You're Invited! Empowering Small Businesses for Financial Readiness - FREE Session

This engaging session brings together a powerhouse panel of North Carolina's top industry experts who understand the unique challenges and opportunities facing small businesses today.

AGENDA:

9:00-9:30 am - Arrivals, Check-in, Coffee

9:30-9:40 am - Call to Order and Opening Remarks by Dr. Vern Lindquist, President of Johnston Community College

9:40-10:15 am - Welcome remarks by the North Carolina Secretary of State, Elaine F. Marshall

Inspiration for Rural RISE NC and its relevance across the state. Where have we been, where are we going.

10:10-10:20 am - Moderator to introduce the Panelists

10:20-11:20 am – Fire Side Chat with Panelists. Moderated Open Discussion and Q&A with live audience participation.

11:20-11:30 am – Final Remarks

11:30 am – Adjourn

11:30-12:00 pm - Networking

PANELISTS:

Magaly Rivera

Director, Business Solutions

CAROLINA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FUND

Magaly Rivera is Director of Business Solutions at Carolina Small Business Development Fund, where she leads the team of Business Solutions Officers who connect North Carolina entrepreneurs with capital, coaching, and technical assistance. She was promoted to the role after four years as a Business Solutions Officer serving Johnston County and the Cape Fear coastal region.

As a Business Solutions Officer, Magaly managed a loan portfolio that consistently met and exceeded production goals, guiding small business owners through the lending process and providing the technical assistance that helped them launch and grow. She built a strong referral network across Small Business Centers, SBTDC, SCORE, banking partners, CPA firms, and chambers of commerce, connecting entrepreneurs with capital they could not access through traditional channels. A sought-after workshop presenter, panelist, and webinar host, including at the NC Secretary of State’s NC Rural Rise Tour events, she has helped entrepreneurs across North Carolina strengthen their loan readiness and cash flow management.

Prior to joining CSBDF and based in New York, Magaly built a 30-year career as an executive management leader in broadcast media and nonprofit organizations, with roles at HITN a national Public Service Network, Grupo Televisa, BBC, Latino Public Radio Consortium, and Vme Media. At HITN, she led the development and community relations team in winning the coveted $30 million U.S. Department of Education Ready To Learn grant, the largest in the network’s history, making HITN the first network outside of PBS and CPB to receive the award. Through Mag Advisors, she provided strategic planning and business development to corporations, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses, raising more than $35 million for her clients. She began her career at WCBS-TV.

Suzanne Ross

Business North Central Regional Director, NC Small Business Center Network

Director, Small Business Center - Johnston Community College

With over two decades of leadership in North Carolina’s community college system, Suzanne Ross brings a unique blend of experience, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit to everything she does. She currently serves as the Director of the Small Business Center at Johnston Community College and as the North Central Regional Director for the Small Business Center Network of NC—a role that connects her with entrepreneurs and business leaders across the state. During her time at JCC, she has secured over $45,000 in private grant funds to support entrepreneurial programs and micro-pitch competitions for local entrepreneurs. 

Over the past 23+ years, Suzanne has worn many hats across the college system: from Director of Continuing Education to English and Communications faculty member, and she is an active adjunct instructor alongside her director role. Before joining the college world, Suzanne built a diverse career that included owning a consulting and training business, managing and editing a weekly newspaper in Research Triangle Park, and leading marketing and communications for an engineering and architectural firm.

Driven by a deep love for training, coaching, and helping others succeed, Suzanne supports aspiring and current business owners in launching, growing, and leading with confidence. Her toolkit includes certifications as an Executive Coach, Master REAL Facilitator (Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning), Pitch-It Facilitator, and Entrepreneurial Mindset (Ice House) Facilitator. 

Suzanne holds a B.S. in Business Administration/Marketing from Bloomsburg University, an M.S. in Technical Communication with a minor in Training and Development from NC State, and a graduate certificate in Strategic Communication from Appalachian State University.

Kevin J. Price

President & CEO

NIMED, INSTITUTE CAPITAL and INSTITUTE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

Kevin has over 30 years of corporate, banking and community economic development experience. He is the third President and CEO in the Institute’s 40-year history, which is a community economic development firm, leading voice and constant advocate for public policies and business practices. In 2020, Price led the merger and rebranding with the NC Community Development Initiative, now Institute Capital (a CDFI). In 2024, Price launched a second subsidiary, Institute Community Development Initiative (ICDI). ICDI is a CDC and supports CDCs as an intermediary. The three organizations are headquartered in Durham, NC on Parrish Street. Prior to joining The Institute, Price was a leader in supply chain at Novant Health for 14 years. While there, he grew small business spend by more than 500% resulting in over $1 billion in spend, collaborated with the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and launched a $5 million loan guarantee program for small business suppliers. Prior to Novant Health, Price led CRA and Community Development for SouthTrust Bank and built Low Income Housing Tax Credit and Bond projects for Regency Development. As a banker, Price funded CDFIs, sat on various non-profit boards and founded several CDCs from Maryland to Florida. His community economic development experience started at Project Homestead, accomplishing the following: o Developed approximately $42 million dollars worth of community development projects ▪ Single family, multi-family, retail, commercial, mixed-use in multiple NC cities o Grew the company revenues from $250,000 to over $1 million in four years o Became known as one of the most successful CDCs in the state of North Carolina His civic engagements include: • National Board Member – Institute for Emerging Issues • Board Chair – Downtown Durham, Inc • Previous Governor Hunt Appointee – NC Small Business Council Price is a US Army veteran. After completing military service, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science/Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He also completed his Masters in Health Administration and Masters in Business Administration, both from Pfeiffer University. 

Aregnaz Mooradian

Management and Program Analyst, North Carolina District Office, Office of Field Operations

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Since September 2021, Aregnaz “Ari” Mooradian, has been serving as Deputy District Director with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) North Carolina District Office in Charlotte. In this capacity, Aregnaz works for small businesses through expansion of SBA’s programs and services. Prior to this role, she was Lead Business Opportunity Specialist with SBA and worked to support all small businesses in navigating the federal procurement space. She currently holds a Federal Acquisition Contracting Certification (FAC-C).

Before joining SBA, Aregnaz worked with the Unites States Peace Corps in Uganda, East Africa, where she provided operational support to a local microlender. She started her career in California, serving as Manager of Volunteers for a Los Angeles based organization providing academically focused after-school programs. Aregnaz holds a graduate and undergraduate degree from the California State University, Long Beach.

William M. Simons

Regional Program Manager

NORTH CAROLINA MILITARY BUSINESS CENTR

William M. Simons enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1980 and retired from active duty in March

2005. While on active duty, Major Simons served as a Weapons Repair Officer and Ordnance Officer,

commanding both as a Platoon Commander and Company Commander. As an enlisted Marine, he also

served as a Marine Corps Drill Instruction and Leadership Instructor for the Marine Corps’ Non-

Commissioned Officer Academy. Major Simons’ tours of duty throughout his 25-year military career

included 1 st and 2 nd Marine Divisions, 2nd and 3rd Force Service Support Group, Marine Corps Recruit Depot

Parris Island SC, Marine Barracks Guantanamo Bay Cuba, The School of Infantry, Marine Corps Logistics

Base Albany Ga. and Marine Corps Base Quantico Va.

Upon his retirement from active duty, Mr. Simons entered civilian federal service in December 2004, and was the Head (GS-15) of the Capabilities Based Assessment Branch, Marine Corps Integration Division, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico Va. Mr. Simons led the effort that identifies and develops future Marine Corps capabilities within the Joint Capabilities Integration Development System (JCIDS) and the Planning, Programming, Budget, and Execution (PPBE) process. Mr. Simons retired from federal service in November 2019 and began working as the Regional Program Manager at Wayne

Community College for the North Carolina Military Business Center on 6 January 2020. In his free time, Mr. Simons enjoys golfing, traveling, and spending time with his family. Mr. Simons’ formal education includes:

∙ Webster University (MS, Procurement and Acquisition)

∙ Averett University (MBA)

∙ Florida Institute of Technology (MA, Management)

∙ Campbell University (BS, Psychology)

SIGNIFICANT TRAINING/CERTIFICATION:

∙ Lean Six Sigma (Certified Black Belt)

∙ Defense Acquisition University (Level 2 in Program Management, Level 1 in Logistics)