Presenter Bios

Jabari Adams is an NJEDA Small Business Liaison, a Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty and the owner of J. Adams Real Estate Investment Group. With NJEDA, he connects small business owners with financial and technical resources. 

Bill Carlson is the Manager of Customer Success for Reference Solutions at Data Axle. He is responsible for educating and advocating for customers in Public and Academic Libraries and Government Agencies. Data Axle is an information services company that helps clients create a foundation of clean data, find new leads, develop winning strategies, and more.

Anil Fernandes is a Startupreneur, Media Consultant, Angel Investor and Advisor to Startups. He is the chapter chair and a Mentor for SCORE Mentors Princeton. SCORE is the nation’s largest network of free, expert business mentors dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. 

Kathy Guzman is an NJEDA Small Business Liaison and the owner of Essential Marketing as a Small Business Specialist. As a Liaison, she shares information with small and micro business owners in NJ to improve access to opportunity and capital. 

Shy Hopkins is the Outreach & Marketing Specialist at U.S. Small Business Administration. She graduated from Thomas Edison University with a degree in Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services. She is also the owner of her own small business, New Jersey Live Music, which is a live music revitalization program in Newark, NJ.

Michelle Phillips, MBA, PHR is the Recruitment Manager at Trion Group, a Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC and a representative of LAEDA Women’s Business Center located in Camden, NJ. LAEDA WBC provides a variety of programs including a Women’s Business Academy, Micro-Lending Program and a Jump Start Program.

Mark Rizzo, Ed. D. is the Regional Director of NJSBDC. The New Jersey Small Business Development Centers is the recognized leader in delivering management consulting and training programs to nascent entrepreneurs, start-ups and existing small businesses as well as specialized services to high-impact, growth-oriented businesses. 

Rob Wells is the Director of the Burlington County Department of Economic Development. In his role, he focuses on ways to strengthen to local economy in Burlington County and diversify its tax base. He does so by concentrating on existing businesses and helping them grow and attracting new businesses to the county we can create jobs and opportunities.