Fearless Fundraising for Your Small Business - Atlanta
Fearless Fundraising for Your Small Business
The Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is excited to announce the sixth live FIN FIT (Financial Fitness) event on Thursday, October 24 at 8:30am-12:30pm. We are proud to partner with the Atlanta Technical College Small Business Center for this small business event. This event is free and open to all Georgians. Free continental breakfast is included with registration.
Starting a business and making it profitable is challenging. Secretary Raffensperger is dedicated to empowering Georgians to acquire the necessary skills for success in starting their business and growing it. FinFit is the Secretary of State’s live event where panelists will discuss how to fearlessly raise capital to finance your small business. They will also discuss the details of the Invest Georgia Exemption (IGE), a powerful tool for Georgians looking to raise capital to fund their new venture or just grow their already thriving business.
The first part of the event will be a panel discussion moderated by Donna Lowry, Award Winning Journalist. Panelists will include Steven Bromell, Operations Manager, S Pro Cutters Lawnscapes, Inc.; Nickolas Downey, CEO of MerchLogix, Angel Investor; Victoria DuBose, Branch Manager, Truist Bank; and Ryan Swanson, Business Consultant, UGA SBDC. The second part of the event will be led by Jeff Patterson, Supervisory Lender Relations/Economic Development, Georgia District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration. Jeff will cover the topic “Access to Capital and The 5 C’s of Credit.”
Program Schedule
| 8:30am | Registration & continental breakfast served |
| 9:00am | Opening remarks from Daniel Brown, Director of Atlanta Technical College Small Business Center Welcome message from GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger Panel discussion & audience Q&A |
| 10:45am | Break & networking |
| 10:55am | "Access to Capital and the 5 C's of Credit" Presented by Jeff Patterson, Supervisory Lender Relations/Economic Development, Georgia District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration |
| 12:25pm | Closing statements Presented by Noula Zaharis, Assistant Commissioner of Securities, Division Director Securities & Charities Division Georgia Secretary of State |
| 12:30pm | Program concludes |
Panelists
Moderator
Donna Lowry is an award-winning journalist who combines a passion for storytelling and a desire to empower others with communication and critical thinking skills surrounding political, educational, and financial issues.
Through her firm, Donna Lowry Communications, she provides consulting, writing, and producing services for educational, media, professional, and business outlets.
Donna serves as host/producer for several programs, including Lawmakers on Georgia Public Broadcasting.
Donna is an eight-time Emmy award winner, a three-time national Gabriel Award recipient, and has garnered honors from countless organizations, including the National Association of Black Journalists, Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, Georgia Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists, Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE).
Her media peers inducted Donna into the prestigious NATAS Southeast Silver Circle to recognize her lasting contributions to the broadcast industry.
Donna has a master's in Journalism from Northwestern University and a Bachelor's in Mass Communications and Administration and Management from Chatham University.
Her professional affiliations include the Atlanta Press Club, the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Southeastern Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS SE).
In her 15th year as a Girl Scout Leader, Donna has led girls ranging in age from kindergarten through 12th grade. Her community service affiliations also include Magnolia (GA) Chapter of Links, Inc., and Nu Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Donna and her husband, Army Major (Ret) Bennet W. Reid, Jr., are the parents of three daughters.
Operations Manager of Pro Cutters Lawnscapes, Inc.
Steve Bromell is the Operations Manager of Pro Cutters Lawnscapes, Inc., a Right of Way and Commercial Mowing, Vegetation Management, Company. He oversees operations ensuring the company has continued growth that exceeds expectations with excellence. PCL clients include County Governments, Businesses, Department of Transportation’s, and Utility Companies.
Steve is a Graduate of Tuck School of Business High Performing Minority Business Program and is a graduate of the 2015 Georgia Mentor Protege’ and 2016 Georgia Power Mentoring Programs. Pro Cutters has won multiple awards, including 2015 GMSDC Supplier of the Year- 2016 NMSDC National Supplier of the Year Class II - 2017 SBA Minority Business Champion, 2018 GMSDC Supplier of the Year Class III and 2019 NMSDC Regional Supplier of the Year Class III. Representing Pro Cutters Lawnscapes, Inc. just to name a few. Steve was featured in the 2017 July/August issue of The Atlanta Tribune celebrating Minority businesses with his business partner and lovely wife Shawn. They have been married 22 years and have 3 children. Steve is a proud Alumni of Leadership Rockdale 2019 and recently Steve was honored as The Conyers-Rockdale Chamber 2022 Volunteer of the Year.
Steve served 8 years in the U.S. Army and believes his commitment to excellence, willingness to serve others, and his strong faith are the keys to his success. Furthermore, he is an author and just released his first book titled “Blood, Sweat and Grass.” www.bloodsweatandgrass.com
Engineer, Founder CEO of MerchLogix, Inc., Angel Investor
Nickolas (Nick) Downey is founder and CEO of MerchLogix, Inc., an Atlanta-based software company. Nick graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2002 with a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Nick is a former member of the Atlanta Technology Angels and sits on the Board of Directors of several Atlanta organizations. Nick has served as a coach for the Georgia Tech Business Plan competition, and the Startup and the Runway Foundation.
Assistant Vice President / Branch Leader III / Truist Bank
Victoria DuBose is an experienced and dedicated professional serving as a Branch Leader and Small Business Lender for Truist Bank. With over twenty-seven years of experience, a strong background in finance, and a passion for helping small business thrive, Victoria is committed to providing exceptional service and support to entrepreneurs in their financial endeavors.
As a Branch Leader, Victoria oversees the daily operations of the branch, ensuring smooth functioning and efficient customer service. In her role as a Small business Lender, Victoria works closely with business owners to understand their unique needs and tailor financial solutions that align with their goals. With a deep understanding of the lending landscape, Victoria helps small businesses access the capital they need to grow and succeed.
Supervisory Lender Relations/Economic Development, Georgia District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration
Jeff Patterson has been an advocate for small business his entire career which spans over 35 years. From his many years as a banking executive, to his time spent as a mentor and coach for some of Georgia’s most promising small businesses while directing Georgia State University’s SBDC, he has intuitively seen the opportunity to help those entrepreneurs grow our economy and our communities. He has served as subject matter expert on evaluating financial statements, cash flow, and international methods of payment.
A respected and credible voice in the banking and economic development industries has allowed strategic and collaborative partnerships to have been built during Jeff’s tenure as part of the U.S Small Business Administration’s Georgia District Office Management Team. Jeff has educated stakeholders, resource partners, special interest groups, community leaders and small business owners throughout the State of Georgia on how best to access SBA programming.
Jeff has his financial brokerage and insurance licenses as well as his Commercial Lending Diploma from RMA. He earned his BA, Business Management from the University of North Georgia and an MBA at Brenau University.
Business Consultant, UGA SBDC in DeKalb
Ryan Swanson comes to the UGA SBDC after 20+ years in Venture Capital and Private Equity. For the last 15 years Ryan was a Partner and COO of a family office that focused on sustainable business. He has a wide range of experience from serving as the CFO of an Icelandic geothermal power company, COO of a regenerative agriculture company in Southwest Vermont, to founder and President of a packaged food company in Georgia. Ryan started his career with Deutsche Bank where he was an analyst for an early-stage venture fund. Ryan received both a bachelor’s degree in Management and an MBA with a focus on accounting from Georgia Tech. He is also a charter holder of the Chartered Alternative Investment Association.
Ryan attended Georgia Tech where he received a BA (Management) and MBA.