Lawndale Tribune AND lAwNDAle News The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 80, No. 5 - February 4, 2021 El Camino College Plays a Role in Helping Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic Los Angeles County’s drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination site at El Camino College is being expanded to include members of the public age 65 and over in addition to healthcare workers. If you are age 65 and older or a healthcare worker, you can visit VaccinateLACounty.com or call 833-540-0473 to make an appointment to receive the vaccine: http://bit.ly/3iAsRc2. Photo courtesy El Camino College. Van Buren from front page and operations of the SBDC. She also is instrumental in managing complex budgets and programs seeking state and federal grants, as well as managing, recruiting, and giving direction to ten consultants; directing the efforts of three administrative staff; actively networking with engaged public and private organizations to help grow the SBDC; develop and help implement the strategic marketing plan; as well as doing her best to ensure that the program dots all the I’s and crosses all of the T’s to ensure that the program complies with the avalanche of federal and state reporting requirements. Plus, a slew of other duties too numerous to note. If her workload with the SBDC is not sufficient to keep her workweek hopping, Van Buren is also the manager of the South Bay Maritime Center, which, pre the COVID 19 shutdown, provided safety training for merchant mariners, and oversaw training contracts for the Federal Bureau of Prisons Terminal Island and Metropolitan Detention Centers. Van Buren is a lady with a veritable workrelated smorgasbord on her work-plate. And one bets that she also may be the person responsible for firing-up the coffee maker for her employees when the SBDC opens its doors each morning, as well as changing the copier cartridge when it runs out of ink. In the current environment, one of the key services that the SBDC provides is counseling small business on not only acquiring the funds available from the federal government’s Payment Protection Program, but advising them on how to use the funding so that the business “doesn’t get into trouble,” she said, possibly placing the business in the unfortunate position of having to repay the funds. The SBDC receives its funding from multiple sources. El Camino College provides a collegeowned building on Hawthorne Blvd. for the SBDC to run their programs from. Since the shutdown took effect last Spring, “businesses are really struggling,” Van Buren said, “nearly half of the people who call are crying because their business was shut down.” The SBDC is doing its best to secure funding for the small businesses and brainstorm ways for the businesses to pivot and “keep going.” It has been a real challenge, and Van Buren says because not everyone qualifies for a government loan. She also noted how the publics’ buying pattern has changed due to the pandemic, which has forced some small businesses to attempt to shift to E-commerce, which many of her clients “know nothing about, because they never had to deal with that before.” Van Buren said that the most valuable resource offered by the SBDC is “advising. We are there to help them avoid making mistakes.” One of the businesses that have taken advantage of the SBDC’s advice is Shift Energy Holdings, Inc. CEO Rodney Alves had this to say about his company’s association with the SBDC: “We have been working with the SBDC since early 2019, and with Starleen since June of 2020,” Aceves emailed. “The SBDC team has assisted us on how to navigate the available funding sources during the pandemic and the different programs we could consider. Specifically, Starleen has been an outstanding professional supporting us, amazingly doing everything she can to help our company out. She not only embraced our case, but she also investigated options, she contacted people, she advocated on behalf of her customer, she went way beyond anything one would expect,” Alves wrote. “She is a rare born leader, and I am truly honored and proud of being supported by such a superb professional.” Herald Publications CEO Heidi Maerker is another highly satisfied SBDC customer: “Best resource ever!’ emailed Maerker. “That is how I feel about the Small Business Development Center. I have been going to them for years, and I cannot think of anyone or anything that has assisted me more.” Continued Maerker: “They have helped me with legal questions, business difficulties, and expansion questions and were instrumental in helping me through the pandemic’s challenging times. Now with the pandemic and all the limitations, I have been taking advantage of their informative and intelligent webinars. I highly recommend reaching out to them when your business reaches a challenge.” And you can add Sanjay Murty, vice-president of Murti, LLC, to the chorus of small business professionals who have benefited from their association with Van Buren and the resources available at the SBDC. “Star is an amazing and inspirational leader,” emailed Murty, “who has been with the center for a long time, guiding the small business and staff to maximize the resources available from SBA and other agencies. “Murti, LLC, was formed in April 2010 with the help of SBDC. We met Star and her team with a dream of forming a company that designs and manufactures Yoga based office furniture. Star put together a team of legal, financial, marketing, and business advisors who helped us set up the corporation and guide us through the launch. We have an ongoing relationship with the team for over 10+ years and could not have achieved this success without these resources and guidance. “Star and her team at SBDC are exactly what a small business need. From forming the company, guidance through the business plan, training in accounting /finance and marketing, her team is always available to assist the growing and struggling business. Her guidance on the challenges faced on a regular basis by business owners and directing resources to address these concerns are amazing. “Through the years, Star introduced us to banks, local, State, and Federal agencies and advisors who have guided us through the growth. Most recently, we were guided through the PPP loan and government grants to help us tide over the setbacks of the pandemic. Her keen insight into business needs and struggles makes her an invaluable asset to small businesses such as ours. Her team of advisors at SBDC are amazing! “We have weathered the current crisis in no small part due to the relentless assistance and hand-holding from SBDC team and Star on a personal level,” concluded Murty. “We are grateful for all their efforts.” The best part of her job, Van Buren said, is “knowing that I have helped somebody, and getting the word out about our program,” noting her marketing efforts to grow the SBDC. She also reiterated that the SBDC had been a success because of the incredible support offered by the administration of El Camino College. An avid reader, Van Buren said she also is an art devotee, a cooker and baker, and when possible, likes to travel, having visited Europe “extensively.” You can contact Van Buren at svanburen@ elcamino.edu or visit the SBDC’s website at southbaysbdc.org to start the process of taking advantage of the SBDC’s expertise as entrepreneurs enter the small business arena. •
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