Recon

SBDN Presents

RECon live

Orange County's
Small Business Resource Conference

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM PST (8:30 AM Check-in)

Location: The COVE at UCI, 5270 California Ave #100, Irvine CA 92617

Watch the Highlight Video:

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Register Now!

Event Impact

Attendees
0 +
Exhibitors
0 +
Featured Panels
0
Speakers & Panelists
0 +
Breakout Sessions
0

Event Partners

Event TEASER

Play Video
View Event Gallery

Engage & Connect in the

Exhibitor Hall

See Exhibitors

SCHEDULE

We carefully curated a dynamic program with featured programming alongside our full Exhibitor Hall.

Download Program

Breakout Sessions

1 PM to 1:45 PM

"Show Me the Money"

1:45 PM to 2:00 PM

"CA State Treasurer Office Programs"

2:00 PM to 2:45 PM

"How to Work with the State of CA"

Expand Your Reach

Open Networking

Grow your professional sphere and build impactful relationships.

Get Tickets

Interactive Event Timeline

For our 2nd annual RECON “Resource Conference” for small businesses, SBDN has creates an opportunity for small business owners to do some “RECON” about the latest resources and programs that are available for them.

With highly relevant programming like the “Access to Capital”, “Certification”  and “Resource” panels providing valuable learning moments, and a full exhibitor hall featuring over 20 industry experts, attendees will enjoy connecting
and building relationships with these amazing speakers, panelists, experts in addition to the expect 300+ fellow business owners.

If that’s not enough, we will also have special breakout sessions with some of our key resource partners. 

Welcome Remarks

SBDN President Jay Ungos and SBDN Chairman Tam Nguyen open the event with welcoming remarks about what's in store for the event.

City of Irvine Welcome Remarks

City of Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan delivers her welcome to the city remarks, expressing her strong support for SBDN and the entire small business community.

Mayor Farrah Khan

City of Irvine
About Mayor Khan

U.S. Economic Development Administration Update

US EDA Regional Director Sheba Person-Whitley shares with the conference some news & updates about the current activities from the EDA and how they can help and support small businesses.

Sheba Person-Whitley

Regional Director, U.S. EDA
About Sheba

Event Partner: SBDC Remarks by Mike Daniel

Mike Daniel, Regional Director at the SBDC, delivers his remarks. As an SBDC affiliate, SBDN shares in the vision and mission of the SBDC and with their support, our small business community thrives.

Resource Panel

Resource Panel hosted by Ben Raju (SBA)

The SBDN Resource Panel brings together a collection of organizations dedicated to serving specific (or all) segments of the small business community. These representatives, who are all subject matter experts in the fields, share insights into how you can work with their organizations, what benefits you can avail, and how to prepare yourself to engage with them.

Panelists & Host

Zitlalic Domond
Michael Faraj
Jenalyn Santos
Michael Martinez
Eric Oley
Alex Salas
Ben Raju

CA Department of General Services (DGS) Update

CA DGS Director Ana Lasso shares the state of procurement at the State level, and what opportunities small businesses have with contracting with the State.

Ana M. Lasso

Director, DGS
About Ana

Certification Panel

Certification Panel hosted by Vaughn Williams (SoCalGas)

The SBDN Certification Panel brings together a collection of procurement experts, representing their respective companies, i.e. the "buyers." Well versed in supplier diversity, they shed light and insights into the value and immense opportunities available to those business that get certified in one (or more) of the various diversity certifications available to small businesses.

Panelists & Host

Anthony Caruso
Dalia Demian
Rose Davis
Jaymee Lomax
Diane Lydon
Drisha Melton
Vaugh Williams

US Bank Grant Announcement

Jay Ungos steps back up to the podium to announce a new grant for small businesses courtesy of US Bank.

Sponsor's Message: Wells Fargo

Julie Tran Tomanpos, Associate Vice President at Wells Fargo, delivers remarks on behalf of her company, highlighting the bank's broader commitment to the small business community by sharing some of the activity of Wells Fargo on that front.

Special Guest Speaker: CA Treasurer Fiona Ma

The Honorable Fiona Ma, CA State Treasurer, joins us at the conference to share a bit of her journey from growing up in New York to becoming the State Treasurer, the "state's primary banker," and also sharing some of what the state is doing in terms of supporting small businesses through access to capital programs.

The Honorable Fiona Ma

Treasurer, State of CA
About Treasurer Ma

"Access to Capital" Panel

"Access to Capital" Panel hosted by Ed Hart (First Bank)

As one of the most important (and popular) topics to small businesses, this year's Access to Capital panel features host Ed Hart and his fellow banking and finance experts hailing from the spectrum of financial institutions -- from CDFIs to "big banks" -- giving conference attendees a valuable look at different perspectives these institutions have when evaluating potential business to service.

Panelists & Host

Amil Aaron
Iman Cotton
Paul Horvat
Tim Nguyen
Erica Osorio
Ed hart

Genesis Bank Grant Announcement

Amil Aaron, SVP, Head of Community Impact, in the spirit of the famous movie quote "Show Me the Money!!!" unveils to the conference the now available Small Business Grant courtesy of Genesis Bank.

Mystery Chamber Unveiling

Jay Ungos proudly introduces the president of the newest ethnic chamber, Nitin Bajaj, to talk about his new chamber and why it was important to finally bring this organization to life.

"Chamber Challenge" Panel

The Chamber Challenge panel is a new addition to our program for this event, and really is more of a contest than a panel. However, the point is for attendees to become “introduced” to these chambers, what the offer, and whom they serve, making it a valuable learning moment for the audience. Oh, and there is prize at the end!

OC Black Chamber
(OCBC)

Visit Website

OC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
(OCHCC)

Visit Website

Korean American Chamber of Commerce of OC (KACCOC)

Visit Website

Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce (VACOC)

Visit Website

OC Iranian American Chamber of Commerce (OCIACC)

Visit Website

Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of OC (FACCOC)

Visit Website

Greater Irvine
Chamber

Visit Website

British American Business Council OC (BABC-OC)

Visit Website

Afghan American Business Alliance (AABA)

Visit Website

American South Asian Network (ASAN)

Visit Website

Breakout Session #1: "Show Me the Money!" by Genesis Bank

Amil Aaron, SVP, Head of Community Impact at Genesis Bank leads of conferences first breakout session of the day, "Show Me the Money: Empowering Economic Growth & Impact for Diverse Entrepreneurs"

Breakout Session #2: "CA State Treasurer's Office Programs"

Sheila Tobias-Daniels, Executive Director of CPCFA, a state level financing authority, leads the second breakout session of the day covering what financing opportunities are available through the State.

Breakout Session #3: "How to Work with the State of CA"

Diane Lydon, Business Outreach Manager, Office of Small Business and DVBE Services, CA Department of General Services (DGS) leads the third breakout session of the conference where she covers finding contract opportunities with the State.

End of Day Raffle Opportunity Drawing

SBDN Event Director Anna Kim caps off another successful event with a raffle draw. You had to be present to win, so it was "outta luck" to those who left the event early!

EXHIBITORS

21-13 Impact Graphics

Afghan American Business Alliance (AABA)

American South Asian Network (ASAN)

British American Business Council OC (BABC-OC)

CA Dept of General Services (DGS)

CA GoBiz

CALTRANS

CA State Treasurer

CDC Loans

City of Hope OC

City of Irvine

Commercial Bank of CA

Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of OC (FACCOC)

Genesis Bank

GSA

Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce

Grow Your Destiny

IE Apex Accelerator

Korean American Chamber of Commerce OC (KACCOC)

Mellow Meadow

Mo Jones Productions

NMSDC

Northstar/REVHub

OC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (OCHCC)

OC Iranian American Chamber of Commerce (OCIACC)

OCTA

Orange County Talent Collaborative (OCTC)

OC United Way

SBA

SBDC

SCORE

Supplier Clearinghouse

US Bank

VBOC

Veterans in Business (VIB)

VIBE Marketing

Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce (VACOC)

WBEC-West

Wells Fargo

Ticket Pricing

Business Member
Ticket

General Admission
FREE
  • NO MEAL PROVIDED
  • Keynote Session
  • Tech Talk Session
  • Panel Sessions
  • Exhibitor Hall

Business Member
Ticket

General Admission with Meal
$ 35
  • Includes Boxed Lunch
  • Keynote & Tech Talk
  • Panel Sessions
  • Exhibitor Hall

Business Member PLUS Ticket

General Admission with Meal
FREE
  • Includes Boxed Lunch
  • Full-access to Entire Event

Non-Member
Ticket

General Admission with Meal
$ 50
  • Includes Boxed Lunch
  • Full-access to Entire Event

Registration Form

Loading...

Event Flyers

2024 Event Highlight Gallery

Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
Small Business Diversity Network
No More Found Load More Loading...

The Small Business Diversity Network (SBDN) is a non-profit organization who supports the underserved small businesses in the U.S., which include minority, women, veteran, LGBT, and disabled owned businesses.

Small Business Diversity Network (SBDN)
3349 Michelson Dr. #200
Irvine, CA 92612

(855) 756-6500

Linkedin Facebook Youtube

Signature Events

Resource Conference (RECON)
Diversity Conference (DIVCON)
Procurement Conference (PROCON)

SBDN Programs

Business & Breakfasts
Lunch & Learn
Mixers
Workshops

Upcoming Events

Past Events

SBDN Resources

Grant Opportunities
Business Resources
Community Resources

Sponsorships

About SBDN

Join SBDN

Member Directory

2024 Event Calendar

(Click image to view)
Download Calendar PDF

Copyright 2023-2024  | Small Business Diversity Network | All rights reserved | Terms & Conditions

 

Translate »

Mayor Farrah N. Khan

City of Irvine

Mayor Farrah N. Khan made history in November of 2020, becoming the 23rd Mayor of Irvine. She not only received the highest number of votes for the position of Mayor in the city’s history, but also shattered glass ceilings as the first woman of color to hold the position, and the first Muslim woman to lead a large city in the United States. She was re-elected as Mayor in 2022 to serve her second term. She was first elected to the Irvine City Council in 2018.Mayor Khan grew up in northern California and began her career in the biotech and innovation industry as a regulatory affairs manager focusing on streamlining complex products and international research. She and her family moved to Irvine in 2004, where her two sons have had the privilege of attending Irvine public schools since kindergarten. She and her husband also serve as Legacy Partners with the Irvine Public Schools Foundation.

Mayor Khan is focused on ensuring that the City of Irvine is a leader throughout Orange County and California when it comes to innovation and technology, maintaining a safe environment and fiscal stability, combating climate change, and protecting the health and wellness of Irvine’s diverse communities.

During her 2 year term as City Councilmember (2018-2020), she initiated and passed the city-wide ban on smoking in public places, initiated the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, initiated the Transit Vision Study, supported the One Irvine program to rejuvenate older neighborhoods, and established OC’s first Community Choice Energy (CCE) agency OC Power Authority. She also served on the Boards of the Irvine Community Land Trust, OC Mosquito and Vector Control, Irvine Barclay Theatre, and OC Library District.

In her first term as Mayor (2020-2022), she initiated several new strategies leading to Irvine becoming the first City in Orange County to spearhead COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics in local neighborhoods and senior centers, established the COVID-19 Task Force and the Business Reopening Task Force with industry experts. In addition, she passed HERO pay for frontline grocery workers, created a new committee focused on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (under the Mayor’s leadership, the City celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival, Juneteenth, Fiesta en Irvine, and Pride in Irvine for the first time in its history), she also spearheaded the Be Well OC mobile response for mental health calls, established the Innovation Council, and adopted a resolution with strategies to support achieving carbon neutrality. During these two years, she also established Irvine as a major city by highlighting its programs and services, which brought US President Biden, US Secretary of Health & Human Services Xavier Becerra, US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, and CA Infrastructure Director – former Mayor of LA Antonio Villaraigosa to Irvine. Mayor Khan served on the Boards of Transportation Corridor Agency, OC Power Authority, and Irvine Barclay Theatre.

In her second term as Mayor, she has made progress on the Transit Vision Study with the approval of the Transit Pilot program with a dedicated route to begin later in 2023, she introduced the E-Bike ordinance with IPD, introduced the Eviction Diversion Pilot Program, and supported more affordable housing and extension of expiring HUD units throughout the city. She also spearheaded and approved a Community Workforce Agreement (for local hire and apprenticeship opportunities) and continues to work on finding solutions for homelessness, housing, energy efficiency, social connections, and economic development.  Mayor Khan currently serves on the Boards of OC Transportation Authority, Transportation Corridor Agency, OC Sanitation District, and Irvine Barclay Theatre.

Mayor Khan represents the city on the CA Big City Mayors coalition, League of CA Cities, and US Conference of Mayors.

Ana M. Lasso

Director, California Department of General Services

Ana M. Lasso was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as the Director of the California Department of General Services on March 19, 2021. Previously, Director Lasso served as the General Manager of Los Angeles’ Exposition Park, a position to which she was appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in April 2014.

Director Lasso leads the Department of General Services (DGS), which serves as the business manager for the state of California with over 3,500 employees and a budget of more than $1 billion. DGS serves the public by providing a variety of services to state agencies through procurement, acquisition solutions, creative real estate management, design, innovation, environmentally friendly transportation, and funding for the construction of state schools. DGS also serves as a control and oversight department to help protect the interests of the state of California.

In her previous role, Director Lasso represented the state during real estate negotiations to secure the Los Angeles Football Club-Banc of California Stadium and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art at Exposition Park. She also led the park through one of its most triumphant economic development periods, with over $1 billion in construction dollars invested throughout Exposition Park’s 160 acres.

Prior to her gubernatorial appointments, Director Lasso managed the Joint Use Development Program for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Joint Use Development Program created community partnerships and capital improvement projects to provide features and enhancements for public schools that provide benefits to students and the surrounding community.

In addition to her expertise in real estate development and strong commitment to public service, Director Lasso has worked at the international level on issues such as economic development, education, city design and housing.

Director Lasso holds a master’s in City Planning and Urban Design Certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her commitment to underserved communities is undeniable and has been recognized through awards such as the 2021 Mujer Cambiando el Mundo Award from the Regional Hispanic Institute, 2020 Bridge to the Future Award from A Place Called Home, City Council District 9 SHero Award in 2017, the Los Angeles County Medical Association’s Innovation Award of 2012, Building and Construction’s 2011 “40 Under 40,” the MIT Departmental Service Award, the UCLA Charles E. Young Humanitarian Award and her appointment as a Hispanas Organized for Political Equality “HOPE” Leadership Fellow.

Ana M. Lasso resides in Whittier with her husband Jose Hernandez Vicente, their two children Alba Marina and Diego Jose and two dogs.

Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA

State of California

Fiona Ma is California’s 34th State Treasurer. She was elected on November 6, 2018 with more votes (7,825,587) than any other candidate for treasurer in the state’s history. She is the first woman of color and the first woman Certified Public Accountant (CPA) elected to the position.

The State Treasurer’s Office was created in the California Constitution in 1849. It provides financing for schools, roads, housing, recycling and waste management, hospitals, public facilities, and other crucial infrastructure projects that better the lives of residents.

One committee Treasurer Ma chairs, the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA), helps clean and green our state. It awards sales tax exclusions for manufacturers that reduce pollution, while retaining jobs, including to companies that make electric vehicles, turn farm waste into energy, and produce jet fuel out of renewable sources.

California is the world’s fifth-largest economy and Treasurer Ma is the state’s primary banker. Her office processes more than $3 trillion in payments within a typical year and provides transparency and oversight for an investment portfolio of more than $124 billion, approximately $34.8 billion of which are local government funds. She also is responsible for $93 billion in outstanding general obligation and lease revenue bonds of the state.

In 2020 the State Treasurer’s office was the agent of sale for about $20 billion in debt, which financed many building projects that created thousands of construction jobs. Of that debt, $6.2 billion refinanced previous debt, creating a present value savings of $1.8 billion for California taxpayers.

Most recently before being elected Treasurer, she was an elected member of the California Board of Equalization from 2015 until January 2019 and worked to protect the rights of taxpayers while ensuring California collected its fair share of tax revenues. Her district covered 23 counties in California and included approximately 9.5 million people. Upon being selected Chairperson of the Board of Equalization in 2016, she ordered three external audits of the agency and helped lead the biggest reforms for accountability and efficiency in that agency’s history.

A top priority for her on the Board of Equalization was ensuring that everyone pays their fair share of taxes, including efforts to require online-retailers such as Amazon to collect sales taxes on transactions from third-party sellers in order to help local brick-and-mortar retailers compete ‘ ultimately generating new revenues estimated between $431 million and $1.8 billion for California every year. She also advocated for taxing e-cigarettes similarly to other tobacco products ‘ deterring vaping and smoking and paying for health costs related to tobacco use. In 2017, voters passed Proposition 56 with two-thirds of the vote, collecting $1.7 billion in new tobacco taxes to fund anti-smoking programs and Medi-Cal payments for the poor.

Also while on the Board of Equalization, she identified the cannabis industry as the largest shadow economy in California with ‘hundreds of millions of dollars that disappear into an underground cannabis economy’ and led efforts to regulate the industry, develop systems to ‘track and trace’ all cannabis in California, and develop legal banking mechanisms for cannabis businesses.

Treasurer Ma was a member of the State Assembly from 2006-2012, serving as Speaker pro Tempore from 2010 to 2012. She built a reputation as a solution-oriented public servant and was adept at building unlikely coalitions to overcome California’s most complex problems. Prior to serving as Speaker pro Tempore, she was Assembly Majority Whip and built coalitions during a state budget crisis to pass groundbreaking legislation that protected public education and the environment while also expanding access to health care.

As an Assembly Member, she authored 60 bills that were signed into law by two different governors ‘ most were first-in-the-nation and required no taxpayer money. Her successful legislation to ban toxic chemicals in baby products, known as phthalates, became a model for federal legislation that was authored by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein in 2008. She chaired the Assembly Select Committee on Domestic Violence and spearheaded legislation that strengthened laws protecting victims of domestic violence, consumers and working families; prevented the spread of Hepatitis B; increased access to quality healthcare; and, provided equal rights for all Californians.

From 2002-2006, she served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and championed a human rights campaign to end human trafficking in massage parlors and to close prostitution rings. She led an effort to create the city’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program to empower small businesses to more easily participate in public works projects

Treasurer Ma first became involved in public service in 1994 when she was elected president of the Asian Business Association, where she began advocating at San Francisco City Hall and the State Capitol on behalf of minority business owners. Her work resulted in her election in 1995 as a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business, where she advocated for socially responsible contracting for minorities and women in San Francisco, ultimately producing a report to Congress detailing 60 top policy recommendations to help small businesses grow and prosper in the 21st century.

Also in 1995, she was appointed to the Assessment Appeals Board of San Francisco by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. That year she started her public service career as a part-time district representative for then-State Senator John Burton and served as Burton’s district representative until her election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. For Burton, she was responsible for helping constituents with Medi-Cal, Workers’ Compensation, Unemployment Insurance, Franchise and Employment Development Department taxes, and professional licensing.

From 1989-93 she worked for Ernst & Whinney, in the real estate tax group, before starting her own accounting practice in San Francisco. Today Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services firms in the world and considered one of the “big four” accounting firms.

Treasurer Ma has been a licensed CPA in California since 1992 and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the Rochester Institute of Technology (NY), a Master’s Degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University (SF), and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

She is a Member of the Vatican’s Council for Inclusive Capitalism, Member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, serves on the Board of California Women Lead, is an Honorary Chair and Spokesperson for the San Francisco Hepatitis B Free Campaign, and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild. Treasurer Ma is also active with the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST): 2020 Chair of ABLE Committee and Member of the Legislative Committee; and a member of the CalCPA society. She is married to Jason Hodge, a full-time firefighter and Oxnard Harbor Commissioner.

As of March 8, 2021