Free Business Mentoring

Members of the business community have access to free on-site business mentoring services through the Sierra Small Business Development Center at Sierra Business Council. A network of SBDC consultants who have owned or managed their own businesses provide one-on-one consulting to start-ups, growing companies, and mature businesses. The consultants can help businesses improve and expand their companies, solve problems, strengthen management, develop new ideas for products or services, and investigate new business opportunities.

Robert X Trent - Strategy and Marketing

Robert has been consulting with Nevada County businesses for twenty years. His for-profit marketing communication company Velocity7 assisted local “mom and pop” businesses, corporations, government organizations, and NGO’s with planning, outreach, marketing, and public relations. As the founder of Nevada City’s non-profit business incubator Sierra Commons, Robert has consulted with and taught hundreds of entrepreneurs - helping them plan, launch, grow, and sell their businesses. Robert was also Executive Director of the Nevada County Economic Resource Council, Development Director for an agricultural non-profit, and has launched several businesses of his own. With a broad understanding of what it takes for businesses to survive and thrive, Robert brings his expertise to SBDC clients who are inspired to take their businesses to the next level.

Evelyn Fassett - Technology

Evelyn loves creating with technology, integrating applications and supporting customer challenges. She is an expert at WordPress and is known for being a teacher and mentor for clients.

Her background includes leadership positions as a senior software designer, programmer and trainer. She assisted in the design, development, testing, and customer support/training of an Interactive Video Distance Learning System.

Evelyn is also the founder of her company, Technology for Tender Hearts, which builds websites and provides technology and computer support for businesses and individuals.

Evelyn is Bilingual Spanish/English and a Certified Massage Therapist and Certified Archetypal Consultant (Carolyn Myss - CMED).

Ean Price Murphy - Finance

Ean Price Murphy founded Moxie Bookkeeping & Coaching Inc to make small-business financial information accessible and actionable, even for those who don’t think of themselves as good with numbers. Ean is a certified Mastery level Profit First Professional, Xero Platinum partner, Quickbooks ProAdvisor, and a certified business coach.