Programs

David Longoria

Program Officer
LISC Phoenix

David Longoria is a Program Officer for Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Phoenix and the Arizona Partnership for Healthy Communities. In this role, he is responsible for the economic development efforts of the local LISC office through building capacity for local, BIPOC, minority, and women entrepreneurs; and coordinating and managing Transit-Oriented and Community Development efforts for underserved and disadvantaged areas along key business corridors throughout Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa.

David is a lifelong, native Arizonan with a background in Grassroots Organizing and Neighborhood Revitalization; and before joining LISC served for 20 years in the public sector at the County, City, and Federal government levels throughout the State.

Ryan Winkle

Executive Director
Retail, Arts, Innovation, & Livability Community Development Corporation (RAIL CDC)

Ryan Winkle has been putting people first in community organizing and economic development work for 11 years. He currently works as the Executive Director of RAIL CDC and is responsible for growing the grassroots organization into a community asset providing services and place-based support to small businesses and neighborhoods across the valley. He moves past engagement to empowerment with an emphasis on community resilience through comprehensive Antidisplacement and wealth building in underrepresented places. Ryan is involved in many community and cultural activities, is nonprofit AF, and drags his kids with him everywhere he goes.

#DoItForTheNeighborhood

Alisa S. Joseph

Director of Programs
U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC)

Ms. Joseph has a proven record of accomplishment in leadership, strategic planning, grant writing, marketing communications and program design strategies and implementation. With over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, she brings a wealth of knowledge in financial products including those providing access to capital, supply chain management, diversity initiatives, multicultural marketing, and management. She has leveraged her expertise to help for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations achieve their goals and objectives to scale for growth, stability, and wealth, creating initiativesthat connect and leverage government contracting opportunities, certification, operations management, financing, and communications.

She currently serves as the Director of Programs for the US Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC), leading with counsel, guidance, andmanagement expertise indesigning and implementing programs for Black and minority businesses to help them scale and grow. Her work has enabled USBC to serve thousands of Black businesses with digital/virtual programs and support Black chambers in the past two years. Ms. Joseph launched specialized programs like the USBC credit card, emerging loan/grant programs and financial education programs. She manages key relationships with corporate partners like American Express, Google, Facebook, JP Morgan Chase, Truist, Wells Fargo and government agencies including the US Small Business Administration (SBA), Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Businesses (OSDBU) divisions in federal government agencies.

Ms. Joseph is a graduate of Fordham University with a B.S. degree in Psychology and received her M.S. degree in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and has served on nonprofit boards

Elmy Bermejo

Regional Administrator
U.S. Small Business Administration

As Region IX Administrator, Elmy Bermejo will oversee SBA programs, offices, and operations in the SBA’s Pacific region, serving Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, and Nevada.

Ms. Bermejo has a passion for building and strengthening relationships while assisting people and organizations attain their goals. She has been a senior government official with more than 25 years of experience at the executive level and has established a successful record of collaboration with public and private stakeholders on a range of issues including workforce development, disaster relief, and small business. Ms. Bermejo recently served as the Northern California Director for External Affairs for Governor Gavin Newsom; before that, she served as a Senior Adviser and Outreach Director for Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis of California, the first woman ever elected to this position. Ms. Bermejo also served in President Barack Obama’s administration at the U.S. Department of Labor as the Regional Representative to the Secretary and as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. She serves on the San Francisco Commission on the Environment, The Women’s Foundation of CA, and as an Advisory member of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) and the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Public Good.

Saul Ramos

District Director
U.S. Small Business Administration

Saul Ramos,  Nevada SBA District Director has held several leadership positions during his 20-year federal career. He joined SBA in 2017 and was the first to complete a Los Angeles Federal Executive Board (FEB) professional development rotation program, as an International Development Specialist. He has represented SBA in various positions, including Deputy District Director, Senior Area Manager, and oversight of Economic and Business Development team. In his role as District Director, he provides leadership and oversight of SBA’s programs and services to improve the viability of startup businesses, the growth of existing businesses, and the economic climate of Nevada.

Saul leads a passionate, talented and experience Nevada SBA team focused on putting customers – the nation’s small businesses – first. He directs the Nevada District team in implementing an efficient and effective strategy that strengthens the entrepreneurial ecosystem and helps small business owners access capital, comprehensive technical assistance, and government contracting opportunities. Saul is also responsible for SBA resource partners oversight, which include Small Business Development Centers, SCORE mentors, Women’s Business Center, and the Veterans Business Outreach Center. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked closely with the Nevada District team and partners to provide capital and technical assistance programs to the hardest-hit and underserved small businesses. This was a monumental task that helped small businesses survive and preserved the jobs and livelihoods of millions in Nevada.

Susan Au Allen

CEO
USPAACC