05/14/2025
This event is hosted by the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (VDSBSD) and the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA) and is sponsored by Opportunity Southwest and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.
This event will bring together small business owners, entrepreneurs, resource providers, and community leaders from across the region. Our goal is to connect local businesses with the tools, partnerships, and knowledge they need to grow and thrive.
The event will consist of networking opportunities during the breakfast and registration period and upon program completion. The program itself will contain welcoming remarks from the Director of VDSBSD, Willis Morris and UVA Wise’s Chancellor, Donna Price Henry, Ph.D., and an overview of the VSBFA lending programs by Linda Tackett, VSBFA’s Regional Lending Manager.
The program itself will consist of two dynamic panels:
• The first panel is focused on access to financial capital and will include local, regional, state, and federal lending experts including:
o DASHANNA CARR, LOAN OFFICER, SOUTHERN VIRGINIA, COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COLLABORATIVE (CIC)
o JEREMY DOTSON, LENDING MANAGER, PEOPLE INC.
o BRIAN FALIN, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT SUPERVISOR, WISE COUNTY, VA; EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WISE COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (IDA)
o CINDY GREEN, RELATIONSHIP MANAGER, LOCUS
o JENNIFER HUFFMAN, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, SOLUTIONS BANKING. ATLANTIC UNION BANK
o JOE KELLY, VICE PRESIDENT, BUSINESS BANKER, FIRST CITIZENS BANK
o CARL KNOBLOCK, DISTRICT DIRECTOR, U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)
o LOIS MILLER, SMALL BUSINESS LOAN MANAGER, SOUTHEAST RURAL COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROJECT, INC. (SERCAP)
o LINDA TACKETT, REGIONAL LENDING MANAGER, VIRGINIA SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING AUTHORITY (VSBFA)
• The second panel is focused on access to technical support capital and will include:
o APRIL COLLINS, DIRECTOR, BLUE RIDGE CROSSROADS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC)
o ANGELA BARBER, BUSINESS SERVICES MANAGER/HAMPTON ROADS, EASTERN SHORE, VDSBSD
o BRIAN FALIN, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT SUPERVISOR-WISE COUNTY; EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-WISE COUNTY IDA
o CINDY FIELDS, DIRECTOR, VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
o DENISE HARMON, DIRECTOR, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
o KALEN HUNTER, SENIOR DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION
o JUSTIN LEWIS, TRAINER AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST, PEOPLE INC.
o KRISTIN ROUTT, VICE PRESIDENT, SOLUTIONS BANKING RELATIONSHIP MANAGER, ATLANTIC UNION BANK
o BLAKE SALYER, ECOSYSTEM & INNOVATION MANAGER, OPPORTUNITY SOUTHWEST
As you can see, this will be a power packed event and one that we want to make sure as many small businesses as possible have an opportunity to attend.
We’d be grateful if you could help promote the symposium to your networks, members, clients, or constituents through your:
• Email newsletters
• Social media platforms
• Upcoming events or meetings
• Website or community calendars
To make it easy, I’ve attached the promotional flyer, and the registration link is provided below:
👉 2025 SWVA Small Business Symposium Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1281099796979?aff=oddtdtcreator
