Our Team
Nate McBride
Director
The director for our SBDC. He was formerly a director of an SBDC in his native state of Utah, and started as the primary consultant for this SBDC in 1993. Nate received a bachelor's degree in marketing, and a master's degree in business with an emphasis in Finance from Utah State University. In addition to overseeing the operations of the SBDC, Nate conducts numerous seminars and workshops on financing, marketing, start-up, and small business management. He consults with clients to assess funding sources and help prepare appropriate financing proposals. He helps with cash flow management, budgeting, developing business plans, marketing and business management.
April Lopez
SBDC Specialist
April has worked with the center since February 2018. She brings a wealth of professional experience to the SBDC. She is the first point of contact when a client visits or contacts the SBDC. April takes care of training calendars and registrations, coordinating the scheduling of client appointments, and generally making sure the day-to-day operations of the SBDC run smoothly.
Les Fong
Business Advisor
He is President of Les Fong & Associates. Since 1981, Les has been an advertising and marketing instructor at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton. Les helps SBDC clients evaluate and develop advertising campaigns, product/corporate positioning and sales promotions to maximize return on investment. He also provides input in creative development for print advertising, radio/television production, photography, email and web page design.
Stephen Keyzers
Business Advisor
Steve is a senior human resource consultant who works with business leaders to refine their HR strategy, and grow their business by increasing productivity and efficiency, while containing labor costs and reducing liability.
Steve is the President of Key HR a human resource consulting company that works with clients across California and several other States. Steve also serves as the Vice President of HR Services for Precision Manufacturing Insurance Services.
Steve earned a B.A. in Business Administration from California State University at Fullerton before receiving an M.S. in Human Resources Management from Chapman University in Orange, California. He holds Senior Professional Human Resources Designations (SPHR and SHRM-SCP).
Laura Stromborn
Business Advisor
Laura Stromborn worked in several family operated businesses as a bookkeeper and controller before starting her own company, All About Numbers, in 1995. She has grown the company to nine employees. She was awarded the Stockton Business Person of the Year in 2004, and was honored again in 2007 when she was named the SBA Champion of Women in Business. Laura became the California Chapter President of the National Association of Tax Practitioners. Laura graduated from UC Davis with a BS Degree in Animal Science, and later completed an Executive Masters in Business Administration from Golden Gate University. She became an Enrolled Agent in 2000, allowing her to represent clients in audits, appeals and collections with the Internal Revenue Service. Laura can assist SBDC clients with bookkeeping set up and use, tax issues and financial management.
Trudy Lackey
Business Advisor
Trudy covers both Claveras and Amador Counties and truly enjoys bringing her varied experience to each client that she works with to help them succeed in their goals. Trudy has lived in Calaveras County since 1992 after having lived in a variety of areas from New York to Alaska. She has owned several businesses - after commercially fishing in Alaska, she opened a seafood distributorship and seafood retail store in San Francisco. She has also owned a retail lotion and soap shop in Kona, Hawaii. She now currently owns a lease-financing business. When not running businesses, she has been involved in education. Her experience includes teaching, substitute teaching, running a large state educational grant, and being voted on to the local school board four times, serving for 13 years. She has also served as an executive director for two different local non-profits.
Tim Douglas
Business Advisor
Tim Douglas has over thirty years’ experience working as a cost accountant and CFO in Government, Non-profit, Billion Dollar Corporations and a Family business here in the Central Valley. He has a Masters of Organizational Development and Business Administration. Tim is a Certified Management Accountant and an Enrolled Agent with the IRS.
For the last four years, Tim has been retired and now works as a consultant with Small Business Development Centers in the Central Valley. He has assisted small businesses in several areas, 1. Obtaining micro and 504 loans, 2. Addressing operation and tax issues, and 3. Developing startup strategies.
