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South Bronx MBDA Business Center

About This Center

The MBDA South Bronx Minority Business Center is located in the hub of the South Bronx. This Center is operated by the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBRO), and is funded by the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). The Center’s program is designed to provide high-level strategic business consulting services to eligible minority-owned firms that generate revenues of $1 million or more.  The services offer are in the areas of large public and/or private contracts, financing transactions, strategic business consulting, global business development, and export/ import. 

Since its inception, the Center assisted minority business enterprises in facilitating entries into global markets, identified export markets, and overseas market promotion. The Center’s mission, as part of an overarching vision, is to promote growth alternatives through strategic partnerships and teaming arrangements. The Center partners with various organizations to facilitate multi-level transactions with high-value impact on minority-own business expansions, jobs retention, and jobs creation.

The Center’s philosophy:  “Where there is synergy profitability is endless.”

» Annual Analysis of State’s Small Business Activities

» Visit the MBDA South Bronx Business Center website for additional information.

Staff Information

Sharon Higgins - Project Director

Sharon Higgins is a results-oriented financial professional with demonstrated expertise in financial analysis, commercial financing, and risk management. She has more than fifteen years of commercial lending and underwriting experience with loan financing and with the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 Loan programs. She has made extensive contributions in the implementation and facilitation of several multi-million dollar federal, state, and city economic development small business expansion projects. Her experience includes working in various areas of financing, business development, procurement and contracting, reporting, and implementation processes.  

She created and implemented the strategic plans for the start-up and operations of the MBDA Minority Business Center, U.S. Department of Commerce, operated SoBRO. Under her leadership, the MBDA Minority Business Center, operated by SoBRO, was recognized by the Minority Business Development Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce for assisting M/WBEs in generating over $2.8 billion in contracting, bonding, and financing transactions.

Sharon is also an experienced higher education administration professional, with a background in academic advising at graduate level. She currently serves on the Workshop Committee for the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference.  She holds a Master of Public Administration, Master of Science in Higher Education Administration, and Bachelor degree in Accounting.

Demond Wilkerson, Consultant, has over 17 years of commercial finance, investment management, new market tax credits, federal opportunity zones, and business valuation experience. He’s held key roles at JP Morgan Asset Management, HSBC, and Santander Bank. Demond has partnered with companies pioneering developing technology driven small business lending products, and has focused on advising project sponsors and working with institutions, increasing capital access to under-served businesses. He has been involved in all facets from underwriting to structuring complex commercial finance transactions SBDC’s Minority Business Development Agencies, and major organizations across the country. 

Kenneth A. Goodwin Jr., Consultant, serves as an Executive Adviser to over 10 global Blockchain/ Fin-tech firms with capital raises ranging from $25 million to $100 million USD. Ken’s regulatory and capital markets experiences spans over 20 years. He served as a Senior Compliance Adviser to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He served as a National Senior Manager overseeing large financial institutions and broker dealers at Grant Thorton and PwC. He also served as Vice President at HSBC Global Banking and Markets, RBS Securities Inc (trading floors) within the broker dealer and swap dealer functions.

Lynn Karam, Consultant, is a financial management and tax specialist who has more than 17 years of industry experience. Lynn works extensively with clients preparing them to build capacity and obtaining financing. 

Terry Moreland Esq., Consultant, is an attorney with almost two decades of experiences in the areas of procurement, compliance, project management and business development professional. He has served as Supplier Diversity Director at Columbia University and consulted on regulatory compliance for the New York Power Authority and PSEG Long Island. 

Shameeda Bacchus, Business Coordinator, holds her Bachelor’s degree in accounting, and currently provides the administrative support for the Center’s operations. She brings over 10 years of experience in accounting and finance.  

Phone: 

718-732-7580

Location: 

555 Bergen Ave
3rd Floor
Bronx, NY 10455
United States
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