Monthly Archives: June 2023

California Capital In The News

Wells Fargo Announces Sponsorship of Financial Management Training Program Through NorCal SBDCs

SACRAMENTO, California | This week, Wells Fargo announced their sponsorship of a Financial Management Training Program for small business owners in Northern California, to be administered by Sacramento Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Butte College Small Business Development Center (SBDC). California Capital FDC is the host organization of Sacramento Valley SBDC. With the combined sponsorship of $30,000, the centers will host eight cohorts of the training series (four per center) from June 2023 to May 2024. The series will be offered at no charge to businesses throughout the eight counties that the two centers serve: Sacramento, Yolo, Sutter, Yuba, Butte, Tehama, Colusa, and Glenn Counties. Each cohort will receive about eight hours of training. The series will be offered in-person and online.

“The U.S. economy is powered by small businesses and Wells Fargo is committed to helping them succeed financially and strengthening the small business sector for the long term,” said Kevin Barri, Wells Fargo Region Bank President, Northern Golden State Region. “Wells Fargo’s goal is to support programs that empower as many small businesses as possible, with a strong emphasis on supporting the needs faced by diverse small business owners.”

A total of 160 small and micro-enterprise businesses are anticipated to take advantage of the program, which will cover important topics such as understanding financial statements; ratio and trend analysis; using financial tools to make good business decisions; and forecasting and budgeting as tools to improve profits. Participants will also benefit from one-on-one free advising from their respective SBDC.

For business owners with expertise in their industries, but who might be less familiar with the technical side of running a profitable business, opportunities to learn financial management strategies are crucial. With the support of Wells Fargo, the Financial Management Training Program will prepare small business owners for success and growth.

Left to Right, the photo features: 
Brian Murphy, VP & Business Growth Consultant, Pacific Region, Wells Fargo
Kären Woodruff, Senior Vice President of Philanthropy and Community Impact, Wells Fargo 
Kevin Barri, Regional Bank President, Northern Golden State Region, Wells Fargo
Sophie Konuwa, Director, Butte College SBDC 
SiewYee Lee-Alix, Director, Sacramento Valley SBDC 
Stephanie Chand, VP & Senior Business Banking Development Officer, Sacramento Commercial Banking, Wells Fargo
 
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Blog, Uncategorized

Remembering Clarence Williams, California Capital FDC’s Founding President & CEO

It is with heavy hearts that the California Capital FDC staff remembers the legacy of our founding President and CEO, Mr. Clarence Williams. Clarence passed away on May 8, 2023. Clarence was the President and CEO of California Capital FDC from 1982 until his retirement in 2019, and continued to serve as Board Chair until his passing.  

Over the course of over five decades, Clarence dedicated his career to promoting racial and economic equity and justice. A trailblazer in the field of small business, community and economic development, Clarence was a recognized authority on advancing access to capital and resources for small business owners from historically  underserved communities. During his tenure, California Capital grew from a non-profit corporation dedicated to administering the California Small Business Loan Guarantee Program to a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with three vibrant technical assistance programs and a mission-based direct lending program. In addition to creating equitable underwriting practices during his time with California Capital, Clarence was also a founding Board member of the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce, a longtime board member of the California Reinvestment Coalition, Sacramento Region Community Foundation, and the National Community Capital Association (now Opportunity Finance Network).

A dedicated and humble steward of California’s small business ecosystem, Clarence will also be

remembered as an inspiring and spirited leader. Throughout his career, Clarence was a trusted speaker at community events and a natural matchmaker, often fostering connections between stakeholders in civil society, elected offices, and the private sector. Indeed, Clarence was a generational visionary whose living legacy persists not only in fond remembrances, but in the work that continues to be undertaken by the organizations he built and the individuals he mentored.  

 

To be sure, Clarence will always be thought of as a dear friend and mentor to multiple generations of changemakers. In addition to his busy professional life, Clarence was also an active member of the Allen Chapel AME Church for over 50 years. Clarence will be missed by his community members and family in Sacramento, and his family in his home state of Ohio.  

Every day, California Capital FDC staff seeks to honor Clarence’s vision through our work of supporting small business owners and championing increased opportunity for underserved populations. We are grateful to have been led for so many years by such a gracious and innovative soul.  

In Clarence’s memory, donations can be made to Allen Chapel AME Church, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation or California Capital FDC-Clarence Williams Community Benefit Legacy Fund. 

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