Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Congratulations Roland!

SBA Names Roland Chaiton
Community Capital Development, Seattle
2011 Washington State and Region 10 Financial Services Champion of the Year
Celebration honoring winners on April 21st – The Museum of Flight, Boeing Field, Seattle

SEATTLE – “If anyone can do this, you can.” These words are frequently spoken to Roland Chaiton, the U.S. Small Business Administration Region 10 (WA, OR, ID, AK) Financial Services Champion.  Roland Chaiton is a Loan Officer and Vice President of Community Capital Development (also known as CCD).  CCD is a leading technical assistance provider, U.S. Treasury Department designated Community Development Financial Institution, and a non-profit lender to microenterprises and small businesses, including start-ups, throughout Washington.   

Roland Chaiton understands entrepreneurs.  He managed a family-owned business while in college and had ownership in several small businesses during his career, including an export management business he operated for ten years.  His entrepreneurship and management experience provide an excellent platform in becoming a loan officer who helped build CCD into an alternative lending powerhouse.

“Roland is a trail blazer, one who has pioneered many “firsts.”  He was the first to move CCD beyond the realm of standard 7(a) loans d into LowDoc and SBA Express loans.  He submitted the first Patriot Express loan for approval in SBA’s Region 10,” said Nancy Porzio, SBA Seattle District Director.  He was instrumental in CCD’s expansion of their loan offerings to include USDA’s Business & Industry loans and USDA’s microloans. His successful facilitation made it possible for CCD to offer SBA Export Express loans to which contributed to the Presidential initiative designed to help companies expand exporting.  With a nearly two decade career, Chaiton is the first lender whose loan portfolio has a near-zero default ratio.

Roland has become the “go-to” person for troubled companies with difficult loan situations. Virtually all his clients were originally declined by conventional banks before connecting with him. Chaiton’s clients range from mom-and-pop shops and aerospace companies to bio-fuel producers and a “man-skirt” (kilt) manufacturer.  “No matter the situation, whether to help someone bridge a period of unemployment, change their life permanently by moving in a different career direction, or pursuing the dream of being one’s own boss, Roland’s teaching, guidance and direction has made the difference in their lives,” said Regional Administrator Calvin W. Goings.  “The business, financial skills and services that Chaiton has provided over the years through classes or by one-on-one meetings has imparted critical information entrepreneurs have needed to establish successful businesses. 

Chaiton lends his expertise to formal and informal education efforts; providing entrepreneurial training at CCD, designing award winning curricula at local colleges, and serving as a volunteer presenter of loan information at SBA loan briefings and the annual Renton Small Business Fair.  He has served as a liaison for clients to Congressional representatives, so they could testify on how they have been adversely affected by mortgage industry abuses, lack of access to credit, as well as the end of the bio-diesel tax credit.  He advocates for programs that can result in small businesses having increased access to finance options that foster economic growth and job creation.

For the life-changing positive impact on scores of small business owners and impressive results from years of contributions and advocacy efforts, we are proud to name Roland Chaiton as the SBA Region 10 Financial Services Champion. 

For information about the Washington State Awards Gala, contact carol.andersen@sba.gov



An independent panel of judges selected the winner based on several criteria, including assistance given small businesses to obtain financing, advocacy for changes in the financial services industry, encouragement of the flow of investment capital to small businesses, active support for legislative or regulatory action, and significant contributions through the advocacy efforts of the financial services industries to advance small business interests. 
Small Business Champion Award winners will be selected at the state, regional and national levels.  Information on SBA’s National Small Business Week 2011 celebrations in Washington, D.C. can be found at www.sba.gov

Friday, April 1, 2011

SBA News Release

           

SBA Names Anne-Marie Faiola
CEO, Bramble Berry, Inc., Bellingham
2011 Washington Small Business Person of the Year
Celebration honoring winners on April 21st – The Museum of Flight, Boeing Field, Seattle

SEATTLE – The U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2011 Washington State Small Business Person of the Year epitomizes the hobbyist’s dream come true.  Anne-Marie Faiola turned a soap-making hobby into a multimillion-dollar business called Bramble Berry.  From shea butter to lavender essential oil to palm oil, Bramble Berry now sells raw materials to soap and toiletry artisans worldwide.

Faiola practices what she preaches. “A good business comes from finding something that works and capitalizing on it…Success doesn’t happen overnight…It’s about replicating small victories every day.”

In 1998 when Anne-Marie Faiola was 20 years old and still in college, she pursued entrepreneurship-- her soap making hobby-turned-into-business quickly bubbled beyond her living room.  A driving force for Anne-Marie and the company is her sincere love of the craft coupled with a desire to help others.  Her mission statement is to “provide creative empowerment with LOVE – changing Lives, creating Opportunities, delivering high Value, and encouraging creative Expression through the five senses.”

With over 2500 products, Bramble Berry enables artisans to create everything from soaps to lotions to lip balms to mineral-based makeup and candles.  Expanding beyond Bramble Berry’s niche, Anne-Marie also operates Otion (lotion without the “L”) - a retail store where she also offers workshops to teach customers the soap making techniques, and ELF Industrial - a soap mold manufacturing company.

Harnessing social media has strengthened customer relationships leading to increased sales because “people buy from people they like.”  Anne-Marie blogs on her website, SoapQueen.com; has launched a YouTube channel called Soap Queen TV to share free instructional videos; tweets for @BrambleBerry with small business advice and soapy musings; and has a Facebook site with over 4,600 fans and loyal customers.

“An SBA 504 loan from People’s Bank and Northwest Business Development Association enabled Faiola to acquire her own 13,000 square foot office and warehouse building in Bellingham, and later to expand it by 3,500 square feet,” conveys Nancy Porzio, SBA Seattle District Director.  “Bramble Berry has been profitable for all 13 years of the company’s existence. The sustained financial performance is a testament to her business acumen” added Porzio.  “Dynamic, double-digit growth in sales from multiple income streams now generates annual revenue of about $3 million.  Faiola has 32 employees, serves on numerous boards, and annually gives back about 8% of profits to charitable causes.  These are key reasons why she was selected for the Washington state Small Business Person of the Year,” said SBA Regional Administrator Calvin W. Goings.

With her high-energy work style, integrity, desire to connect with the business community, and passion for the soap business, Anne-Marie Faiola is likely to clean up in the soap industry for years to come!  “We enthusiastically select her as Washington State Small Business Person of the Year.  Anne-Marie reminds us that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Washington state, and we look forward to honoring her success at the Awards Gala on April 21st,” said Porzio.

For information about the Washington State Awards Gala, contact carol.andersen@sba.gov



An independent panel of judges selected the winner based on several criteria, including staying power, business growth, increase in employees, response to adversity, innovation, leadership and contributions to the small business community, and evidence of community-oriented projects.  As the state winner, Faiola will be traveling to Washington DC in May to compete with 53 other winners from across the country for the National Small Business Person of the Year Award.  Information on SBA’s National Small Business Week 2011 celebrations in Washington, D.C. can be found at www.sba.gov