Small Business Breakthroughs

Join the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Columbus State Community College in partnership with the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center for a podcast-style discussion designed to dig into the topics that are impacting your business and keeping you up at night.

This edition of “Small Business Breakthroughs” will feature Jerome Jones, a Lender Relations Specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration. We will discuss the role of the SBA in small business funding and how you can use their services to make your business better.

What we will be talking about:

• What does it take for small businesses to truly succeed?
• What does the small business need to get financing?
• What do banks want to see in a business plan?
• What really is the SBA? How does it help small businesses?
• What does the SBA do for small businesses other than lending?
• How does SBA financing differ from the loans available from alternative lenders?
• and of course, we will answer your questions.

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Guest: Jerome Jones – Lender Relations Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration

Jerome is a Lender Relations Specialist with The U. S. Small Business Administration. Prior to joining the SBA Jones was a Certified Business Advisor with The Ohio Small Business Development Center at Columbus State Community College and Managing Member of The Danash Group, LLC. He has also served as VP of Lending with the Economic and Community Development Institute, the Vice President of Business Services at Telhio Credit Union where he was responsible for the business loan department, Vice President of Community Development Lending for Key Bank, and a senior loan officer for Community Capital Development Corp.

Jerome is also very active in the Central Ohio community, serving on the United Way of Central Ohio Finance Committee and the City of Columbus Loan Review Committee, as well as having served as a board member of the Columbus Urban League. Jerome is a recipient of the SBA Financial Services Champion Award, is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional, a Certified Business Advisor, and attended Jackson State University and Franklin University.

Moderator: Michael Bowers, CBA – Director, Ohio SBDC at Columbus State Community College

Michael Bowers is a Business Advisor and Director for the Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Columbus State Community College. The primary focus of the SBDC is to support prospective and existing entrepreneurs as they seek to start and grow businesses in Central Ohio.

Michael holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Finance from the University of North Alabama and a Master’s in Public Administration from The Ohio State University. Michael is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in Public Administration from Liberty University.

Michael has worked with entrepreneurs and small business owners for over 30 years, 20 of which have been in Columbus leading the SBDC. He has a diverse business skill set with experience in banking, private equity, strategic planning, leadership, and public sector management.

Michael is the lead instructor for the Basis of A Successful Enterprise (B.A.S.E) business startup training, as well as the host of the Small Business Breakthroughs YouTube series.