On August 1, Isabel Casillas Guzman, the U.S. Small Business Administrator, will visit Little Rock

Little Rock, Arkansas – August marks the start of Black Business Month, and Small Business Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman will be commencing her tour of Black-owned businesses in the state capitol.

The administration will appear throughout the day, including a fireside discussion led by U.S. Bank.

Mike Richardson, the U.S. Bank Market Leader for Arkansas and Missouri, Cassandra Kidd, the U.S. Bank Business Access Advisor in Little Rock, and Adriene Brown, the Director of SBA Arkansas, will greet her.

Lenwood Long, President of the African American Alliance of CDFI (Community Development Financial Institutions) CEOS, will be leading the brunch and learn event, which is being organized by SBA Arkansas and the Minority Business Development Agency.

Following the fireside chat, a conversation with the focus being on “Navigating the Landscape: Conversations on Capital Access and Small Business Resources” will ensue.

Panelists scheduled to participate are:

Candence Brooks – Economic Development Loan Officer, Communities Unlimited

Jay Young – Central Arkansas Regional Director and Director of Minority Business Development, Forge Fund

Chauncey Pettis – Director, Arkansas Women’s Business Center

Charles Blake – Market Executive, Southern Bancorp

LaTwan Cheathem – Vice President, Business Development Officer, Arkansas Capital Corporation

Celia Bell – District Director, OK/AR SCORE

Tania Martinez Chavez – Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center

The location of the Brunch and Learn event is Little Rock’s 120 River Market Avenue, at Rock It! Lab. The time of the event is 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.