Consultoría de negocios sin costo (Asistencia Técnica):

MCSC también ofrece consultas de negocios sin costo alguno. MCSC tiene un equipo de consultores que tienen una amplia experiencia en campos como marketing, desarrollo organizacional, finanzas, administración, etc. Las consultas se ofrecen como un servicio individual o como un servicio complementario a los graduados del MCSC para ayudarlos a comenzar un negocio.

Norma Dunn

Program Director, Women’s Business Center

Norma@MCSCorp.org

Born and raised in Kern County, Norma is committed to making a positive difference in her community. A business and community leader whose passion for education and business has earned her a reputation as a high-impact networker. She is a sought-after community leader as she is accomplished at planning and executing strategies that are both effective and efficient; not to mention her proven track record of assisting private, public, and nonprofit organizations with forging successful partnerships. Prior to taking the role as Program Director for the Women’s Business Center serving Kern County, Norma’s experience at Santa Barbara Business College included teaching college-level business classes, managing the business department as the Business Department Lead and she later became the Career Services Manager. She currently serves as the Workforce Development Director for the Kern County Society of Human Resource Management Board of Directors, is on the American Red Cross Board of Directors for the Kern County and Eastern Sierra Chapter and Chair of the philanthropy committee. She contributes to the Kern Initiative for Talent and Entrepreneurship Committee and serves on the Better Bakersfield & Boundless Kern steering committee, focusing on business resources for the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Kern County and works with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to educate entrepreneurs about financial fundamentals and access to capital in the Central Valley.

Irene Wilkins

Business Consultant & Founder of Irene Wilkins LLC.

Irene Wilkins is the Founder and Chief Solutionist of Irene Wilkins LLC, an all-in-one comprehensive business, tax, and career solutions company. Irene and her Solutions Team teach entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals how to understand, create, and manage a profitable business or career. Irene Wilkins LLC provides the tools to ensure brand loyalty with longevity along with tax and marketing strategies to help their clients grow their business or career the RIGHT way.

She has worked in Business Administration for 16 years and in her 14-year Entrepreneurial Journey she has helped over 600 individuals with career solutions and hundreds of clients with tax services and planning.

Her unique approach in business is teaching clients that authenticity is the new competitive edge. She teaches that staying true to who you are, what you do, and who you serve creates the greatest type of businesses and aids in truly understanding what success means to each unique entrepreneur.

Irene’s recent accolades for 2021 include: She has helped over 100 businesses across the country become legitimized and profitable. Her Live Show and videos have reached over 100,000 individuals. She has been able to dive into her Motivational Speaking ventures and has been invited to speak at various events for Domestic Violence. Irene has been featured in the Bakersfield Black Magazine, 23Abc News, The Ella Johnson Show, The Danny Morrison Radio Show, and in The National Best Seller, “The Fearless Woman’s Guide to Starting a Business.”

Irene serves on the board of Path of Learning, a non-profit organization committed to providing low-income communities access to training programs for language, literacy, and career development.

Fredi Castrejon, MBA

Bilingual Business Consultant & QuickBooks Instructor

Fredi Castrejon joined the MCSC Kern Women’s Business Center as a QuickBooks instructor and bilingual business consultant in January 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Management from the University of La Verne and a Master of Business Administration Degree in Accounting and Finance from the Florida Institute of Technology. Fredi has worked with small business startups and established business owners who need assistance in taking their business to the next level.

Business development and community service are important to Fredi, he serves as the current Treasurer of the Greater Lamont Chamber of Commerce and served as the prior Vice President of the Chamber. Currently Fredi serves on the Arvin Chamber of Commerce Board Directors. He recently completed a 4 year elected official position in 2018 as the President (Chairman) for the Bear Mt. Recreation and Parks District, and was the Vice President on the Board of Directors. He has also served on the Budget and Finance Committee, Grant Committee and the 5 Year Plan Committee. 

Fredi believes that small business development creates economic growth and sustainability which contribute to our local economy. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy in his eyes. His passion is to help mentor and coach aspiring small business owners and expand established businesses to their full potential.

Domenica Escatel

Bilingual Business Consultant

Domenica is a first-generation college graduate. Domenica graduated from Brandman University in 2013 with a Master's Degree in leadership and graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Fine Art. Domenica is the founder of Chicana Inc. Domenica's company focuses on leadership development with an emphasis on entrepreneurship. Domenica's signature workshop is on building your online presence.

In 2016, Domenica was selected for the first class of the Modesto Bee's 20 under 40 that recognized upcoming leaders in Stanislaus County.  In 2017, Domenica was selected to participate in the Hope Leadership Institute sponsored by Hispanas Organized for Political Equality.  2018, Domenica was selected as Stanislaus County Women of the year. 2018, Domenica was selected to participate in Leadership Modesto. 2019, Domenica was selected as 2019 Latina of Influence by Hispanic Lifestyle in Los Angeles. In December of 2020, Domenica will be featured in Brainz Magazine top 500 global innovators, and entrepreneurs.

Anthony Garcia

Bilingual Business Consultant

Anthony Garcia is an international best-selling author and expert in sales training and recruitment whose insights have been featured in Forbes, CNBC, Fox and CBS. Anthony doesn’t just teach peak sales performance, he lives it. As an 18-year veteran of sales.

Anthony has achieved top accolades in direct sales, business to business sales and medical sales. In his first business at the age of 22 he built a team of over 100 sales reps, and then went on to receive top accolades for his leadership in direct sales, B2B and medical sales. He currently serves on a leadership team that oversees a $500-million-dollar medical sales organization where he has also trained international sales forces and helped facilitate product launches in new markets.

As the author of the International Best-Selling book Catapulting Commissions and a keynote speaker who has shared the stage with Les Brown and Jack Canfield, Anthony’s sales strategies are used worldwide by individual sales producers and sales leadership. Anthony’s podcast, Catapulting Commissions, interviews some of the world’s top sales performers and entrepreneurs and offers listeners tactical advice to overcome the complacency that robs many sales professionals of their full potential. As a sought-after speaker and coach, Anthony is available to help sales professionals unlock their inner high performer and achieve their goals.

Larissa Mitchell-Reid

Business Consultant

Larissa Mitchell-Reid offers full-service bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, and new startup business consulting services. She works with each client individually to tailor our services to meet their needs and budget. She has a heart and a passion for small businesses and their growth. Larissa is a fully accredited tax professional you can trust! She knows that choosing a tax preparer is a very personal decision, and is made with a great deal of care and thought. With Larissa and her firm, In The Black Business Services, be assured your information will be kept confidential and that YOUR best interest will always be at the forefront.

Larissa's philosophy as a Professional and Business Owner is to provide you with close personal and professional attention. She adheres to the highest standards of her profession and will consistently provide superior service. She will seek the newest and most efficient avenues to reduce your taxes to the minimum amount allowable by the IRS. Larissa will administer specialized tax knowledge for each and every client as they are individually very important to her, and will always receive quality expertise!

Ali Morris
Business Consultant

Ali is the Co-Founder of the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce and Founder of the KCBCC Development Foundation where he served as President of both until 2013. Ali was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA., where he attended Point Park University in Downtown Pittsburgh. Ali has a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering, and a Minor in Business Administration. He spent approximately thirty years in industry working in Project Engineering and Project Management positions. 

Ali has recently completed courses in Leadership with the Rockwood Leadership Institute, Financial Management Training in Fresno, CA, Business Development and Management Training at San Diego State University and Mastering Business Growth, by Infinity Business Solutions, in Chula Vista, CA. Ali has taught evening classes at San Joaquin Valley College in Industrial Technology and several Business Plan Development classes for the Small Business Administration. Ali also has over 25 years of service in the non-profit arena, serving on several Boards and in many officer positions.  

As a consultant, Ali assist in business start-up and operations for individuals seeking all levels of technical assistance.

Anupa Naik

Business Consultant

Anupa is a veteran Learning, Training and Performance professional with a unique and atypical career background.  She has worked for more than two decades in a variety of learning strategy roles in various industries and companies. 

Originally an immigrant from India, she grew up in Chicago and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and a Master’s degree in Adult Education, both from Loyola University Chicago. She then lived in New York City for fourteen years where she worked for large global companies including Wall Street institutions and consumer products giants. She now spends her time building her business out of Bakersfield.

What makes Anupa unique is that she has worked in so many different industries and feels like she knows a little something about so many businesses. This comes in extremely handy in her consulting work, because it provides a large frame of reference for creating learning context, storytelling, and adapting strategy. She has been an internal department leader, as well as an external consultant, so she also understands both sides of doing business.

Anupa is a passionate advocate for developing employees, and women business leaders, and is committed to providing the tools and empowerment that people need to be successful.

Keith C Wolaridge

Business Consultant

Keith C Wolaridge is a retired, award-winning ex-bank executive that today manages and owns business and personal development firm. With the goal of assisting people and companies to reach their highest possible potential.

After advising hundreds of customers and lending millions of dollars to small business owners Keith now uses this experience helping others protect and realize their dreams. Founder and Owner of From Above Financial. Keith provides customized solutions that match the individual.  Throughout Keith’s professional career he has built a solid reputation as a leader in both the business and civic community.  Keith’s primary strength to connect and is passionate about instruction, inspiring, and invigorate people.  He possesses the ability to convey complex material in lay terms to build support for ideas and drive decisions among diverse groups and individuals. This is done by blending an aptitude for reasoning, analysis, along with an exceptional talent for public speaking.

Due to his passion for education, in 2010 Keith was elected to the Panama Buena Vista Union School Board where he currently serves as Board President.  Keith possesses a M.S. Degree in Leadership from Grand Canyon University, B.S Accounting from California State University Fresno.  In addition, a graduate from the prestigious University of Washington’s Pacific Coast Banking School and locally, Kern Leaders Academy.  Most recently, Keith earned his Master’s in Governance from the California School Board Association.