Small Business Profiles

IBank’s Small Business Finance Center supports communities throughout California by providing loan guarantees, Jump Start loans, disaster relief financing and more. Small businesses provide jobs in every region of the state and are a vital contributor to the economy. Check out some of the businesses that have used SBFC programs.

Bakker Construction, Inc

Bakker Construction, Inc

Bakker Construction is jointed owned by husband and wife, Shawn and Amanda Bakker. Shawn is a fourth generation contractor and has lived in Monterey County for the past eight years. Shawn and Amanda are the visionaries of Tatum’s…

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Calexico Brewing Company

Calexico Brewing Company

After three years of perfecting their craft, the Yepez brothers, with their friend Ramiro, and guidance from their father Jose Jr., are ready to open their own brewery in Calexico. Calexico Brewing, Co will be a new and welcome landmark to the Calexico…

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AgPro

AgPro

Abraham Ramirez and AJ Cavaletto are the owners of AgPro, an organic strawberry farm in the heart of California’s Central Coast. AJ and Abraham have been friends for over 15 years, but it wasn’t until 2012 when Abraham approached AJ …

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Pescavore

Pescavore

Pescavore is the premiere Ahi Tuna jerky brand of the Healthy Oceans Seafood Company. Their exclusively sustainable, wild-caught seafood, makes for delicious snacks that are packed with lean protein. Though only established in 2016, Matt and Clarice…

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Coco Breeze

Coco Breeze

Though Coco Breeze began as a full-service catering business, their delicious Caribbean food has produced a restaurant that has become a staple of the Oakland community. Both operations are run by Annabelle Goodridge (Ann)…

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Cupcakin’ Bake Shop

Cupcakin’ Bake Shop

Cupcakin’ Bake Shop, was established in January 2010 and is a bakery specializing in artisanal cupcakes located in Berkeley, CA. Lila Owens founded the bakery and has amassed a cult following. The bakery creates cupcakes…

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Wag Hotels, Inc.

Wag Hotels, Inc.

Wag Hotels, Inc. operates a resort-style pet boarding facility dedicated to the care and well-being of dogs and cats. The accommodations re-imagine the idea of a kennel and provide a much needed upgrade.

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Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates pivoted from wholesale to retail with the first brick-and-mortar shop opening in Sacramento in 2008 followed by another in San Francisco in 2017. Ever-refining her craft, Ginger enjoys dissecting…

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Lili’s Creations

Lili’s Creations

Lili’s Creations & Bridal originally began as a flower shop and later expanded into bridal and party gowns. Today, the business focuses entirely on selling bridal gowns, prom dresses, quinceañera dresses…

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Cork Mobile Bottling

Cork Mobile Bottling

Cork Mobile Bottling is a family owned and operated mobile wine bottling truck located on the Central Coast. Cork arrives on site and bottles wine for vineyards and wineries that don’t have their own bottling equipment. Cork takes…

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Carr Winery

Carr Winery

Carr Vineyards & Winery is a small handcrafted winery located in downtown Santa Barbara. The winery’s first vintage was produced in 1999. All of the wines produced at Carr Winery are sourced from Santa Barbara County grapes…

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Captain Fatty’s Brewery, LLC

Captain Fatty’s Brewery, LLC

An award-winning brewery located in Santa Barbara, Captain Fatty’s offers more than 15 beers to enjoy on site in the tasting room, or to take home in a growler. They have food trucks and entertainment on weekends and the tap room…

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B Street Theatre

B Street Theatre

The mission of B Street Theatre is to promote education and literacy, social interaction and cultural enrichment by engaging children and adults in the highest quality theatre arts and playwriting. B Street Theatre is a…

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1 Stop Contractors

1 Stop Contractors

1 Stop Contractors is a licensed, bonded and insured general contracting business servicing Southern California that specializes in design and build projects, room additions, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, major home improvement…

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Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission

Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission

Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission is a nonprofit homeless shelter whose mission is to attract people and resources to assist in the effort of meeting the needs of every hungry and homeless man, woman and child in the greater Los Angeles area.

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William Painter Sunglasses

William Painter Sunglasses

In November of 2013, the high-end sunglass company William Painter, named after the 19th century American mechanical engineer who most notably invented the crown cork bottle cap and bottle opener, was born…

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Dave Soiland Co./NorCal Crushers

Dave Soiland Co./NorCal Crushers

Dave Soiland has been in Sonoma County since he was born in 1954. He started NorCal Crushers – a division of Dave Soiland Company – a horizontal impact recycle /crushing plant, primarily servicing family owned quarries…

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Fariba Khoie

Fariba Khoie

Bond Unit Manager

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Fariba Khoie is the Bond Program Manager at California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank). She joined IBank in 2014. Fariba is responsible for IBank conduit bonds sales, including Industrial Development Bonds, Exempt Facility Bonds, 501 (c) (3) Bonds, Public Agency Revenue Bonds, and Infrastructure State Revenue Fund Bonds. In addition, she manages continuing disclosure reports; reviews and monitors tax arbitrage reports and prepares annual surveillance reports to rating agencies.

Fariba brings vast experience to IBank from the State Treasurer’s Office where she served as a Treasury Program Manager. While there, she managed various municipal bonds sales, including Economic Recovery Bonds, General Obligation and Revenue Bonds for the Department of Veterans Affairs and Public Works Board. Fariba also managed Pooled Money Investment Account loans and Guaranteed Investment Agreements among other responsibilities. Before that, Fariba worked at the Department of Water Resources with Power Bonds and the Swap Portfolio. At the Department of Transportation she performed various accounting and fiscal duties. Fariba also has a wealth of experience in banking and financial analysis.

Fariba holds an MBA Degree in Finance from California State University Sacramento as well as a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Statistics from Shiraz University in Iran. She is a member of National Federation of Municipal Analysts.

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John Belmont

John Belmont

Public Finance Specialist

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John Belmont is a Public Finance Specialist, Bond Unit, at IBank. John joined IBank in July of 2007. John is responsible for coordinating conduit bond sales and post bond issuance compliance.

Prior to his current role, John spent several years in the financial services industry and was Assistant Vice President, Business Development, for a local community bank. John also served as a loan officer for the U.S. Small Business Administration, Disaster Assistance Program. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Hayward, and an MS Marketing degree from Golden Gate University, San Francisco.

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Steven Wright

Steven Wright

Staff Loan Officer, Loan Origination Unit

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Steven Wright is a Staff Loan Officer in the Loan Origination Unit. Steven reviews, analyzes, and processes loan requests for various state and local government entities, private enterprises, and nonprofit organizations.

Prior to his current role, Steven served as a Budget Officer with the California Department of Food and Agriculture where he oversaw several program budgets and personnel operations. Steven earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Master’s degree in Agricultural Business from Alabama A&M University.

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Lina Moeller

Lina Moeller

Loan Origination Manager

Email Lina, HERE

Lina Moeller is the Loan Origination Manager for the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) and manages the direct lending programs – the Infrastructure State Revolving Fund (ISRF) Program, and the California Lending for Energy and Environmental Needs (CLEEN) Center direct lending financing.

Lina joined IBank in January 2016, and is responsible for managing and directing all credit and loan underwriting activities for the Loan Origination Unit.  Lina conducts extensive outreach at conferences and expos, speaking and presenting on behalf of IBank at various events including California Financing Coordinating Committee (CFCC) events.

Lina has been in the lending industry for over 26 years. Lina started her career working as a credit analyst and underwriter at Community Bank, N.A before joining Bank of America where she held positions from credit analyst, portfolio manager, SBA underwriter, commercial underwriter, to approval officer. Lina also worked as an SBA underwriter at Resource Capital CDC. Prior to joining IBank she was Vice President of Lending at Vision One Credit Union for over seven years.

Lina holds a degree of Master of Business Administration from Wright State University, and a Graduate Finance Certification from Southern Methodist University.

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John Weir

John Weir

Loan Servicing Manager

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John Weir is the Loan Servicing Unit Manager for the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) and manages the servicing and compliance of outstanding direct loans and reconciliation of the loan portfolio.

John Weir joined IBank in 2015 as a Staff Loan Officer in the Bond Financing Unit and later worked in the Loan Origination Unit where he reviewed credit and project eligibility for the direct loan program.

John has been in the lending industry for over 30 years.  He started his career working as a loan officer credit and analyst at various lending institutions before joining Liberty American Mortgage where he held several positions from underwriter, senior credit officer, to V.P. of bulk loan portfolio sales for over three years.  Following years in the private sector, he joined the State of California, working at the State Treasurer’s Office working with the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee and the California Pollution Control Financing Authority.

He graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Finance from California State University, Sacramento.

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Betty Bian

Betty Bian

Loan Officer, Loan Origination Unit

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Betty Bian is a Loan Officer in the Loan Origination Unit.

Betty joined IBank’s Loan Origination Unit as an Associate Governmental Program Analyst in February 2020, where she performed analytical and consultative duties and services critical to administering the Infrastructure State Revolving Fund Program (ISRF Program) and the California Lending for Energy and Environmental Needs Center (CLEEN Center) programs.

Prior to her current role, Betty worked 25 years in the banking industry in China. She worked for 8 years with the Royal Bank of Scotland where she served as Branch Compliance Manager; 12 years at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ where she was the manager of the Planning Department. She also worked at Morgan Stanley Bank International as Head of Compliance. Betty has a master’s degree in Japanese Culture from Beijing Foreign Studies University.

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Richard Nesbitt

Richard Nesbitt

Loan Officer (Loan Origination Unit)

Email Richard, HERE

Richard Nesbitt joins the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) as a Loan Officer in the Loan Origination Unit. Richard performs credit underwriting activities for infrastructure Loan Programs at IBank within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

Prior to his current role, Richard served for over four years as a Senior Servicing Officer with California Statewide, an SBA Certified Development Corporation, where he handled Special Assets, Risk Ratings on the loan portfolio and general servicing actions on SBA 504 loans.

Richard has also served as Senior Underwriter and Credit Analyst at Accenture, Underwriter and Analyst at First Northern Bank, and over six years at California Bank and Trust as AVP / SBA Portfolio Representative.

Richard brings 20+ years of experience in lending, managing loan portfolios, maintaining federal compliance regulations, risk analysis, and financial analysis and credit underwriting.

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Stefan Spich

General Counsel

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Stefan Spich is the General Counsel for IBank. Prior to joining IBank in 2014, Stefan worked as Staff Counsel for the Drinking Water Program at the California Department of Public Health. Prior to state service he worked as a corporate and business attorney for a local Sacramento firm, and for Baker & McKenzie LLP in San Diego. Stefan earned his law degree from UC Davis King Hall, studied at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest and holds honors BA degrees in History and Politics from UC Santa Cruz.

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Robin Adams

Robin Adams

Senior Accounting Officer

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Robin Adams is the Senior Accounting Officer Specialist in the Fiscal Unit and is responsible for maintaining accounting records for the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank Fund (CIEDB Fund), the California Infrastructure Guarantee Trust Fund (Guarantee Trust Fund), the California Small Business Expansion Fund (Expansion Fund) and the California Climate Catalyst Fund.

Robin started her state career with the Department of Education as an Accountant I in the Federal and Contract Payables Unit by providing payments to all educational institutions for the Child Development programs. Robin then promoted to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control into the Revenue Unit and then internally promoted to Accounting Officer (Specialist) and was responsible for the Payables for the department, as well as back up to the Travel Desk, backup to the Revenue Unit as well as onboarding new employees and student assistants.

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Megan Hodapp

Megan Hodapp

SBFC Program Manager

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Megan Hodapp is the manager of the Small Business Finance Center (SBFC) at the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank). Prior to becoming the manager, she served as a Loan Officer in the Small Business Finance Center for 3 years where she assisted California small businesses with accessing capital. The SBFC currently administers the California Small Business Loan Guarantee Program, California Small Business Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program, Farm Loan, and Jump Start Loan Program. Megan manages IBank’s partnerships with 7 Financial Development Corporations (FDCs) located throughout the State to encourage small business lending. The programs offer repayment of guarantees on behalf of IBank to financial institutions as incentives to make loans to small businesses that experience capital access barriers. Megan has been serving small businesses in California in a variety of jobs and programs throughout her career. Prior to her career with IBank, Megan was a program analyst for the Office of the Small Business Advocate (OSBA) at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and for the California Capital Access Program (CalCAP) at the State Treasurer’s Office (STO). Megan graduated from California State University Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.

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Yana Buryak

Yana Buryak

SBFC Program Specialist

Email Yana, HERE

Yana Buryak is a Small Business Finance Center Program Specialist, where she performs results-driven and analytical work, serving the small business communities of California. She analyzes loan guarantee data to produce quantitative reports for Small Business Finance Center, performs program management and builds partnerships with Financial Development Corporations (FDCs).

Prior to her current role, Yana was a Retirement Program Specialist at CalPERS. Prior to her state service, she worked as a mathematics and statistics tutor in the math lab of Sacramento City College. She loves numbers and analytical problems.

Yana has a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Mathematics and Statistics from California State University, Sacramento.

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Anush Avetisova

Anush Avetisova

SBFC Analyst

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Anush Avetisova is a Small Business Finance Center analyst. Prior to her current role at IBank, Anush worked as a retirement specialist at CalPERS, assisting CalPERS members with Service, Disability, Industrial Disability Retirement benefits. Prior to CalPERS, Anush worked as an accounting assistant with Sterling Caviar, LLC and as an accountant/business owner of Sacramento Design Flooring Inc. Anush graduated from California State University, Sacramento with Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and MBA.

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DanAdler2

Dan Adler

Deputy Director for Climate Finance

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Dan Adler is the Deputy Director for Climate Finance at IBank.

Prior to this role, he was Vice President for Policy at the Energy Foundation, a partnership of grant makers advancing clean energy markets across the U.S. He was previously Managing Director of the California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF) and President of CalCEF Ventures, where he led the firm’s efforts to identify and catalyze transformational new investment theses across venture capital and project finance. He has served as senior analyst in the Division of Strategic Planning at the California Public Utilities Commission, where he was responsible for the design and implementation of California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard and was senior staff for climate policy, and on the boards of the American Council on Renewable Energy, the Coalition for Green Capital, and the Vote Solar Initiative.

He has a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley and an MA in Public Policy from Harvard University.

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Karen Naungayan

Karen Naungayan

Deputy Director of External Affairs

Email Karen, HERE

In July 2021, Karen Naungayan joined the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank), located within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) as Deputy Director of External Affairs. Prior to joining IBank, in 2016, Karen Naungayan was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown as the Assistant Director of External Affairs at the CA Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), where she served for five years, including two years also functioning as Acting Deputy Director of Communications under Governor Gavin Newsom.

Prior to HCD, Karen was Communications Director for ten years at Housing California, the state’s leading advocacy organization on housing and homelessness. Previous jobs include marketing programs manager at Inventures Alliance Management, where she created and oversaw marketing and communications programs for three non-profit, international high-tech consortia. and managing editor of the B2B arm of Barnes & Noble.com.

Karen is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento and holds a degree in English, with a minor in Business Administration/Marketing. Karen is a previous board member of the Sacramento Housing Alliance and is active in the community as a volunteer, with former work as a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) for foster youth, mentor at Women’s Empowerment (an organization educating and empowering women who are experiencing homelessness so they can find employment and a stable home), and member of Sacramento Junior League. Karen has also participated in fund development for various nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Sacramento Region.

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Ammer Singh

Ammer Singh

Municipal Finance Specialist

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Ammer Singh is a Municipal Finance Specialist in the Loan Servicing Unit.

Singh has been involved with financial monitoring and oversight in California of affordable housing finance programs throughout his career. Prior to his current role, Singh was with the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) where he was a Staff Services Manager I and worked in the Compliance Monitoring Unit to ensure development of low-income housing tax credit projects and compliance with federal IRS Section 42 program regulations and CTCAC program regulations. Singh was responsible for critical agency contracts that provided financial asset management of tax credit projects and the development of energy efficient tax credit projects in California. During his time with CTCAC, Singh worked with energy consultants to ensure compliance with California title 24 energy efficiency standards and the development of several netzero energy tax credit projects in California.

Prior to CTCAC, Singh was a Housing Finance Specialist in the asset management unit of the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) where he ensured financial monitoring and oversight of multiple affordable housing developments in California.

Singh graduated from California State University, Sacramento where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.

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Jim Rennie

Jim Rennie

Staff Loan Officer Specialist

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Jim Rennie is a Staff Loan Officer in the Loan Servicing Unit. He has more than 30 years in the financial services industry in both the private and public sectors. Jim earned his Bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences and Theatre at Case Western Reserve University, and Master of Business Administration at Golden Gate University.

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Ella Clinton

Ella Clinton

Staff Services Analyst

Ella Clinton is the IBank, Staff Services Analyst (SSA) for the Loan Servicing Unit. Before her promotion, Ella was the Office Technician (Typing) in the Administrative Unit. Prior to State Service, Ella ran her own small business for seven years. Ella holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics, with minors in French and International Relations) from the University of the Pacific.

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Mei Kwee

Financial Accountant II

Email Mei, HERE

Mei Kwee is a Financial Accountant II (Chief Accounting and Administrative Officer) in the Fiscal Unit.

Mei has worked for the State for almost 15 years, including 3 years in the Budget Office with the California Department of Insurance; 8 years in the Investment Accounting Unit, the Private Markets Unit, and the Treasury Management Unit with CalPERS; and 3 years in the Reconciliation and Financial Reporting Unit in the Accounting Office with Department of Motor Vehicles.

Mei has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Leicester in the U.K. She also has an MBA with two concentrations, Finance and International Business, from the University of Dayton in Ohio.

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Tina Chuong

Tina Chuong

Senior Accounting Officer, Specialist

Email Tina, HERE

Tina Chuong is the Senior Accounting Officer to the Fiscal Unit. Tina is responsible for performing complex accounting duties of the Small Business Expansion Fund, Climate Catalyst Fund, and other IBank funds as needed. She also assists in the preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

Tina has worked with IBank Fiscal Unit for the almost 2 years as the Accounting Officer. In that time, she has been a valued member of the IBank Team. She was responsible for multiple fund reconciliations and assisted with the year-end reports.

Prior to her current role, Tina was an Accounting Officer at the Department of Motor Vehicles, in the Revolving Fund Unit, where she gained experience in disbursements and travel-related reimbursements. Tina started her career as a student assistant while enrolled at California State University, Sacramento. Tina was a member of the Accounting Society at California State University, Sacramento, where she was appointed to a Secretary and a Community Service Director for the Board of Directors of Accounting Society.

Tina earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accountancy concentration, at the California State University, Sacramento.

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