Article Courtesy Graham Economic Partnership
SAFFORD – Twenty-four years of economic development studies mention that one way to grow employment in the Gila Valley is to help our local entrepreneurs be successful and hire more people.
Graham Economic Partnership (GEP), comprised of the Dustin Welker of Graham County, John Cassella from the City of Safford, Heath Brown from the Town of Thatcher, Vernon Batty from the Town of Pima, Sean Wenham of Freeport-McMoRan and Danny Smith have partnered with the EAC Small Business Development office and launched “Capital Raising For Your Small Business” panel lunches to help small businesses prepare to find the capital they need and direct them to places they can find the capital.
Don Laughlin and Russ Yelton of White Mountain Economic Development have been contracted to offer the program starting May 14, from 12 – 1:30 p.m., and on Tuesday, May 27, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Graham County General Services Building at 921 Thatcher Blvd., in Safford. You can call and RSVP for your spot by calling Don at 602-919-3539 or emailing dlaughlin@wmedev.org.
Lunch is free for participants.
Questions to be discussed are:
- How long does it take to prepare a company to raise capital, and why?
- How does a company know how much capital it needs to raise?
- What are the different third-party roles that can help a company in this preparation?
- What are the top two pitfalls a company can avoid, and how?
- What are some interesting stories of actual capital raises in your experience?
These lunches are meant to provide information and identify as many as six businesses that may be interested in a business incubator program over the next six months. A business incubator program involves a team of professionals coming alongside an entrepreneur to provide guidance in accounting, capital raising, finance, banking, mergers, acquisitions, and more.
Our secret agenda is to help a small business launch without being critically underfunded and help an established business scale up with more locations or services, increasing its employees from 1 to 10 or 10 to 50.
This is a FREE program brought to you by GEP, with funds provided by your United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties. One of the pillars of funding from UWGGC provides funds for economic development in Graham and Greenlee County. The people who donate to UWGGC are the real heroes in this story.
For more information, please get in touch with Don Laughlin at 602-919-3539 or dlaughlin@wmedev.org
The panelists:
Armando Carillo
In 20+ years of experience in Banking, Armando Carillo has held various positions with OneAZ CU, Chase Bank, and NBAZ in the Gila Valley. These roles include Mortgage Loan Officer, Branch Manager, and Business Relationship Manager. Since 2018, he has guided a Local First Arizona Microloan program available in Graham and Greenlee Counties. As the Business Lending Strategist at Local First, he assists businesses to become lender-ready, whether it be with a traditional bank or assistance with the programs Local First Arizona oversees, the Rooted Relative Fund, Business Builder Awards, Green Loan Fund, Graham, Greenlee, or the Cochise County Rural Micro-Loan Program.
Alex Montoy
Alex is the business banking relationship manager at OneAZ Credit Union, representing Southern Arizona, including the Tucson area. He specializes in SBA loans, commercial real estate financing, business practice finance, business loans, equipment financing, and business banking. Originally from Bisbee, he visits the Gila Valley often and knows business in Southern Arizona.
Helen Goldstein
Helen represents life sciences and other industry clients with a variety of corporate law matters, including mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance, licensing, and commercial contracting. She advises companies from their earliest stages, in which intellectual property protection and regulatory compliance are critical to success. Helen works closely with attorneys across the firm’s practices to ensure smooth transactions for her clients, bringing project management experience and a reputation for developing “out of the box” solutions to novel challenges. She is the co-leader of Procopio’s Life Sciences practice and its Technology Transactions and Licensing practice.
Jim Bates
Jim is a partner at Jackim Woods & Co. and an experienced M&A advisor specializing in lower middle market companies, providing mergers & acquisitions, business valuation, and exit planning services nationwide. With over 20 years in investment banking and middle market M&A, he has been involved in dozens of transactions and co-authored Business Valuation for Dummies (2009). Jim is also a partner in Sports Club Advisors, Inc., focusing on the sports, fitness, and leisure industry.
Don Laughlin
Donald Laughlin is the President and CEO of White Mountain Economic Development (WMED). With a wealth of experience across both for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, Donald brings a global perspective and a strong commitment to fostering economic growth and community development.
Donald holds two Master’s Degrees, reflecting his dedication to continuous learning and excellence. He earned his first Master’s Degree in Organizational Development from Azusa Pacific University, where he honed his skills in operations management, teamwork, organizational structuring, leadership, and strategic planning. His pursuit of advanced expertise led him to obtain an Executive MBA from the University of Southern California, focusing on corporate governance, leadership development, strategic financial positioning, and managing high-growth entities.
Throughout his career, Donald has successfully held various executive roles, including Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Board of Directors Member. His multifaceted experience equips him with the ability to drive WMED’s mission forward, ensuring effective enterprise governance, fostering a positive and engaging corporate culture, and securing the financial resources needed for sustained growth.
Donald’s leadership at WMED is characterized by a collaborative approach and a strategic vision, making him a vital force in promoting economic development and creating thriving communities in the southwest.
Russ Yelton
Russ Yelton is the Executive Director of White Mountain Economic Development (WMED), bringing a wealth of experience in community development and business growth. With a proven track record in supporting municipalities and scaling businesses, Russ is passionate about fostering economic prosperity in rural areas.
Russ’s extensive background in business incubation and his robust network of professional contacts enable him to guide projects to success. He excels in helping both business incubation projects and private companies secure angel investment, private equity, and venture capital, providing the critical support needed to scale and thrive.
Before joining WMED, Russ served as the Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Transplant Technologies (PTT), a pioneering regenerative medical company. At PTT, he played a pivotal role in strategic direction, shaping corporate culture, and managing overall growth. Under his leadership, PTT developed innovative allograft tissue for transplant and an advanced amnion fluid product line, establishing a strong reputation in the medical field.
Russ’s commitment to community development and his expertise in business growth make him an invaluable leader at WMED. His dedication to creating vibrant, sustainable communities drives the organization’s mission forward, making a lasting impact on the southwest region
