Growing Global: Taking your Small Business to the next level!

– RECORDING & MATERIALS AVAILIBLE HERE –

In this webinar we heard from experts on how you can take your small business to the next level by entering the global market! This webinar is focused on assisting small businesses to begin exporting to grow revenues and create jobs. This webinar was held on June 30th from 10:00 to 11:30 via Zoom.

Recording & Information: 

Joshua’s Presentation Slides

Ian’s Presentation Slides

Leslie’s Presentation Slides

More material from SBA:

SBA – Resource Partner Network (Flyer)

SBA – Fact Sheet – STEP (Flyer)

SBA – Fact Sheet – OIT International Trade (Flyer)

SBA – Fact Sheet – EWCP for Borrowers (Flyer)

Export Express Fact Sheet (2020)

Meet the Speakers!

Kelly Asbury has over 25 years in small business ownership and management experience. Her experience is in the cosmetology, construction, insurance, real estate, and restaurant industries. She currently serves as the Director for the Missouri Small Business Development Center at State Fair Community College, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management through Central Methodist University, is certified as an Executive Level Coach through Blue Mesa Group, Economic Finance Development Professional (EDFP) through the National Development Council, and Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) through NASBITE International.

Leslie Fischer, International Trade Director, Missouri Small Business Development Center, promotes export of Missouri goods and services by managing international trade education, programming, counseling and export promotion activities across the SBDC statewide network. Before joining the SBDC, Leslie worked as an international trade specialist for the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Leslie received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Kansas and her master’s degree in Global Management from the Fordham Gabelli School of Business.

Joshua Kaplan is Office Director of the U.S. Commercial Service, Kansas City Field Office.  In this capacity, Joshua leads a team of International Trade Specialists responsible for working with the business community in Eastern Kansas and Western Missouri to increase sales in markets around the world.  Joshua has spent the last 8 years working with this agency, and prior to his time in Kansas City he served 6 years in Central Virginia advising urban and rural businesses in a variety of industries on best practices for achieving international sales objectives.

Prior to his work with the U.S. Commercial Service, Joshua held a variety of positions related to international trade, including managing foreign assistance programs at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and leading trade remedy investigations at the U.S. International Trade Commission.  Joshua has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in International Trade Policy from George Washington University.  Joshua resides in Kansas City, Missouri with his wife and two children.

Ian A. Lorenzana was named SBA’s Export Finance Manager for the region encompassing Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa in November 2020. As the Export Finance Manager, he is responsible for directing the expansion and delivery of SBA’s international trade and export finance solutions throughout the territory. Ian works closely with business owners, lending partners, and resource providers to help craft effective trade finance solutions and increase U.S. exports. Ian has an extensive background in economic development, program management, and finance. He enjoys leveraging his broad experience to provide technical guidance and expertise to business owners and lending partners who depend on the SBA’s programs.

Since joining the agency in 2008, Ian has had the opportunity to work out of the Los Angeles District Office, the Utah District Office, and now, SBA’s Office of International Trade (OIT). During his pre-SBA career, Ian worked in a variety of roles, including personal banker, loan officer, licensed financial advisor, and division manager at several large national financial institutions including Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America, as well as some regional lenders in the Los Angeles area.

Ian is proud to have served his nation in the U.S. Army (1992-2004), following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He lives in Saint Louis, where he enjoys reading in the morning, rucking in the afternoon, and adventuring with his wife, daughter, and son in one of the family’s vintage Land Rovers.

Ian can be reached at ian.lorenzana@sba.gov.

Carolina Vargas is the Acting Business Opportunity Specialist for the Small Business Administration in the Kansas City District Office. She is responsible to promotes SBA programs and services through outreach and marketing; recruitment, training, education and development of small businesses interested in doing business with the government (federal, state and local level);  Small business consultation and working with SBA PCRs/CMRs to identify the needs of government organizations (federal, state and local level), OSDBU/OSBP (DOD) and primes/sub-contractors to assist them with meeting their small business goals;

Linking and matching the needs of organizations (government organizations and prime/sub-contractors) to the capabilities of small businesses through business matchmaking and other outreach and marketing initiatives; and Furthering the SBA mission and assisting with the implementation of best practices.