Join us for an insightful funding panel, where local lenders will share various small business loan programs to help grow your business. Whether you're a startup looking for initial capital or an established business seeking expansion funds, this event will provide you with practical tips and funding options. Don't miss this chance to connect with small business lenders to gain the knowledge you need to take your business to the next level. The event will end with audience Q&A.

Marie Peters | Fund Director, B:Side

As our Fund Director, Marie manages our microloan program within our sister organization, B:Side Fund, that is designed to assist underserved small businesses and promote job creation. She is also responsible for strategic partnerships to scale the program with the help of private sector lenders, government agencies, foundations, and local community development organizations. Her infectious passion for our mission to foster the economic growth of diverse small businesses permeates our organization and we are lucky to have her on the team since 2012.

Alan Ramirez | Director of Strategic Lending, Colorado Enterprise Fund

Alan Ramirez is Director of Strategic Lending for Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF) and has been with CEF since 2007. Alan is responsible for overseeing CEF’s loan production team and strategy for Colorado. Alan consults with potential applicants about their business plans, performs credit analysis and loan underwriting, along with ongoing business advisory services to borrowers. His bilingual skills in English and Spanish are an asset in serving many of CEF’s minority-owned businesses.

Alan was appointed to the Community Development Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve in Kansas City in 2022. His role allows him to represent fellow Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and have a voice for small business entrepreneurs.

Meghan Rauker | Community Engagement Officer, DreamSpring

Raised in Idaho and now based in Colorado, Meghan Rauker (she/they) is passionate about creating opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs and small business owners. They have nearly a decade of experience managing statewide entrepreneurship programming, grant writing, and navigating the changing fundraising landscape. Outside her work supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Colorado, Meghan can be found at the Sie Film Center enjoying films from around the world.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the only federal laboratory dedicated to renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. During this engaging webinar, you will learn about NREL and its mission as well as how to register your small business in its vendor database and where to find upcoming opportunities to do business.

The webinar will end with audience Q&A and an update from our partner, B:Side Fund.

Rexann Dunn | Small Business Program Manager, NREL

In her position managing small business partnerships at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Rexann Dunn oversees many of the lab’s outreach activities with the small business community, both locally and across the nation. In this capacity, she attends trade fairs, conferences, and other events to educate and assist small and minority-owned business owners and managers, and facilitates their efforts to explore business opportunities with NREL.

In addition to her work with the small business community, Rexann manages NREL’s Mentor-Protégé program, in which she works with small businesses to enhance their performance capabilities so they could successfully subcontract with NREL, the Department of Energy (DOE), and other federal agencies. In 2015, Rexann was selected by DOE as it’s Facility Management Contractor Small Business Program Manager of the year.

On behalf of NREL, Rexann works with:

• The Opportunity Council – Board of Directors member

• The Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council

• Presidents and directors of local small business councils

• Local Chambers of Commerce

• Small business and diversity program managers of large businesses and other federal laboratories and agencies

• Minority and small business community leaders

Join us to learn the ins and outs of applying for intellectual property protection from the US Patent and Trademark Office. The USPTO will explain what aspects of your invention or brand can apply to become copyrights, trademarks or patents. USPTO also provides resources for newcomers and applicants with online and in-person options. We welcome any questions throughout the webinar to assist you on your path to intellectual property ownership!

The webinar will end with audience Q&A as well as an update from our partner, B:Side.

Join Jimmy Hendrix, Minority Business and Workforce Division, Office of Energy Justice and Equity, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), for a webinar on how you can research and apply for funding opportunities within the DOE.

The webinar will end with audience Q&A as well as an update from our partner, B:Side.

Presented by Jimmy Hendrix, Minority Business and Workforce Division, Office of Energy Justice and Equity, U.S. Department of Energy

Jimmy is currently assigned as a Program Analyst in the Minority Business and Workforce Division within the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Justice and Equity. In this capacity, he strives to establish critical linkages amongst Minority Business Enterprises, industry, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies and state and local government agencies to promote economic development in underserved communities and build a more diverse and inclusive energy workforce; harnessing the full range of talent that the U.S. has to offer while sustaining America's historic legacy of ingenuity, creativity and innovation.

Jimmy is a retired Air Force Logistics Officer with over 20 years of active-duty service. He held many different leadership and command positions, and served on several deployments throughout his military career, to include two combat tours in Afghanistan.

Jimmy has been with his wife, Melissa, for over 25 years. They have two children. His nineteen-year-old son, Devan, is currently a college freshman. His twenty-four-year-old daughter, Ashlyn, is a teacher.

Unlock new opportunities in government contracting with GSA MAS Schedules! During Andra's comprehensive webinar, he’ll delve into the pivotal role these long-term contracts play in streamlining the procurement process for businesses of all sizes. When marketed effectively, GSA MAS Schedules offer stability and market access, fostering competition and innovation through a diverse pool of pre-approved suppliers. Throughout the webinar, Andra will showcase real success stories, providing concrete examples of businesses thriving in the federal marketplace. He will share practical tips, insights into the application process, and strategies for overcoming challenges to ensure that your business can navigate this dynamic landscape effectively. Access a wealth of resources and support services to enhance your journey, making GSA MAS Schedules the gateway to a transformative and prosperous engagement with the U.S. government.

The webinar will end with audience Q&A as well as an update from our partner, B:Side.

Presented by Andra Hargrave, Denver MBDA Director

Andra Hargrave is the director of the Denver MBDA Business Center.

Hargrave has more than 15 years of direct national and international sales channel development in the areas of government procurement and Fortune 500 level business development. His marketing channel development experience lies in a variety of industries, including technology-oriented manufacturing, service industries and distribution. Hargrave possesses an in-depth knowledge of state and federal set-aside procurement programs, such as SDB, HUB and the 8a Business Development Program, among others. He has served as the director of certification for the RMMSDC and currently serves as the statewide veteran’s consultant for the Colorado SBDC Network. His comprehension of federally-backed procurements, grants and certification programs, such as advanced technology and SBIR/STTR, is without equal.

In this webinar, Melia will discuss how to put together a competitive proposal. She will go over the do’s and don'ts of proposal writing including design aspects, writing style, formatting and more. She will also briefly discuss how to find important requirements in a solicitation, the best way to break down tasks and get started on multi-volume proposals, and how your strategy should change depending on the type of solicitation.

The webinar will end with audience Q&A as well as an update from our partner, B:Side.

Presented by Melia Ingham | Governmental Technical Writing Assistant, Denver MBDA Business Center

Melia Ingham is an experienced technical writer from Boulder, Colorado. She works alongside Andra Hargrave at the Denver Minority Business Development Agency Business Center and assists with proposal writing and editing and capability statement consulting. She also specializes in governmental E-capture and deal-based consulting on the state, local, education, and federal level for businesses of many classifications. At the MBDA, Melia works hard to assist small and minority-owned businesses as they navigate the world of government contracting. Her background is in technical writing and non-fiction ghostwriting

This webinar is designed to help companies understand the different types of state, federal and corporate social and economic small business certifications and how they are used, along with the political aspects of each.

During the webinar, we will examine:

• The differences between state, federal and corporate small business certifications

• Competitive set asides, sole source and direct award

• Using certifications when targeting solicitations vs. set-asides origination strategies utilizing certifications

• Using certifications to market to other states

• How to target fortune level corporations though subcontracting and supplier diversity

• Other types of contracting vehicles such as GSA schedules, IDIQs and BPAs

The webinar will end with audience Q&A.

Presented by Andra Hargrave | Director, Denver MBDA Business Center

Andra Hargrave is the director of the Denver MBDA Business Center. Hargrave has more than 15 years of direct national and international sales channel development in the areas of government procurement and Fortune 500 level business development. His marketing channel development experience lies in a variety of industries, including technology-oriented manufacturing, service industries and distribution. Hargrave possesses an in-depth knowledge of state and federal set-aside procurement programs, such as SDB, HUB and the 8a Business Development Program, among others. He has served as the director of certification for the RMMSDC and currently serves as the statewide veteran’s consultant for the Colorado SBDC Network. His comprehension of federally-backed procurements, grants and certification programs, such as advanced technology and SBIR/STTR, is without equal.

This webinar is designed to help minority-owned companies understand and implement strategies for marketing to federal agencies as a prime contractor. We’ll cover:

• The difference between marketing to state and federal agencies

• Understanding federal certifications and how they apply to small businesses

• Understanding the different types of federal agencies and how they purchase

• Marketing solicitation strategy vs. origination strategy

• Event marketing strategies—differences between procurement fairs, corporate roundtables, town halls and reverse trade fairs

• How to work with Small Business Liaison Officers (SBLO) and Small Business Specialists (SBS)

• Using certifications strategically to market to state and federal agencies and how to avoid the certification merry-go-round

The webinar will end with audience Q&A.

Presented by Andra Hargrave | Director, Denver MBDA Business Center

Andra Hargrave is the director of the Denver MBDA Business Center. Hargrave has more than 15 years of direct national and international sales channel development in the areas of government procurement and Fortune 500 level business development. His marketing channel development experience lies in a variety of industries, including technology-oriented manufacturing, service industries and distribution. Hargrave possesses an in-depth knowledge of state and federal set-aside procurement programs, such as SDB, HUB and the 8a Business Development Program, among others. He has served as the director of certification for the RMMSDC and currently serves as the statewide veteran’s consultant for the Colorado SBDC Network. His comprehension of federally-backed procurements, grants and certification programs, such as advanced technology and SBIR/STTR, is without equal.