Serving Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's Counties in Maryland
For over 30 years, Mr. Kyle Bayliss has been a thought leader in the areas of business management consulting, international business development, high-tech innovation and award-winning marketing strategy.
Mr. Bayliss is the Regional Director for the Maryland Small Business Development Center,Corridor Region, located at the University of Maryland College Park and the University of Maryland Baltimore. The region includes Montgomery, Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Howard counties and Baltimore City.
Mr. Bayliss holds an MBA from the University of Maryland University College of Management and Technology and a B.S. from Oklahoma State University with credentials in the University of Maryland Innovation Management, National Association of Seed and Venture Funds and the National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer certification programs.
Dr. Candace Pruett is a business consultant for the Maryland Small Business Development Center covering Anne Arundel County. Whether your early stage company is inventing technology that has never existed or expanding the scope of an application, she can assist you grow your entrepreneurial dream into a viable business venture. She has experience with assisting clients with projected cash flows, research, and business plans. Candace has been in two Business Plan competitions herself. She also has assisted clients for other entrepreneurial competitions including pitching sessions for clients who have entered in the television show Shark Tank. She also is involved with the Entrepreneurial Program at Anne Arundel Community College, where she also is an adjunct professor and judge for their annual business plan pitch competitions.
Candace has been awarded the SBDC State Star Award in 2017 recognized at the National ASBDC conference. She is also certified as a GrowthWheel Certified Business Advisor and FranFit Advisor. Candace is an active participant in the Maryland Economic Development Association and a member of their Young Leaders Group. She also volunteers on the Career Advisory Board for Purdue School of Business at her alma mater, Salisbury University. Candace earned her Doctorate of Business Administration at the University of Maryland Global Campus (formerly known as University of Maryland University College. Candace received her Master of Business Administration and B.S. in Management from Salisbury University. Candace’s research interest is in generational studies revolving around how the culture of an organization impacts knowledge transfer.
Candace is also the Assistant Regional Director for the Corridor Region.
Nestor Gavidia is a bilingual business consultant for the Maryland Small Business Development Center covering Anne Arundel County. A native of Peru with more than 17 years in CPG B2B sales and marketing in the US and internationally, Nestor has worked with retail chains, distributors, importers/exporters, and e-commerce businesses in the merchant systems, transportation, and food industries.
Nestor's passion for business and commitment to follow-through helps entrepreneurs succeed. While working as a business consultant with the Maryland Women's Business Center (MWBC), he served hundreds of entrepreneurs and small businesses, helping them craft successful business strategies to attain new clients and boost sales. He also facilitates dozens of workshops in Montgomery County and represented MWBC at the annual The Maryland State Family Child Care Association conference.
He is experienced and skilled at conducting business and negotiating with people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore. In 2021, Nestor became a certified Growth Wheel Business Advisor.
Brandon is a successful entrepreneur with deep experience in start-ups, technology, government, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Arts and Math)-related job growth. Brandon is passionate about the sustainable growth of downtown and rural communities as well as working with entrepreneurs to achieve their goals. He serves as an SBDC expert in technology related businesses as a result of his extensive knowledge of patent-based technologies.
Brandon supports economic growth through workshops, networking events, one-on-one counseling, and maximizing resources for clients. He also assists with obtaining SBA loans for clients to finance their business, helping with patents and technology transfer, and attracting new businesses to Frederick and Howard Countues while helping existing businesses to be more successful. His primary focus is promoting job creation, business starts, sales growth, and capital infusion for small businesses. Brandon holds a master's degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a bachelors degree in Political Science focused on public policy from West Virginia University.
Carmen Braxton is a business consultant for the Corridor Region of the Maryland Small Business Development Center. Carmen is a proven Executive with over 25 years of experience in business development, strategic sales and training in both the public and private sectors. Highly regarded, she has earned a professional reputation for providing skilled practical guidance, leadership development and effective strategic planning. She is also certified as a Growth Wheel Business Advisor.
Carmen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Phoenix.
Luis Diaz-Colorado is a bilingual business consultant for Small Business Development Center serving Anne Arundel County. Located at the offices of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation in Annapolis. Luis counsel clients from their pre-venture stage, clients ready to open a business, and clients trying to enhance their current existing operations.
Luis' own entrepreneurship spirit brings his commitment in helping his clients thrive and succeed. Luis has experience in assisting clients in developing their business ideas, assisting in obtaining required licenses or financing, monitoring their progression and providing them any support necessary for their success.
Luis is a graduate of The American University and holds a Master’s in Business Administration in Finance 1988, and a bachelor's degree from The George Washington University with a degree in International Business in 1986. He worked for over 20 years in the banking and hospitality industries.
Villamil has served as the Marketing and Training Coordinator and Business Counselor the Maryland Small Business Development Center’s corridor Region, University Maryland. Villamil has been a Business Counselor focusing on the Hispanic Business Community for the total of 7 years. During this time achieved high results in clients opening business, number of loans, business increasing number of employees, total hours counseling and translating all documents from English to Spanish for Latino clients. Currently is project manager of MD SBTDC Hispanic Business Center.
Villamil selected to receive the "2009 Minority Small Business Champion of the Year Award" from the Small Business Administration.
Villamil received a national award in 2008 from the Small Business Administration for translating Form 641 from English to Spanish for use across the United States.
Villamil was recognized as the Regional Star for the corridor Region in 2008 based on her outstanding small business assistance performance and State Star in MD SBDC network in 2009.
In the past 7 years at the corridor Region SBDC Villamil has created excellent network relations with government and particularly with other Latino organizations in business, educative and community areas. Villamil has created strategic alliances to reach clients and advertise SBDC in Latino community using: TV, radio, newsletters, magazines and online websites that contribute to have extensive number of clients.
Villamil is participating in several activities, conferences, videos and meetings representing SBTDC corridor Region in an initiative from USA State Department to implement same model in Hispanic countries and create the global America SBDC for international trade. Collaborating in special with Salvador, Colombia and Peru.
Villamil has a certificate in Mediation from Montgomery College which assists her in serving the Latino community to solve conflicts and other issues between business partners.
Prior to joining the SBDC in 2006, Mrs.Villamil’s professional experience includes more that 27 years of business consulting and teaching at the University level in Cuba, Mexico, Peru and Paraguay.
Mrs. Villamil’s education includes a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s of Science in Finance from the University of Havana, in Cuba. She also has her Master’s in Administration of Research and Economic in Mexico and a Master’s of Pedagogy- Education from Pacific University in Paraguay.
Mrs. Villamil has written two books, developed educational materials and curriculum for projects with the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Union.
Mrs. Villamil was also the Manager of the Chaska South America, a company located in Peru, which focuses on exporting fine handcrafted products to European countries.
Business Consultant for the Small Business Development Center Of the University Of Maryland College Park.
Small Business Counselor for the Corridor Region for two years.
Previously a Small Business lender and Team Lead for twenty plus years.
BS from Bowie State University, Graduate Degree in finance from American Institute of Banking and an Omega Certificate in Accounting and commercial lending.
William (Bill) Freeman, Jr is a Business Consultant for the Baltimore Region of the Maryland Small Business Development Center (MD SBDC) working with clients and small businesses in the Baltimore City area. Additionally, he presents and facilitates various presentations/workshops on business start-ups and funding a business venture.
Bill provides no cost counseling services and market research to start-ups, potential and existing businesses in the Baltimore City community with more than twenty-five years of financial services experience, he offers expertise in: underwriting, commercial lending, small business development, financial analysis, and portfolio administration.
Prior to joining the Maryland SBDC, Bill was a VP, Commercial Relationship Manager for SunTrust Bank, and First Union Bank. Earlier in his career, he held mid-level positions at several highly regarded national/regional banking institutions in the Baltimore-Washington area. He has extensive experience working with small businesses, as well as community based and nonprofit organizations.
Bill began his banking career as an Assistant National Bank Examiner for the Comptroller of the Currency, United States Treasury Department. In that capacity, he examined National Banks throughout the states of Pennsylvania and Delaware. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in accounting from The Pennsylvania State University.
