Shannon Dalton

Shannon Dalton received her B.S. and B.A at the Pennsylvania State University before receiving her MBA from the George Washington School of Business. She has worked in the non-profit sector raising funds for HIV/AIDS organizations and supporting community health centers. Shannon also had her own insurance company and worked as a licensed health and life insurance agent for Aflac helping clients to make the best decisions to protect their incomes and families. Shannon took time away from the workforce in 2010 to focus on her two children. She became a licensed professional fiduciary in 2020 after being introduced to the profession in 2017 when her grandfather passed away, leaving her beloved grandmother with dementia and in dire need of support. Having firsthand experience as a Trustee and Conservator for her own family has given Shannon a unique perspective on the nuances and complexities of serving as a trusted fiduciary. She serves on the Board of SABER (Santa Barbara Executive Roundtable) and is an associate member of the Santa Barbara Estate Planning Council.

On a personal level, Shannon loves to travel and has lived all over the United States, including in Alaska. She spends her free time with her children and partner, and loves to read, cook and hike.

Eldon R. Edwards

Eldon R. Edwards is the foremost expert in the area of business opportunities in the Santa Barbara-Ventura County area. Eldon specializes in business acquisitions and divestitures, business valuations and appraisals and related fields.

He has been a specialist in the area of small business sales for the past thirty years and has sold over $200,000,000 in business transactions during that time. He has qualified to be a member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Clubs for the past thirty years. His formal education includes degrees from Bowling Green State University and Pennsylvania State University. He also has had specialized training in business appraisals, business law, and business sales. He has appeared in court as an expert witness in the appraisal of businesses.

He is a member of the International Business Brokers Association, The California Association of Business Brokers, the National Association of Realtors, the California Association of Realtors, SCORE, Southern California Business Brokers Network and Toastmasters International. He has qualified to become a Certified Business Intermediary as set forth by the International Business Brokers Association and also a Certified Business Opportunity Appraiser. He was the chairman of a small retail business in Santa Barbara. Eldon is also a Fellow of the International l Business Brokers Association. He has achieved the DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster) designation in Toastmasters International. In 2007, Eldon achieved Certified Business Broker status in the California Association of Business Brokers.

In March 1994 he was recognized by the Santa Barbara Board of Realtors for Outstanding Achievement in Business Opportunities in the Santa Barbara area.

In 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 he was voted the BEST BUSINESS BROKER OF THE YEAR by the readership poll of the Business Digest of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Eldon has served on many advisory boards including Microsoft, ISIM, The Innovation Resource, The International Business Brokers Association, Business Opportunity Council of California, Computer Plaza, and South Coast Business Network.

Annika Jensen

Annika Jensen, CPA is a Tax Manager at Palius, O’Kelley & Janzen CPAs, Inc. POJ is a business-focused boutique accounting firm which partners with their clients to grow and run more profitable businesses both within the community and around the globe. The firm provides peace of mind to local business owners by handling their tax compliance needs in addition to providing expertise in areas of strategic growth, tax planning and financial reporting for closely-held entities. Annika has provided clients with tax and consulting services in numerous industries including restaurant, fishing and agriculture, viticulture and manufacturing. Her love for numbers continues to allow her to pursue her true passion of working with owners of local businesses to help them achieve personal, professional and financial success.

Annette Jorgensen

Annette Jorgensen of American Riviera Bank. Annette has 25 years in SBA Lending. She specializes in SBA loans to help people fulfill their dreams of starting, buying or owning a business, as well as financing owner/user commercial real estate. Annette graduated from UCSB with a degree in business economics and has lived in the Santa Barbara/Goleta area for 35 years. Annette enjoys giving back to her community and often speaks at Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) and City College Entrepreneurial classes.You can contact Annette at (805) 979-3846.

Gary Kravetz

Gary Kravetz was raised in Minnesota. Gary moved to Los Angeles in 1961 where he completed his BS & MS in engineering at UCLA.

Starting in 1965 he worked at Hughes Aircraft for 15 years as a manager of spacecraft electronics design. He then started FST, his own engineering company in Los Angeles. At FST he was the Executive VP of technology, operations & marketing. FST had contracts with many of the major aerospace companies & several industrial firms. In 1993 Gary moved to Santa Barbara and purchased NCC Executive search and Santa Barbara Staffing; a recruiting company with offices in Santa Barbara and Ventura recruiting all levels of professionals. He was CEO for 15 yeas and sold his company in 2006.

Since 2007 he has been mentoring many small businesses in Santa Barbara. He has assisted over 300 local businesses. He is on the board of several local small businesses. Gary is The chairman of SB SCORE, on the board of SABER, the co-president of the SB Science and Engineering Council and a director of the Central Coast Tech Coast Angels. He has also served on the board of MIT Enterprise Forum, Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, SB City College Business & Industry group, SB County -Work Investment board and the SB County Economic Development committee.

Trish Miller

Trish Miller, President, Spherion Staffing Services, has 25 years of experience in Human Resources and is the local owner of Spherion Santa Barbara. Our mission is to give our clients and candidates the best service possible.As a local business that is part of the Goleta community, Spherion understands the unique needs of a small business, and we’ll go the extra mile to meet your goals. You gain the knowledge and resources of an industry leader, combined with the personalized support of a local staffing expert. And with Spherion, you get the added benefit of being aligned with an organization with a nationwide network of resources.

Brett Weichbrod

Brett Weichbrod is a Partner and Wealth Manager at AmeriFlex Financial Services.  He is a graduate of the University of San Diego and earned his master’s in business, with a finance focus, from Pepperdine University. His experience includes over 6 years working for Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO), where he worked with institutional investors building fixed income portfolios and strategies. However, he began his career in Newport Beach at Canterbury Consulting, where he built an expertise in analyzing and providing recommendations within small corporate retirement plans and nonprofits.

Since 2014, Brett has enjoyed working as a wealth manager in the Santa Barbara area. During this time, he has developed a passion for educating and working with individuals and nonprofit organizations alike.  He holds a Series 7, 65, 63, and insurance license.

Steven M. Woodward

Steve Woodward is Senior Vice President for Hub International Insurance and anchors his division in assisting companies with Employee Benefit offerings. Steve earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Agribusiness Management at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. With a combined industry experience of over 30 years, Steve and his team employ strategic solutions that allow clients to remain competitive, while retaining quality employees. By doing this he helps the client with cost conscious solutions and ease of Benefits Administration.

When not busy with his work and family commitments, Steve can be found on horseback exploring the trails of Santa Barbara, looking for errant shots on some of Santa Barbara’s finest golf courses, or helping out with youth sport activities.

R.W. “Hap” Ziegler

R. W. “Hap” Ziegler is COO for Mesa Consulting LLC and works with small to medium-size businesses and closely held companies, professional service organizations, and not-for-profit entities in developing strategic visions; business, sales, and marketing plans; compensation alternatives; technology answers and implementations; organizational development (firm culture); and succession and transition plans. Services include leadership development, organizational effectiveness, team building, operations, and processes evaluation, sales and business development, and goal focusing.  The clients have ranged from London to Saipan in geography, thousands of employees to just a few in employee size, and revenues from tens of thousands to hundreds of millions. The projects range from complex systems definitions and installations to C-level strategies and planning.