Skip to main content
2025 People & Places Conference Main banner
Session Resource 1

Strengthening Small Business Ecosystems: A Collaborative Approach

Monday, October 6, 2025
4:00 PM - 5:15 PM ET
Location: Federal A

    Speaker(s)

  • Heidi Schoonover

    <strong>Managing Director of CRA Strategic Programs & Initiatives</strong>
    Truist

  • Evette Banfield

    <strong>Chief Economic Development Officer</strong>
    The Coalition (formerly CNHED)

  • Timothy Green

    <strong>Director of Capacity Building</strong>
    BLDG Memphis

  • Rossana Espinoza

    <strong>Director of Small Business Investments</strong>
    NALCAB

This session will explore how Truist’s catalytic investment is helping to advance a proven and thoughtfully designed community-centric approach to small business ecosystem building. Participants will learn how a national funder and two local leaders in Washington, DC and Memphis, Tennessee are blending long-practiced conventional strategies and innovation to create environments where small businesses — particularly in under-resourced communities — can thrive. The conversation will highlight replicable strategies that balance growth with equity and inclusion.

Thank you to Truist for sponsoring this session.