Small Business Breakthroughs – Meet Pamela Alvaro of the Ohio SBDC’s New Latino SBDC

Join the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Columbus State Community College in partnership with the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center for a podcast-style discussion designed to dig into the topics that are impacting your business and keeping you up at night.

In this special edition of “Small Business Breakthroughs,” we will introduce Pamela Alvaro and the Ohio SBDC at Columbus State’s new Latino SBDC. According to the United States Census, the Latino population has increased by 43 percent between 2010 and 2020, with an additional 31 percent growth expected by 2030. The Ohio Department of Development estimates that central Ohio has 2,200 Hispanic and Latino small businesses. We will discuss the role of the Latino SBDC in serving the growing Latino and Hispanic business community and how small business owners can connect with the Center.

Guest: Pamela Alvaro-Unzueta – Latino Business Advisor, Ohio Small Business Development Center at Columbus State Community College

Pamela Alvaro Unzueta is a bilingual business advisor at the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Columbus State Community College. She acts as a liaison for the Hispanic/Latino community, providing essential tools, education, and guidance to successfully start, grow, and sustain their businesses. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Universidad del Valle de México and has extensive experience in strategic marketing, public relations campaigns, and community engagement initiatives to support business growth.

Pamela is also a small business owner, dedicated to promoting her culture through everyday goods. Her business specializes in unique cultural items, ensuring that each product tells a story and connects customers to her cultural roots. Through her professional and entrepreneurial efforts, Pamela fosters cultural appreciation and awareness.

Special Guest: Ariana Ulloa-Olavarrieta, MS – Small Business Coordinator, City of Columbus’ Economic Development Division

Ariana Ulloa-Olavarrieta serves as the Small Business Coordinator for the City of Columbus’ Economic Development Division. Deeply rooted in the world of business development, with degrees in Economics, a background in the banking industry and a small startup company on her resume, Ariana was already considered a leader in her field when she joined the City.

Previously, she was an Executive Coach for the LIGHTS Regional Innovation Network at Ohio University and Director of the Ohio SBDC at Columbus State Community College. She serves as chair of the boards of the Mid-Ohio Food Collective and Avanza Together; and the board of Community Capital Development Corporation (CCDC). Previous boards include New Directions Career Center, the Hispanic Chamber of Columbus, and ACEnet. With her previous work experience in the financial industry and as a business owner herself (Aleri Business Strategies), she focuses on helping entrepreneurs work in their business while working on their overall vision. Ariana believes planning for the future while working on the present is key to success.

Ariana is a graduate of Ohio University, holding a Masters in Financial Economics and a BA in Economics with specializations in Latin American Studies, Spanish and German. Born in Mexico City, Ulloa-Olavarrieta immigrated to the United States when she was 5 years old. She has been supporting the small business community as a coach for new and existing entrepreneurs throughout most of her career.

Moderator: Michael Bowers, MA, CBA – Director, Ohio Small Business Development Center at Columbus State Community College

Michael Bowers is a Certified Business Advisor and Director for the Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Columbus State Community College. The primary focus of the SBDC is to support prospective and existing entrepreneurs as they seek to start and grow businesses in Central Ohio.

Michael holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Finance from the University of North Alabama and a Master’s in Public Administration from The Ohio State University. Michael is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in Public Administration from Liberty University.

Michael has worked with entrepreneurs and small business owners for over 30 years, 20 of which have been in Columbus leading the SBDC. He has a diverse business skill set with experience in banking, private equity, strategic planning, leadership, and public sector management.

Michael is the lead instructor for the Basis of A Successful Enterprise (B.A.S.E) business startup training, as well as the host of the Small Business Breakthroughs YouTube series.