Michelle S. Butler, Secretary, Grants Chair
Michelle is the Founder of the Women's Business Center of California.  Michelle is an entrepreneur who has been involved in launching numerous ventures, including her first, the most entrepreneurial of all, launching a unique venture in the field of international trade.  Through such ventures, Michelle learned the importance of being able to be a jack of all trades when necessary, while still focusing on her core talents.   After making history as one of the first to open trade relations between the United States and the Republic of Cuba, Michelle got involved assisting other women start and grow their own businesses by running a federally funded grant program aimed.  Ever the entrepreneur, and always having the desire to take ventures to their next level, Michelle transformed the program into a full-fledged organization. Read more about Michelle

Claudia Pires Klaus, Board Chair, Programs Chair
An entrepreneur herself, Claudia believes businesses form the foundation of our community and as such is active as a small business advocate.  Claudia stepped up the plate to support the WBCC as a Founding member of the WBCC Board of Directors as well as taking it one step further by becoming a WBCC Diamond Sponsor.  In addition, Claudia is the current President of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) San Diego, and previously served as NAWBO Membership Chair.  Claudia is also President of her own non-profit, the Americans for Children foundation and is the epitome of the American success story, having immigrated from Brazil to attend UCLA, Claudia worked multiple part-time jobs to put herself through college, and then launched a career and her own business in the field of financial planning.  Claudia owns a Pacific Advisors, an independent, full-service financial planning firm and specializes in small business. 
Connect with Claudia.  

Jaymee Lomax, Treasurer, Sponsorship Chair
Jaymee is a long-term supporter of the WBCC and member of the Founding Board of Directors.  Jaymee is currently leading the growth of the organization by forging comprehensive corporate partnerships as Chair of Sponsor Relations.  Jaymee's goal is to continuously grow the WBCC budget in order to implement the organization's vision and serve a greater cross-section of the San Diego small business community.  Jaymee is the Supplier Diversity Manager for Southern California Gas Company and San Diego Gas and Electric, a company committed to Supplier diversity having spent $214 million on contracting with companies that qualify as SDVs/MBEs/WBEs. She is an expert in developing strategic contracting opportunities for small and diverse business owners, and brings her expertise to the WBCC’s Contracting & Procurement/Supplier Diversity Program.  See what you can learn from Jaymee.  

Lorise W. Maynard, Executive Board, Advisory Chair
A long-term supporter of the WBCC, Lorise has taken on the role of Advisory Board Chair, a non-voting Board of Directors position charged with bridging the gap between the Board of Directors and The Advisory Board. Lorise also educates WBCC clients on contracting and procurement opportunities, as she serves as the San Diego County Water Authority "Small Contractor Outreach and Opportunity Program Representative.  Lorise is past President of the San Diego Supplier Development Council and was named  their Small Business Advocate of the Year. She is also active in the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, is d the Past President of Convair and Watermasters Toastmasters International. 

Joni T. Low
Advisory Board

Executive
Director

Asian Business Association S.D.

www.abasd.org  

Susan Lamping
Advisory Board

Loan Program
Coordinator

CDC Small
Business Finance

www.cdcloans.com

Ken Ashford
Advisory Board

Business
Outreach Office

Metropolitan Water District Southern CA

www.mwdh20.com

Michelle Burkhart
Advisory Board

Owner
Board President

TH!NKbusiness
GSDBA

www.gsdba.org