About

Small Business Partners (Small Business Partners For Prosperity) is a 501 C(3) non-profit organization whose vision is to safeguard the Pacific Northwest Region’s future by ensuring long-term economic prosperity for all.

Small Business Partnership for Prosperity 

• Diversity Powers Innovation
• Driving innovation through diversity
• Empowering Minority and Women Business Enterprises
• Inspiring small and minority businesses to yield high-performance results

Mission

Small Business Partners for Prosperity’s mission is to create, develop, and promote sustainable growth and prosperity for small and minority business owners and entrepreneurs within the Pacific Northwest Region.

Goal

• Develop a small and minority business eco-system with the skills and capacity to meet regional industry cluster business needs.
• Increase membership and networking opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses.
• Improve communication about industry cluster business needs and credit opportunities, and help small and minority business owners gain the skills needed to be successful
• Inform business resource providers about business opportunities and requirements
• Prepare small and minority business for responsible economic growth
• Measure small and minority business growth and performance

Success Drivers

• Develop Capacity co-ops to align with Industry clusters
• Create an environment that support diversity and inclusion
• Invite top level corporate, organization and government leadership to support
• Develop a strong collaboration and strategic alliances with economic development organizations and industry cluster corporations
• Attract top level small & minority business leadership on our board
• Ignite the desire to be part of the regional economy
• Work hard for broader inclusion in the regional economy
• Promote “personal responsibility”

Downloads

Press Release
Small Business Partners Conference Flyer
Press Small Business Ad

 

Small BusinessPartners for Prosperity Executive Board

President
Farayi I. Chiro
Founder/CEO MasikaTech, LLC
Farayi Chiro is the founder and CEO of MasikaTech, LLC a Seattle based management and technology consulting firm. Before founding MasikaTech, Farayi worked as a Management Consultant at Accenture and CGI. He also worked as Project Engineer at Areva and Getty Images.  Farayi holds a BS, Electrical Engineering from University of Washington (’95).   Major area of study:  Power Engineering and Energy Management Systems.  Beyond the professional, Farayi and his wife SJ have been married for more than 20 years. They have 2 children and a dog named Lucky. In his free time, Farayi likes snowboarding, karate training, cross country running, golfing, landscaping, listening to world music and studying world politics. http://masikatech.com 

Vice President
Kevin J. Dingle
President/Founder Sustaining Structures, LEED AP
President and Founder of Sustaining Structures, a green building consulting firm, Kevin brings over 15 years of experience in the financial industry to the AAPP board of directors.  As a New York native Kevin began his career on Wall Street at Smith Barney and JP Morgan Chase.  In addition to his background in finance Mr. Dingle has also worked in the construction industry and has experience in physics and engineering.  At Sustaining Structures Kevin has effectively melded his expertise in these varied fields to partner with building developers, owners and managers so that their structures quickly become energy efficient and even LEED certified.  When he isn’t changing the makeup of commercial buildings Kevin spends his time cooking, snowboarding, and traveling.  http://sustainingstructures.com  

Secretary
Nancy Heen
President & CEO, MPTech Consulting, LLC
http://mptechconsulting.com

Treasurer
Sharon Abdul, CPA
CEO, eCFOservices, LLC
Sharon Abdul founded eCFOservices in Seattle in 2009. eCFOservices is an accounting and finance consulting firm focused on delivering comprehensive accounting services and solutions to help clients achieve their business objectives. With over 8 years professional experience in accounting and finance, Sharon has also provided consulting services to many businesses in the middle-market. In addition, Sharon has worked on a variety of assignments as an auditor at Ernst & Young, a Big 4 accounting firm and McGladrey & Pullen, the fifth largest accounting firm. http://ecfoservices.com

Regional Program Development Director
Petra Perkins
Associate/Co-Owner of Rapport Benefits Group
With fifteen years experience in insurance and employee benefits, Petra co-founded Rapport Benefits Group with two other partners.  The firm focuses on new approaches to employee benefits and compensation design, as well as implementing and servicing traditional employee benefit plans. http://rapportbenefits.com

Perfomance and Measurement Director
Nyasha Tunduwani
CEO Siyana Business Technology Solutions
A member of the Seattle community for over 15 years, Nyasha brings extensive experience maintaining networks, websites, and databases for international companies such as Virgin Airline Vacations, Europe Express, and Air France Vacations. Since it’s founding Siyana in 2004 is the preferred IT provider Seattle Area Non-Profits and Small Businesses. http://www.siyana.com/

Communications Director
Joseph Smith
Financial Consultant, AXA Advisors, LLC
Joseph Smith is a Financial Consultant with AXA Advisors, he works with small business owners, their families and individuals to develop customized financial investment, wealth accumulation and risk management strategies.  Joseph was born and raised in Seattle, and currently reside in Shoreline, Washington with his beautiful wife Julie and sons Jackson and Maxwell.  Joseph graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Business Administration.  As an active resident of greater Puget Sound, he is involved with coaching youth basketball and is a community board member for Community Health Charities of Washington State.  In his free time, Joseph enjoys spending time with his family and participating in sports such as golf and tennis. www.josephpsmithjr.com

 

SBPP Board Members

Member
William Bradford
Business and Economic Development Endowed Professor
Positions Held At the University of Washington since 1994. Dean of the UW Business School (1994-1999). Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, University of Maryland School of Business and Management (1991-94). Chairman of the Finance Department at the University of Maryland School of Business and Management (1984-89). Assistant and Associate Professor at Stanford University http://faculty.washington.edu/bradford/

Member
Donald King
Founder and President of D.K.A
Donald King founded DKA (originally Donald King Architects) in Seattle in January of 1985. With over 36 years of professional experience, Donald has led DKA in the planning and design of over 300 successful projects focusing on community-based facilities including Health Clinics, Schools, Libraries and affordable housing. www.dkarch.com

 Member
Patrick L. Hughes  Sr.
Founder and CEO Hughes Group
Patrick L. Hughes Sr. founder on Hughes Group in Lacey Washington in September 1999.  After servicing 28 years in the US Army and retiring in 2003, he moved his office to Lakewood Washington.  Specializing in a wide range of logistics areas, warehousing, aircraft maintenance, ground maintenance, facility maintenance and hospital cleaning, postal service, IT and Strategic Personnel Placement. Company ranked #3 fastest growing minority business in Washington (2007) and top 50 largest minority owned businesses in Washington (2008-2009). http://www.hughesgroup.biz
 
Member
Nate Miles
Manager of Government Affairs Northwest Region
Currently Nate is the Corporate Director of State Government Affairs – Western United States for Eli Lilly and Company, one of the nation’s top pharmaceutical firms. In his current position with the “Fortune 500” corporate giant, Nate is responsible for oversight and management of all state government relations, public affairs and external relations activities in the nearly 20-state region. Total public sector sales in this region are nearly $500 million dollars annually. http://www.washington.edu/alumni/partnerships/omad/200910/miles.html