#LeadTheChange Black-Owned Business Roundtable – Western Mass

Join us for one of our Minority-Owned Business Roundtable Series geared towards Meaningful Access & Upward Mobility for All. This is an opportunity to meet with business leaders and community at large in an environment that fosters learning, networking and information exchange related to your business growth and workforce development.

About the Series

In the U.S., minority business enterprises (MBEs) contribute substantially to the economy. Minority firms are growing at a faster rate than non-minority firms and the minority-owned business sector plays a critical role in reducing the unemployment rate nationally. Language and cultural barriers, technology gaps, and the lack of existing credit lines make it challenging for minority entrepreneurs to get the help and funds they need to keep their doors open and staff on payroll– and the situation is only getting worse.

Job creation, innovation, economic parity, and productivity in the country will suffer as a result of the loss of MBEs. As a result, Commonwealth Corporation and our local partners are dedicated to aggressively address the constraints in place to ensure the short-term survival and long-term success of MBEs.

We will be hosting a dynamic speaker followed by an interactive roundtable, where we will be discussing how to create meaningful access for minorities to state funding, what barriers are in place and which programs are available to overcome these barriers and promote impact and success.

This event will also have a component of networking and referrals with local partners that cater to Minority-Owned Businesses. There is no cost to attend this event.

Learn more about this initiative and other local events geared towards Minority-Owned Businesses here →

Meet the Speakers

Ron Molina-Brantley

VP, Relationship Manager, Team Leader Berkshire Bank Reevx

Ron Molina-Brantley is the Vice President, Relationship Manager, and Team Leader for Berkshire Bank / Reevx Lab. Ron’s professional career spans nearly 20 years, having started his career working within the Finance Department for the City of Springfield. He joined Valley Venture Mentors in 2016 as Vice President of Operations before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2017. As COO of Valley Venture Mentors, Ron was instrumental in reshaping the organization and helping Western Mass entrepreneurs and small business reach their fullest potential.

At Reevx Labs, Ron works with individuals, small businesses, and entrepreneurs, particularly underrepresented populations, to achieve financial and life goals. Ultimately, Reevx seeks to bank the underbanked with dignity and change the narrative that has contributed to the wealth divide. Reevx works with members of the communities it serves to build businesses, generate wealth, and prosper.

Ron is a 2004 and 2007 graduate of American International College, earning his BA and MBA. In 2020 Ron was awarded BusinessWest 40 under 40 award.

Richard Griffin

VP of Community Investment, Mass Development

Richard joined MassDevelopment in 2017 as the Vice President of Community Investment. Richard works with governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and private developers to promote and advance the programs and services offered by the Agency specializing in brownfields site assessment/remediation and collaborative workspace grants.

Prior to joining MassDevelopment, Richard served as the Senior Project Manager and Brownfields Coordinator for the City of Springfield where he managed economic development and workforce development projects , developed management plans including current and critical path schedules for public improvement and private revitalization projects, and managed the efficient cleanup and reuse of contaminated land within the guidelines of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency as a means to generate economic growth, strengthening communities and enabling sustainable land use and development. Richard has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Tuskegee University in Alabama.

David Maynard

Assistant Vice President – Workout Officer at Santander Bank

Since 2017, David has served as Assistant Vice President-Workout Officer Upper Business Banking at Santander Bank, N.A., managing accounts that have adverse risk ratings, stabilizing over 50 million dollars in outstanding loan balances.

Prior to that, David worked in Credit at both Santander and TDBank, analyzing a diverse portfolio of loans and acquiring significant experience in financial restructuring, Asset Based Lending, Commercial Lending, Non-profit Lending and Hypothecation loans. He received his Bachelor of Science at Bentley University in 2003.

David currently serves as Board Chairman of the Association of Black Business & Professionals, Board Member of the Library Foundation and Library Commissioner for the City of Springfield. A lifelong resident of Springfield, David is committed to bringing his expertise in real estate finance to serve the community with quality, affordable housing.

Meet our Partners

Western Mass Economic Development Council

The Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts (EDC) is a private, not-for-profit corporation that provides resources and information to businesses operating in or entering the region by aiding in expansion, relocation and networking.

Its mission is to deliver the services and business resources that will enable companies to thrive in Western Massachusetts while improving the region’s economy and lifestyle through the creation of quality jobs and enhanced public and private investment. They acomplish this through their own work and the collective efforts of nine affiliated partner organizations: the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, Springfield Regional Chamber, Amherst Business Improvement District, Springfield Business Improvement District, Westmass Area Development Corporation, Westover Metropolitan Airport, Valley Venture Mentor, ERC5 and SpringfieldWorks.

Learn More →

Black & Brown Wall Street

Black and Brown Wall Street is a community organization focused on the financial liberation and business development of the Black and Brown community of Springfield. 

Reevx Labs

Reevx LabsTM is Berkshire Bank’s newest investment in local communities and the people who live and work in them. Created to support emerging entrepreneurs, artists, and small non-profit organizations by providing them with the resources and connections needed to power them today and far into the 21st century.

The Labs operate with a commitment to banking the underbanked with dignity and a guiding belief that by disrupting the traditional barriers to resources, we can build new economies that change our communities and our world.

In addition to offering unique products to people of various financial means, all Reevx Labs members can work with a Relationship Manager who will focus on their specific needs. Our Relationship Managers provide industry-leading personalized concierge banking services at no additional cost, from check deposits to mortgage rate research and more.

Supplier Diversity Office (SDO)

The SDO’s mission is to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in state contracting for businesses owned by minorities, women, Portuguese, veterans, service-disabled veterans, those with a disability, and LGBT individuals, as well as small Massachusetts businesses. The SDO certifies these businesses and manages several programs that help them enhance their marketability when bidding on public contracts.