navy from August 1989 to June of 1995 and then Steve served again in the US Army from May 2003 to October 2012. In between service in the Navy and the Army, Steve received his Bachelor of Arts from East Tennessee State University and his Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.
Panelist: Kirk Dryden
How Small Business Owners Beat the Odds & Barriers to Be Successful
Currently the President of the Kodiak Interiors Group, Kirk Dryden started his business in 1998 on a napkin at Chili’s. He has worn all the hats along the way, starting with identifying a need and making a business plan all the way through navigating tremendous growth and ultimately acquisition. He’s also been with SCORE as a volunteer business mentor for 3 years and loves seeing the entrepreneurial spark and giving back to his community.
Panelist: Carolina Manross
How Small Business Owners Beat the Odds & Barriers to Be Successful
Carolina posses over 20 years of professional expertise in business consulting, marketing, sales, management and entrepreneurship. Carolina is a bilingual multicultural consultant, mentor and presenter that has been successfully assisting business owners in the United States and Latin America for over 16 years.
Carolina believes in a holistic approach in consulting and her passion is to empower individuals to achieve their dreams and promote economic growth for themselves and their communities.
Breakout Presenter: Priscilla Orozco-Garcia
Understanding Small Business Taxes 101
Priscilla Orozco-Garcia posses over two decades of experience in the accounting industry and has owned her own business since 2011. Priscilla has become a reference within the small business community, mentoring hundreds of small businesses and leading countless small business financial literacy trainings in English or Spanish.
Breakout Presenter: Stefanie Fox
What You Need to Know Before Buying or Leasing Commercial Real Estate
Stefanie specializes in delivering client focused commercial brokerage services. As a Colorado licensed real estate broker, she offers exclusive Tenant and Buyer Representation and guides clients through the process of locating, negotiating, and securing commercial spaces tailored to their unique needs and objectives. Stefanie has helped lead efforts for Impact Commercial Real Estate to earn and maximize designations such as Certified Woman Owned Business and others. She has a passion for Colorado grown businesses.
Breakout Presenter: Heather Taylor
What You Need to Know Before Buying or Leasing Commercial Real Estate
Heather Taylor is the Founder and Principal of Impact Commercial Real Estate. Born and raised in Colorado, Heather began her commercial real estate career in early 2009. Prior to starting Impact, Heather was a partner at a local commercial real estate firm. Heather has in-depth experience in all property types including Industrial, Office, Retail, Multi-Family, Land, and Investment.
Heather finds passion in helping her clients and making a positive impact on businesses and the community through commercial real estate. Her tireless work ethic and sense of urgency are keys to her success. Heather also has strong resources and knowledge about financing options for clients.
Breakout Presenter: Refugio Perez
What You Need to Know Before Buying or Leasing Commercial Real Estate
Breakout Presenter: Ellen Burnes
Managing Cash Flow: Tips & Tricks
Ellen Burnes is a global executive advisor and Independent Board Director with over thirty years of leadership experience in the finance, and operations for organizations ranging from early stage start-ups to publicly traded companies. As a Finance professor at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, Ellen’s teaching focuses on Entrepreneurial Finance and Investments.
Breakout Presenter: Kristin McCarty
Creating a Roadmap to Take Your Business to the Next Level
Kristin McCarty is a Lead Business Navigator for CEF, specializing in pre-loan support as well as finance and marketing support for our borrowers. She works closely with CEF clients and internal teams to identify issues holding up processes and helping all parties move forward to secure lending. Prior to working with CEF, Kristin spent 12 years in Wealth Management managing all aspects of finances for families and small businesses. Her passion for travel came from her time with Marriott International in various sales roles, the final one bringing her to Colorado in 2006 to open the Ritz-Carlton, Denver. Kristin holds a BS in Business Administration from University of Richmond, with concentrations in Marketing and International Business. When not helping CEF borrowers, you will find her on some sort of sports field, either cheering on her husband and two children in their endeavors or playing tennis in the summer and skiing in the winter.