About
BAEC
The Bay Area Entrepreneur Center or BAEC is funded by the San Mateo County Community College District. As a business accelerator and innovative resource center, we work towards providing aspiring entrepreneurs the information and support they need to grow their current business or business ideas.
We provide business management guidance, technical and targeted business assistance, networking opportunities, one-on-one consulting, business workshops, and facilities.
HISTORY
The Bay Area Entrepreneur Center was established in 2014 by Skyline College, a sister college of the San Mateo County Community College District. With support from the SMCCCD Board of Trustees, under the leadership of Chancellor Ron Galatolo, and the late Dean Richard Soyombo of Skyline’s Global Learning Programs and Services, the Center opened in Downtown San Bruno in 2014.
During his 17 years of service at Skyline College, Richard was instrumental in developing a variety of programs including the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program, Energy System, Technology Management Program, African Diaspora Program, Freight Forwarding and Logistics Program, Youth Entrepreneurship Program, Links Liberian Girls Mentorship Program, and the Bay Area Entrepreneur Center of Skyline College. Richard had two decades of experience in international business development, both in public and private sectors. As a strategic planning and positioning specialist, he possessed a solid background in successful international growth market solutions, localization of plants and personnel, distributor network development and multiculturalism. The San Mateo County Community College District would like to acknowledge the long service in public policy work for our dear friend, Richard F.A. Soyombo.
The Center will always remember and appreciate the fine work that Richard did, in order for our success.
You're Here for A Reason. Let's Grow Your Business. Intelligently.
Chances are, you're here to find the right way to grow your business. We can help.
THE BAEC TEAM
Pcyeta Stroud
Pcyeta Stroud is Project Director for BAEC. Pcyeta comes to the BAEC with over five years of economic and workforce development experience with an emphasis on cultivating entrepreneurship. Pcyeta began providing assistance to students in need of financial literacy assistance and workforce development skills at the SparkPoint Center at Skyline College. Then went on to provide support for the Global Learning Programs and Services division, working closely with the Director of the Center for International Trade Development office. As support staff, Pcyeta gained experience in working with businesses and government organizations in the areas of import, export, trade, logistics and on various contract education projects. Pcyeta went on to become the Program Coordinator for the Youth Entrepreneurship Program, mentoring youth in the development of their business ideas. Under Pcyeta’s leadership, the program engaged the business community to serve as mentors to youth interested in starting their own businesses. Pcyeta founded the Student Business Plan Competition, resulting in winners opening their own businesses. Pcyeta co-founded the Student Internship Job Shadow Program, which provides students with opportunities to gain real-world experience and have access to mentors who help them gain skills for engaging in the workforce.
Terri Wade
Terri Wade is a marketing consultant for BAEC and instructor for the Base11 STEM Entrepreneur Accelerator Training Program that started Fall 2016. Terri received her Bachelor’s degree in Business from UC Riverside and an MBA with a concentration in Marketing from Notre Dame de Namur University. She has a passion for entrepreneurship and is excited to share her passion to those interested in starting STEM businesses.
Linda Truong
Linda Truong is an Office Assistant II for BAEC. She is the main point of contact for the Center, handling the day-to-day operations, scheduling, contracts, clients, and invoicing. Linda received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from San Francisco State University. She has years of work experience in accounting and customer service. She is excited to learn from entrepreneurs and interact with partners, students, businesses and community members!
ADVISORY BOARD
Isaac Reed
Isaac is a serial entrepreneur who started Founder Cave, an incubator for game developers seeking user acquisition and organic growth for their up and coming social game titles. After a long battle, the company was finally acquired. He is currently Owner of Reed Fine Wines, a private wine label and winery based in San Francisco, California. He is also the Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder of AppChassis, a company that provides technological solutions and content services relating to mobile app distribution and publishing. Along with his list of accomplishment, he is starting a Capital Fund Company.
Terri Wade
Terri is the Instructor of the Base11 STEM Entrepreneur Accelerator Program. She is also a Business and Marketing Consultant with the Bay Area Entrepreneur Center.
Robert Shoffner
Robert Shoffner is the Director of San Mateo SBDC. He has leadership expertise and is responsibility for strategy, team development, people, sales, service, marketing, credit quality, retail/commercial integration, training and financial management. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the College of San Mateo in Business, Management and Marketing. Participates in curriculum development.
Christine Roumbanis
Christine Roumbanis is the Dean of Business Division at Skyline College. Christine previously worked as a Business Professor at Skyline College since 1997.
Tammy Robinson
Tammy Robinson is the Dean of Global Learning Programs Services at Skyline College. She has worked in the community college system for two decades. She truly believe that decisions should not only be data driven, but that they should also be driven by societal need.
Soledad McCarthy
Soledad McCarthy is a Business Instructor who has taught at Skyline College for over 10 years.
Andrea Vizenor
Andrea Vizeno is the Director of Career Workforce Program at Skyline College As the Director of Career and Workforce Programs, Ms. Vizenor provides academic leadership, direction, and support to Career and Technical Education programs. Ms. Vizenor works closely with Executive Leadership to shape the vision, lead planning, and carries out activities to advance career pathway development and high quality workforce education and programming for Skyline College.
Kristine Pinon
Kristine Pinon is the Executive Director and Benefits Specialist with LegalShield. She is a serious networker and loves to meet other entrepreneurs small business owners to make some positive connections. Let's connect, share and succeed.
Steve Bacon
Steve Bacon Entrepreneur Steve Bacon is a self-development “info-preneur” who believes that we all are born to win but programmed to lose.
Chadwick Burnaw
Chadwick Burnaw is the owner of Champagne Wishes TV. Champagne Wishes TV is an educational platform for aspiring entrepreneurs. Chad has spent the majority of his career in sales, customer relations, investor relations and product development. His future plans are focused on Venture Capital and Product Development for tech startups involved in serving multiple continents.
Deep SenGupta
Deep SenGupta is the CEO of DSG Global, LLC. DSG Global is a boutique firm specializing in international business strategy and international trade compliance. In addition to their comprehensive International Trade compliance portfolio, DSG GLOBAL also offers advisory and market-access services for firms in the US-Asia corridor.
Susan Barnes
Susan Barnes is the CEO of Susan Barnes Consulting, a private consulting services in economic development, business innovation and leadership and redevelopment. Recent projects she has been working on are development for Bay Area Entrepreneur Center, a project of Skyline College. Some of her recent clients: are City of Pacifica, Santa Cruz County, City of Redwood City, and Contra Costa Water District. She is currently the Interim Economic Development Manager City of San Mateo.
Brian Heit
Brian Heit is the CEO and Attorney of Heit Law Group. He founded Heit Law Group, P.C. so that he could positively impact the lives of the people in the community and serve with the flexibility necessary to get the results clients deserve. The firm is dedicated to its clients and providing personalized plans of action for them; Heit Law Group, P.C. is an outside-the-box firm that is always looking for creative solutions to obtain the best possible results for our clients.
Bernadette McBurnie
Bernadette McBurnie was born and raised in Paris, France, where she lived for much of her life. With over 15 years of experience in IT with large multinational corporations, including one of the world’s largest cosmetics companies, and 3 years working in the Banking sector, Bernadette enjoyed a career that took her from France, to Hong Kong, and then on to Japan. At which time she decided to put her career on hold to raise her family. Since then, she moved on to Canada and the United States. Bernadette went from a Corporate career to stay-at-home mom to consultant, speaker, and entrepreneur for 18 years running an international business from home. She is currently married with three beautiful children.
PARTNERSHIPS
Interested In An Internship?
Apply now. Get started on your career trajectory.
Exciting Events & Networking
Rub elbows with bright minds