CSBDF Torch Newsletter

Partner and Stakeholder Newsletter | Volume 6 | June, 2025

'LIGHTING THE WAY: A CELEBRATION OF NC SMALL BUSINESSES'

On June 5, CSBDF partnered with Spectrum to host 'Lighting the Way: A Celebration of NC Small Businesses' at Union Hall in Downtown Raleigh!

The event was a celebration of our state's resolute ecosystem of entrepreneurs and small business owners. During the course of the morning we recognized successful small businesses, key stakeholders, and supportive policymakers who have improved the landscape for NC small business success, while we also heard from an esteemed panel of business owners and community partners who offered their insights on our small business community.

Read more about all our awardees and speakers below!

Lighting the Way: A Celebration of NC Small Businesses

INVESTOR SPOTLIGHT

In addition to Spectrum's investment into CSBDF, Spectrum Reach also announced Pay It Forward awards for two small businesses who were also CSBDF award recipients at the event: Children’s Garden Montessori School and Drums VS Flats. Pay It Forward awards which entail a complimentary traditional TV & streaming advertising campaign and commercial, as well as educational resources, mentorship, and connections to other entrepreneurs in their community. The event also featured a networking fair.

Check out the video below to learn more about the partnership between CSBDF and Spectrum and hear from Children's Garden Montessori School and Drums VS Flats on the value of this partnership:

STAFF MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

At CSBDF, we have a hard-working staff working to serve North Carolina's small business owners through our three-pillar approach of providing capital, technical assistance, and small business policy research. Each newsletter, we will spotlight a few of our dedicated staff members:

Cicely Childs

Accounting Manager

Magaly Rivera

Business Solutions Officer

Dwayne Bryant

Underwriter

Vanesa Garcia Nuñez

Business Solutions Officer

BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

CSBDF IN ACTION

CSBDF President & CEO Kevin Dick was recently named to Business North Carolina's 2025 Power List, highlighting North Carolina's most influential leaders! Click on the photo to the right to read the story!

Western Women's Business Center Director Zuri Anuel was recently highlighted for her work as a member of the Board of Prospera USA. Click on the photo to the right to learn more!

Our team at CSBDF is honored to have been named one of North Carolina's Best Employers of 2025 by Business North Carolina! Click on the logo to the right and scroll to page 61 to read more!

CLIENT IMPACT

Meet Kristian Sorensen, a veteran in Fayetteville creating a community space to bring people together at The Maker's Studio Fayetteville!

“Being a small business owner, it just helps to have a lot of people on your side,” says Sorensen. “CSBDF was there to hold our hand and guide us through the scary parts of starting a business.”

Read the full story here!