Our Team

Our Team

Our focus is to have the community see the SBDC as a one-stop shop for businesses. It's here to help you start a business, grow your business and help your business thrive. With the help of our expert team of business advisors, we can assist you with all aspects of your business. They can help you with your greatest need from accessing capital, financial management, marketing assistance, e-commerce, human resource issues, increasing sales, developing/modifying your business plan or operations and more. Their valuable guidance is provided at no cost to you, thanks to the support of the Small Business Administration, Go Biz and our generous community partners.

Maria Baptista

Capital Region SBDC Director

Maria Baptista has worked in the business sector for over 10+ years, advocating and creating programs that support small businesses, locally and statewide. She previously served as Vice President of Program Integration for the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, developing and managing the organization’s workforce and business development programming. In addition, she served as a Program Manager for the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce (SACC) where she managed alliance contracts with various local agencies and organizations as well as the SACC Small Business Programs.

In her role as Director of the Capital Region SBDC, Maria provides leadership in planning, coordinating, and overseeing the development, delivery, and reporting of all professional programs, activities, and services at the center.

Kyla Bryant

Capital Region SBDC Program Coordinator

Kyla Bryant has worked in public, private and non-profit sectors, with the goal of implementing effective organizational design. She has walked people through times of crisis and change in her previous role as Stanislaus County's Rapid Response Coordinator. In addition, during her time with Stanislaus County Department of Workforce Development, Kyla managed a manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program which included program recruitment & marketing, developing business relationships and tracking participant progress.

As the Capital Region SBDC Program Coordinator, Kyla has pioneered multiple center initiatives including revamped onboarding and operational processes, as well as representing the SBDC at various outreach events.

Madeline Barbour

Capital Region SBDC Administrative Coordinator

Madeline Barbour has built the base of her career thus far in the non-profit sector. She most recently served as a Development Coordinator for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, where she focused on fundraising strategy and event coordination for two fundraising initiatives throughout the Northern California region. In addition, she previously served as a Leadership Consultant for Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, where she mentored collegiate women throughout the U.S. on topics pertaining to values-based leadership, operational efficiency, and chapter growth strategy within the organization.

Madeline has a heart for community, and is excited to be serving the Capital Region as the SBDC Administrative Coordinator.

Pavan Sandhu

Business Advisor - Access to Capital, Financial Strategy

Having spent over 15 years in the financial services industry, helping entrepreneurs, business owners and investors source and place capital. Working with small business owners to explore the necessary working capital, new equipment or commercial real estate financing options available to them and their unique situation is what he loves doing. Pavan has been working in and around the Greater Sacramento Region and is committed to helping small business owners thrive and survive through creative financing strategies.

Dan Casas-Murray

Business Advisor - Business Planning, Customer Development, Marketing, Startups

After 11 years in the US Army, Dan co-founded a wireless Internet Service Provider, providing internet connections to around 400 people on a military base. Two years later, the company was providing communication services to multiple Department of Defense contractors and international security firms in the area. At the end of 2014, the company had grossed a little over $3 million in revenues.

In 2012, Dan returned back to the Sacramento area and him and his wife purchased a small frozen yogurt and cupcake shop in Roseville, and worked to establish a customer base there. Dan is the founder at The Lean Innovator, an organization that helps entrepreneurs locate and engage with their target markets, enabling them to build a customer base before launching a startup. As an advisor for the Capital Region SBDC, he also helps business clients to employ lean innovation methodologies in a small group or business setting.

Panda Morgan

Business Advisor - Business Planning/Expansion, Loan Packaging, Financial Management, Human Resources

Panda Morgan has established a 26 year career in banking with a wide range of skills in operations, management, training, auditing, and consumer/commercial lending. She has owned and operated a local moving and storage company (North American Van Lines) for over 10 years. In her role, she is responsible for daily operations and management within the company, such as: dispatch, accounting, payroll, HR, marketing, estimating (residential & commercial), booking, state & federal inspections, and PUC licensing. She is also the owner of Anchor Property Solutions, LLC.

Panda has been an SBDC consultant for over 20 years specializing in business plans, loan preparation, loan application, time management, operations/management, leadership skills, HR, and business expansion. All areas include one-on-one consulting and workshops. SBDC director for eight years specializing in community outreach, business and partnership development, managed budgets, wrote grants/contacts, and managed staff. For over 20 years, She has been a professor at Yuba Community College District and Sierra College teaching classes in entrepreneurship, operations/management, time management, marketing, and leadership.

Bill Teeple

Business Advisor - Government/Private Contracting, Operations and Quality

Bill has over 19 years of experience as a business consultant/counselor and course developer, over 39 years as an associate professor, over 34 years of experience in government contracting and project management,over 20 years of experience in supervision and management.

As a business consultant, he has provided the following consulting: Startup/Business operations, government contracting (federal, state, city, and county), Certifications - SBA 8a, HUBZone, Service Disabled Veteran (SDV), Women-Owned, California Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), Caltrans DBE certifications, assistance with registration in System for Award Management and developing SBA Profiles; solicitation and proposal reviews, GSA schedule solicitation, contract and project management, government marketing, quality, and strategic planning.

His education includes a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Masters of Aeronautics Science, and Acquisition Professional Development Program Level 3 (Highest) in Contracting.

Paul Bozzo, MBA

Business Advisor - Business Planning, Equity Capital, SBA Lending, Startups

Paul’s background blends over 25 years of professional experience in start-up strategy, business planning, angel/VC financing, SBA lending and crowdfunding. Paul’s specialty is working with entrepreneurial ventures to refine their business model, create an investment-driven business plan and prepare an effective funding pitch. He also advises CEOs and founding teams on these common start-up issues: legal entity selection, equity financing structures, financial forecasting and exit strategies.

M. Ester Gordillo

Business Advisor - Import/Export

Ms. Gordillo counsels, provides support and leadership in international trade to a wide array of industries from seasoned to start-up companies, and individuals. Ester assists companies through consulting, market intelligence, resources, trade missions, business matchmaking, commercial diplomacy, trade shows, and a variety of other trade promotion events.

Ms. Gordillo began her international trade consulting career at Verity Systems in El Dorado, California in the logistics department. She is currently a member of the Northern California District Export Council. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business.

Barbara Read

Business Advisor - Business Planning, Marketing, Branding, Product/Service Development

Barbara Read brings creativity, strategic insight and problem-solving abilities to help businesses identify opportunities and maximize value. Areas of expertise include product/service development, market development, branding, online and traditional promotion, pricing and corporate responsibility initiatives.

Career highlights include: Marketing management at Neutrogena Corporation, general management and marketing in Information Technology, consulting to hundreds of businesses, including 25+ years through Small Business Development Centers, and teaching Marketing and Entrepreneurship at California State University, Sacramento and Sierra College.

Dave McDougall

Business Advisor - Business Planning, Legal Structures, Financial Management

For the past 9 years, Dave has been a consultant for the greater Sacramento/Sierra Small Business Development Centers and has concentrated in the following areas: Financial Management, Business Planning, Economic Feasibility, Cash Flow, Budgeting, and Financial Statement Analysis.

Prior to that he was the CEO of a $12 million dollar, 100+ employee, multi-location service company in the Bay Area. Dave brings a strong background in both the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds having owned his own business since the mid 80’s and prior to that working with many Fortune 50 companies. He has a MBA from Rider University.

Debra DeBondt

Business Advisor - Business Planning, Bookeeping/Accounting, Quickbooks

Debra DeBondt has owned and operated four different sole proprietorships, served as Director of Marketing at the technology firm, Aristacom International, Inc., and as CEO of the Sacramento nonprofit and CDFI, Opening Doors, Inc. She has seven years of bookkeeping/accounting experience, using Quickbooks Desktop and Quickbooks Online. She also has over ten years of experience doing microenterprise training, curriculum development and technical assistance with various populations including entrepreneurs in Kenya and Botswana, Sacramento area immigrant and refugee owners of business start-ups, and youth in Del Paso Heights and Rancho Cordova.

At the SBDC, Debra focuses on assisting clients in developing business plans and in setting up and improving their business financial recordkeeping.

Darcy Baker

Business Advisor - Marketing, Branding, Business Development

Darcy is a well-rounded business and marketing professional with over 20 years’ experience in strategic marketing and campaign development, branding, business development, client experience and loyalty programs and alliance management offering a rare combination of high-level strategic insight and planning with hands-on technical expertise. She is a proven results-oriented leader with a strong background in enterprise sales, having developed collaborative alliances with sales teams to support global initiatives. She is capable of quickly assessing problematic areas within a business and creating effective change plans - blending big-picture viewpoints with technical expertise to inspire, build trust, and guide teams to reach their goals.

Dale Clack

Business Advisor - Cash Forecasting, Loan Packaging, Financial Analysis, Business Valuation, Business Purchasing/Sale

Dale Clack has over 40 years of experience in various industries including construction services, transportation, real estate, leasing, banking and food processing. His credentials include MBA and CPA. Dale has also been a real estate broker, business broker and bank loan officer.

Dale has over seven years of experience as an SBDC Advisor and has worked for four different SBDC centers. His specialties include cash forecasting, loan preparation and application, financial analysis, business valuation, and business purchase or sale. Dale developed an educational program and a process for introducing clients to lenders that resulted in his clients getting funded 75% of the time.

Don Rose

Business Advisor - Business Planning, Agribusiness, Loan Packaging, Financial Management

Don has over 35 years of experience in business financial management and banking. After spending the first five years of his career as a commercial loan officer, Don completed his MBA and progressed through a variety of finance positions, including Treasurer, Vice President-Finance, and Chief Financial Officer, in a variety of industries, including food processing, wholesale distribution, consulting, health care, biotech, farm supply, and real estate development. He has worked for companies with a variety of ownership structures, including private and publicly traded for-profits, non-profits, and cooperatives. Recently, Don has provided part-time CFO services to multiple companies, in industries such as high-tech manufacturing and consumer products distribution. Over the course of his career, Don has raised hundreds of millions of dollars of capital, while working closely with CEOs in evaluating and implementing strategic initiatives. At various times, he has also been responsible for HR and IT.

As an SBDC consultant, Don focuses on raising capital, financial planning and analysis, budgeting and forecasting, optimizing financial performance, and strategic planning for growing companies.