Bibiana Gomez is an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager at Regions Bank. Bibiana graduated with honors in economics and received her Master in Business Administration from Jacksonville State University in 2004. Bibiana was born in Bogota, Colombia and moved to the United States in 2000.

She’s been with Regions Bank for 8 years and specializes in providing banking solutions for small business owners. As a small business banking expert and business development officer, Bibiana offers loan, deposit, cash management and investment solutions for her clients.

Bibiana is actively involved in the Hispanic Professional Women’s Association in Tampa, and currently serves on the Board of Directors as Treasurer. Bibiana has been a member of the Tampa Bay Hispanic Chamber of Commerce since 2010, and currenlty serves as 2011-2013 Chair.

Frank Artz became a Certified Public Accountant in 2001. Realizing how much he enjoys helping others, Frank started his practice with the intent of focusing on individuals and small businesses that are often overlooked by large firms and practices. He likes meeting new people face-to-face and goes the extra mile to deliver a high-level quality of service. By remaining humble, Frank can become an invaluable and flexible resource for any budget.

With over 12 years of Accounting experience for local companies like Celotex and Ringhaver Equipment Co., Frank expanded his knowledge base by working for two years as a personal financial advisor. It was in the role of advisor where Frank learned how much he enjoyed meeting and helping other people with their financial problems. He brings this same enthusiasm in his role as your accountant.

Frank’s roots grow deep in Tampa, Florida. A second-generation native of Tampa, Frank grew up in Ybor City, and graduated locally from Jesuit High School and the University of South Florida. He currently lives with his wife and daughter in the Carrollwood Area.

 

Yanina is the Assistant Director of the Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida – Tampa and is a Certified Business Analyst. She specializes in business planning and marketing.

Yanina has 10 years of experience in working with small businesses from their start up stages through their growth, guiding them through the licensing, planning, financing, and procurement stages. She provides counseling services to businesses on business development, marketing strategies, business plan preparation, and ways to finance a business. As the regional vice president of the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of Florida, Inc. she was responsible for providing business and training to entrepreneurs, as well as overseeing the operations of the organization making sure all services provided the valuable information needed by the entrepreneurs served. www.sbdctampabay.com

R. Patrick Wehner, MPA, BA
Program Director, MBA, Business & Accounting Degree Programs
Everest University-Tampa
 
Mr. Wehner has accumulated over twenty-five years of experience managing the operations of various programs and projects within both the public and private sectors.  He has accumulator over fifteen-years of experience as a classroom instructor. In addition, Mr. Wehner is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of South Florida’s College of Education-Department of Measurement Research.  Currently, Mr. Wehner is conducting an examination of students’ study motives and strategies attending a for-profit university.  Mr. Wehner has been at Everest University over eight years.

Leonela Cole
Business Development Specialist
Hispanic Business Initiative Fund

As a Business Development Specialist, Leonela Cole is responsible for developing and coordinating business counseling services for Hispanic entrepreneurs within the Tampa region.  Leonela is also responsible for managing corporate relationships with professional service providers to ensure that high levels of quality services are being rendered to entrepreneurs.

Prior to joining HBIF, Leonela held various executive level positions within operations, marketing and accounting with The McGraw-Hill Companies, Gold Coast Freightways, Inc., St Petersburg Police Department and St Thomas University.

Leonela holds a Bachelor‘s degree in general business and her Master’s of Business Administration specializing in international business from St Thomas University. Currently, Leonela is pursuing her second graduate degree in accounting and upon graduation will be sitting for the CPA exam.