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

Managing Director of CRA Strategic Programs & Initiatives
Truist
Evette Banfield

Chief Economic Development Officer
The Coalition (formerly CNHED)
Timothy Green

Director of Capacity Building
BLDG Memphis
Rossana Espinoza

Director of Small Business Investments
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.