Embark on an inspiring journey with Ivo Tjan, the visionary CEO behind Commerce West Bank, as he recounts his ascent from an eager 18-year-old with banking dreams to founding his very own financial institution before his 28th birthday. Ivo's remarkable tale is a beacon for the entrepreneurial flame, illuminating how regional banks like his are crucial in offering bespoke banking services and personal attention to the backbone of America's economy—small and mid-sized businesses. In a...

When life gave the Jimenez Family a surplus of goat milk, they didn't just make cheese—they crafted an ingenious business model that's as nourishing for the skin as it is for the soul. Tune in to hear CEO Michelle Jimenez and her daughters, Maddie and Abby, recount the transformation of their family ranch into a beacon of entrepreneurial spirit. Their journey is peppered with insights on innovation, the crafting of a goat milk-based skincare line that's capturing hearts (and complexions)...

Unlock the secrets to navigating the complexities of family-owned businesses and discover how to craft a successful exit strategy with the wisdom of Marty Kaufman, founder of Accent Computer Solutions. Marty's entrepreneurial spark ignited a legacy, transitioning from the constraints of General Dynamics to cultivating a thriving business intertwined with family. Brace yourself for a journey through the trials and triumphs of integrating loved ones into the corporate world and the artful...

When Gina Oliver and Richard Hutchinson decided to blend ancestral wisdom with modern technology, they conjured more than just crops—they sowed the seeds of change. In our heartwarming conversation, these pioneers share the story of 'From the Land,' a venture transforming the face of sustainable indoor farming with the heartbeat of community at its core. We delve into their fascinating integration of adobe building techniques with cutting-edge farm automation, a fusion that earned them a...

Embarking on a transformative journey with Dr. Guadalupe Buitron, we unravel the threads of social justice and business acumen that weave together the tapestry of Financially Capable LLC. As the progeny of Mexican immigrants, Lupe's narrative is one of tenacity and cultural pride, guiding her path from a bilingual mental therapist to a beacon of financial wisdom for communities often left in the shadows. Her entrepreneurial spirit is a lighthouse for first-generation individuals and...

On this segment of "News Views & Clues ", Gene offers his opinions on the minimum wage  hike for medical workers and the best companies in the Inland Empire  as desiginated by the LA Times. Check it  out . show Link; https;bit.ly/46ezOqb Support the show

Unlock the full potential of your business's real estate strategy with insight from Jeff Sceranka CEO of Enterprise Funding. He's the guide you need through the maze of the SBA 504 loan program, revealing how a modest 10% down payment and an appealing fixed interest rate can be part of your next commercial property venture. Jeff contrasts the SBA 504 with other loans, such as the SBA 7A and conventional commercial mortgages, highlighting the unique benefits that could mean a world of...

How often do we examine the role of mental health in our professional success? Join us for a riveting discourse featuring our guest, CPA, Steve Williams, as we shed light on this less-explored avenue. With insights from a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka, we delve into embracing realistic expectations without accepting mediocrity, and cultivating a sharper, more productive mindset for business.  Transitioning to the subject of life purpose, we discuss the impact of releasing attachments, aided by...

For episode 2, Gene's shares his  views on current medical debt and  credit  reporting agencies and the disconnect on how the current state of economy from an  economist's perspective is  different from the average US adult . [email protected]  909-2300024 access all shows: www.ceo2rainmkr.com https://ceotorainmaker.buzzsprout.com apple podcasts: Ceo To  Rainmaker- Gene Valdez Support the show

Ever thought about implementing AI into your business and felt overwhelmed by the complexity of it all? Fret not, as our distinguished guest, tech expert Brian Kennedy, dispels the mystery surrounding AI and introduces us to the exciting potential of chat GPT. As the director of the entrepreneur ecosystem at Ampac Business Capital, Brian's insights are valuable for anyone eager to leverage AI in their operations. Our intriguing conversation steers you through the recent upheavals at Open AI,...

Gene candidly  reveals some  items he believes small business owners should know  about to develop a mutually  beneficial commercial banking relationship. Most of items are not always discussed  in detail by bankers  and most business owners don't know what they mean. This   include - Business checking accounts, earnings credit rates and account analysis.. Kinds & Costs of Financial reporting What Are Financial  covenants ? How to negotiate personal guarantees. Why you should refer your...

Gene introduces a new segment of his Podcast Show, called, "News, Views & Clues". These new segments will be funny, educational  and relevant and will air once a month. This first episode centers on Gene's views toward Hollywood Celebrities and their desire to manage or create their own brands. Gene cites general business strategies that Celebrities are employing whether they realize or not.  Don't miss this show !! It is short but has many gold nuggets! To contact...

Gene sits down with Karla Gonzalez, a government contracting  expert  and Assistant Director with the Small Business Development Center " ( SBDC").  The SBDC is a national program which is funded by various institutions, including  the SBA. The SBDC provides a full spectrum of consulting services at no charge to its small business owner clients.  The SBDC can advise business owners on how to obtain their share of the contracting pie.  Karla indicated that contracting opportunities could be at...

Gene sits down with Ryan Miller a  public speaker, business performance coach  and author. Ryan and his wife were survivors of the 2017  Las Vegas Mass shooting where  59 people were killed and over 500 were  injured. This event  caused him to question  his views toward work  and his business performance coaching. This introspection  led to his  theory of How To Unlock The Greatness Within  You.   The Key  principle is that we  were all created by God for a  specific plan.   must know who...

For many owners, established or startup,  their businesses are not doing as well as they like. Gene sat down with Mihai Patru to discuss tools and services that are available in California to help businesses get on the right track, stay on the right track and how to grow and expand their businesses effectively. Mihai is the Executive Director of Caravanserai Project and has worked in the California Governor's office as part of the Entrepreneurship & Economic Mobility Task...

Gene sits down with Professor Manfred Keil,  who teaches economics at Claremont Mckenna College, Claremont , California.  Dr. Keil's specialty  is economic forecasting for  the US, Southern California and the Inland Empire . During the show Dr. Keil covers a variety  of topics including  but not limited to  the price of gasoline, the 2024 presidential race,  individual commute patterns , the difference between a monetarist & keynesian  economists and the  composition of the IE's labor...

Gene sits down with Bill Donohoo who is currently a business professor who teaches at California State Universitys at San Bernardino & Long Beach . Before that he was the co-owner of the Gipson Group where he grew the company from scratch to $80 Million a year in sales,  Bill , who is 81 years old shares his thoughts with young entrepreneurs on how  on to grow a business and what lessons he teaches his students today. [email protected] text: 17149645319 -- Follow us on our other...

Gene  sits down with Dale Sarver, formerly the CEO of his own company and currently a business advisor of SCORE, ( Servce Corp of Retired Executives). SCORE is a program provided  by the SBA. Dale explains what SCORE can do for the current or prospective business owner. The beauty of the mentoring services is that all  services are free! Dale also reveals some real live success stories. [email protected] 714-376-0411 To book an appointment: inlandempirescore.org if you like the...

Gene sits down with Banker, Keith Cerwinski, Regional Vice President for American Business Bank , in Corona, CA.  Keith offers his opinion on the difficulty of getting loans approved and  also his thoughts about the future direction of interest rates, business, the federal reserve  and the economy in general. This is a must hear episode for those interested in establishing a strong commercial banking relationship to help make their business grow and be sustainable .  Don't miss this one it...

Gene sits down with Verious Smith  small business owner located  in Corona, CA.  Verious shared his  background and his entrepreneurial journey which was very painful  but through sheer will he became a success.  Verious also shares some best practices he learned along the way. He currently owns two successful businesses: Philoveracity- web design, branding, internet consulting  et. al Startempire Wire- Digital news of the Inland Empire business community  et.al. veriuos can  be reached at...

Gene provides stats on his very successful first year as a podcast host  and shares his new format for 2023 starting in January 909-2300024 [email protected]  Support the show

Gene sits down with Abe Xiong , president of National Government Contractors Assocation Abe  explains the process of how small business owners obtain contracts  also shares his entrepreneurial journey.  [email protected] 404-955-8080 Support the show

Gene sits down with Rebecca Diamond  owner of Rebecca Diamond Voice Actor Rebecca has a unique  business and and a  non  traditional  business background  (theater arts)  proving that any type of background will work if you are providing a service businesses want  and will pay for. Rebecca shares what a voice actor is , what she does for clients  and also what she has learned during her entrepreneurial journey.  Rebecca Diamond [email protected] 1970-531-9027 Support the show

Gene sits down with Patti Cotton, President of the Cotton Group , a company engaged in the area of leadership and organizational development.  Patti is an expert  in these two functional areas. During the show Patti  shares her  thoughts on how small business CEOs can reach the maximum potential of their businesses. Patti has an impressive list of former clients of all sizes  consisting of but not limited to: Harvard University, Coca Cola, Amazon, Apple, Oracle,  Google, Microsoft,  Verizon...