This morning on Good Morning Atlanta, Dana and Elizabeth host a panel discussion on Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs.
Kevin McGee, Ron Hutcheson, and Barry Etra are in the studio to discuss where to get money to grow a business when the bank says no (or before you even bother to apply at the bank). These days without mezzanine financiers many successful, profitable, growing companies need access to growth capital, and their best source maybe somewhere they never thought to look.
First up, your business report and stay-tuned for the insiders guide to intown ATL happenings, here on Good Morning Atlanta.
Meet the guests:
Kevin McGee currently works as a Business Consultant for Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs or (ACE). ACE provides loans to small businesses who lack access to traditional forms of credit. Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs works in partnership with banks to meet “credit gaps”. The personalized underwriting, flexible terms and ongoing assistance gives businesses the support and capital they need to grow and thrive. Beyond the financial bottom line, ACE also offers “green” programs to help businesses become sustainable, operate efficiently and tap into new market opportunities.
Since 2000, ACE has loaned more than $9 million to hundreds of North Georgia businesses, helping create or retain more than 2500 jobs! Ace serves 68 counties, including metro Atlanta. Prior to that Kevin McGee served as Director of Business Development for ACCION USA, a nationally recognized leader in U.S. microfinance working with small businesses and entrepreneurs to provide financing that assists small businesses and entrepreneurs in growing and strengthening the communities they serve. ACCION USA is an affiliate of ACCION International, a global microfinance organization founded in 1961.
Kevin’s passion for helping entrepreneurs developed over the past decade as he lead the hospitality and food service contracting firm he founded in 1999, Horn of Plenty Hospitality. As President and CEO, Kevin grew this company to become a multi-faceted hospitality company with operations in food service management, single and multi-unit franchise consulting, and corporate event management with an array of corporate and institutional clients across the country.
Kevin is President of the Morehouse College National Alumni Association, the Atlanta chapter’s Alumnus of the Year, and a trustee of Morehouse College. He joined the board in 2010 and serves on the Executive, Athletics, Development and Student Affairs committees. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Morehouse School of Medicine as well.
Ron Hutcheson
President, Smart Funding Solutions
Ron and his company provide non traditional funding programs to under-served and under-capitalized small businesses. He has 7 years of experience in the non traditional lending industry and has helped small businesses obtain over $70 million in working capital. Recently, Ron partnered with private investors to develop Consultant Financing™, an exclusive alternative financing program that provides entrepreneurs capital to contract private business development services that will help grow their revenues. In addition to this program, his “Thinking Outside the Banks” seminars and “Where’s the Funding for Small Businesses” workshops are poised to educate over 10,000 entrepreneurs a year about local and national non traditional lenders. Ron and his team are currently working on a cloud based platform where business owners can upload their loan package to be viewed only by the non traditional lenders.
Barry Etra has over 30 years business experience, having worked in Sales and Marketing, Operations, and General Management. He has been a factory worker, salesperson, sales manager, customer service manager, VP of sales and marketing, and Chief Operating Officer. He has been in charge of sales teams, customer service groups, design departments, graphics departments, IT groups, production control, manufacturing, die rooms, purchasing and warehousing. He has a BA and an MBA from Columbia University; his MBA is in marketing and finance. Currently he runs the Etra Advisory Group; he specializes in helping companies find funding if they can’t get funded traditionally, or have been turned down by traditional sources. He serves as an active intermediary in transactions to move deals through and gets them done!
