New IVSBDC director brings new perspective on business
EL CENTRO — As the new executive director of the Imperial Valley Small Business Development Center, Meredith Garcia hopes to use her binational background to move the IVSBDC in a new direction.
Garcia, 28, started with IVSBDC in 2016 and was appointed by the Board of Imperial Regional Alliance to become IVSBDC’s executive director at the start of this month.
“As part of my plan and future as director, it’s to grow the organization,” said the new executive director. “IVSBDC is an investment for our region. We’re here to help out and create opportunities for our people.”
The IVSBDC, located at 3051 N. Imperial Ave., suite 102, is a non-profit organization supported by the United States Small Business Administration that works with local business owners and entrepreneurs in starting a new business or expanding their existing business.
Garcia goes into her new position with previous experience working with an aerospace company and a construction company in telecommunications. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s in Business Administration with expertise in finance from CETYS University, and also completed the City University of Seattle’s Double Degree program.
“My interest to pursue a bachelor’s in business started when I was very young. During high school, I took entrepreneurial classes and leadership classes. Always being part of that environment got me motivated to pursue a career in a business and want to help small business,” explained the IVSBDC director.
As Garcia was born, raised and completed her schooling in Mexicali, she brings an interesting perspective on how to help local small businesses.
“Growing in a community like Mexicali has helped me have a different perspective and vision,” the director said. “Even though we’re right next to each other, we’re a different country and have different values. It’ll always part of my heart, but now being a part of Imperial Valley, I’m very motivated helping the people here who are looking for help.”
Garica believes her binational background will play an important role when working with IVSBDC clients as a majority of Valley residents are Hispanics.
“Understanding our people, knowing our background, it’s really helpful to understand which are our needs and how we can address that,” mentioned the director. “For me, having that part and now working here in the Valley. It helps me to have both of them, and I can help more because I understand our people and I know more about it.”
Garcia’s mission as IVSBDC’s new director is to provide excellent customer service and to provide more training opportunities, specifically for social media and e-commerce, throughout the county for their clients.
“I have a different vision and I’m working to improve the SBDC. I want to promote more innovation, entrepreneurship and help people in a different way. I think we can do things better and I think we can grow differently,” expressed the new director. “I’m passionate, motivated and inspired because I believe in the community and I believe in the small business owners that we have.”