Sharon R. Merino

When it comes to doing business with local, county, state, and federal government agencies Ms. Merino understands the rules of the game. She says the biggest task of doing business with the government or large corporations who have government contracts is research. You must understand before taking on any government contract what agency is funding the project because that will determine whose rules you must follow.

Ms. Merino founded the Small Business Consulting Agency, to assist small businesses to learn the rules. Her first efforts were to help small businesses deal with the Northridge Earthquake in California, Hurricane Andrew in Florida and others disasters. She assisted these companies in receiving over $50 million in disaster loans from SBA and FEMA. Today she has expanded the business to include business and marketing consulting in dealing with all government agencies, and prime contractors.

Before starting her company, she worked for the US Department of Commerce/Minority Business Development Center in Los Angeles. Ms. Merino was Vice President of Manufacture Hanover Bank where she was in charge of all Union Pension accounts for the West Coast. These industries are among the highest, regulated businesses in America. This solid background in government rules and regulations has served Sharon well in running her own consulting firm.

She speaks to public and business groups on developing their business to major corporations and government agencies. Past speaking engagements, include Los Angeles Times Small Business Conference, Jet Propulsion Laboratory & NASA’s Annual Conferences, the Small Business Administration, Boeing, City of Long Beach Small Business Conference and others.

Ms. Merino is a small business advocate and volunteers her time to numerous committees. She has received several awards from the City of Los Angeles, County of LA, General Services Administration (GSA). She is currently a Small Business Advisor to the Department of Transportation’s Committee for a Unified Certification Program, The City of Los Angeles Minority Business Opportunity Committee (MBOC), and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (TBAC). She is the Chair of National Association of Women-owned Business Owner’s Pasadena and Walnut Regional Chapters where she holds monthly business Workshops and network meetings.


Nicholas W. Smith

Nick Smith works with small, minority, women-owned and disadvantaged businesses owners to meet the challenge of growing a small business in today’s economy. He helps his clients develop superior management and marketing strategies to compete in today’s market. As a team, they design strategic plans for finding the optimum way to promote the client's product or services. He conducts business workshops for small business owners throughout the state on marketing and strategic planning.

Nick has been providing consulting services since 1988 and spent most of that time working with small businesses owners helping them becomes successful. He sold his first consulting firm that specialized in business turn-a-rounds to his employees in 1991. During the reductions in the aerospace industry, Mr. Smith worked with several companies assisting them in making the transition from aerospace to commercial products and services. His current focus is on working with business owners helping them to secure government contracts and subcontracts with large corporations to balance their client base between government and commercial business.

Before starting his consulting firm, Nick worked for a number of companies in commercial and industrial product industries. Past employment includes Scripto/Tokai, AMF Inc., Western Electric (Sandia Corp.) and Mattel Inc. Among the positions he has held are Divisional President, VP of Sales and Marketing, VP Government Sales, VP Research and Development and VP Engineering.

He speaks to public and business groups on developing and implementing winning business and marketing strategies. Past speaking engagements, include the Association for Professional Consultants, the Los Angeles Vendor Fair, Newport Chamber, the Government Boot Camp, the Small Business Administration (SBA), Boeing, Jet Propulsion Labs Annual Program, and others.

Mr. Smith is a small business advocate and volunteers his time to numerous committees: He works with small business owners through the Small Business Development Center in North San Diego County. He volunteers on committees with the National Association for Women Business Owners-Orange County, California Chamber of Commerce, the California Small Business Advocate Office and is a founding instructor for ASLA College.

Nick holds a Masters in Business Administration from Pepperdine University and a Bachelors degree in Industrial Psychology from Northwestern University. Nick has completed training as a Master Seminar Leader (MSL) with the American Seminars Leaders Association.