GABRIELA ORELLANA

When Gabriela Orellana came to Linn-Benton Community College 18 months ago, she was charged with rebuilding the Spanish-speaking advising program for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

The SBDC has had a nearly 40-year relationship with LBCC. “We help businesses grow, thrive, and reach their goals through free expert business advising and affordable at-cost classes,” said Marissa Schwartz, the center’s director.

The SBDC was in need of a Spanish-speaking advisor. Enter Gabriela Orellana.

Orellana has 22 years of experience in banking; undergraduate degrees in finance and business administration; and master’s degrees in market research and communication. For the last ten years she has worked with small business financing.

The SBDC at LBCC is now one of the few Oregon centers with in-house advising and services in English and Spanish.

SBDC clients are paired with advisors who serve as free and confidential coaches, helping them achieve their goals. They work with businesses for their entire lifecycle.

Orellana works closely with the Hispanic community. Approximately 65-70% of her clients are in food-related businesses, though she also advises childcare providers, retail stores, tattoo artists, florists and more. She has assisted 17 business startups in the last year.

“I love working with my clients on pricing analysis, finances, construction budgets, and bank loans,” Orellana said. That’s no surprise, given her experience leading and constructing small business lending programs.

Orellana believes that some members of Oregon’s Hispanic community feel relegated to working in farming—even with other skills. Immigration status is sometimes an issue, so Orellana knew she needed to gain their trust. Now she gets clients through word of mouth. “They call me or come to the office … they have confidence in me,” she said.

Schwartz is quick to point out that all business advising is confidential and information is never shared unless the client gives permission.

One such client is Juices Pacifico.

Juices Pacifico was founded by a former

And then there are classes. Recently, Orellana assisted with a class on tax preparation, in direct response to community requests.

The program is growing exponentially, and Schwartz credits Orellana’s hard work, determination, and empathy, along with the LBCC Extended Learning Department’s support.

“We’re lucky to work with open-minded people who are willing to think differently, so we can be a safe place for people to find help. We want people to reach out and tell us what they need,” said Schwartz.

“Our ulterior motive is a healthy community ... and we know healthy communities are built by healthy businesses.”

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