Slides

Shruti Narain is the Resiliency Training Coordinator for Northern California at the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA). Her teams leads the Outsmart Disaster program, providing crucial business continuity training to business owners, stakeholders, and associations.

With extensive coaching and facilitation experience, Shruti has mentored diverse individuals, from job seekers to new hires and brings her expertise in response protocols, presentation, preparation, and data tracking to CalOSBA. Previously, Shruti served as an EPR and Northern Division Outstation Trainer at the Employment Development Department (EDD), training new hires and providing employment services to jobseekers. As the former Visual Communications Team Lead at Sustainable Silicon Valley (SSV), she led strategic decisions in web design, social media, and marketing. Shruti has also run her own freelance design firm, working closely with small businesses, managing brand identity, and creating impactful materials.

Clair Whitmer leads the Regional Economic Engagement team as NorCal Regional Advisor for the Office of the Small Business Advocate at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Whitmer recently served for two years as a FUSE Corps Executive Fellow for the City of Fresno Economic Development Team, helping the city to devise a strategic framework for inclusive economic development. She also ran her own small business, UpBay Express, from 2020-2023. Prior to being tapped as a FUSE Corps Fellow, Whitmer was Head of Consumer Experience for Maker Media, publisher of Make: and producers of Maker Faire, from 2014 to 2019. Whitmer has worked in Silicon Valley since the 1990s, holding positions at several major brands in product management and tech-focused journalism. While living in France, she also served as Director of Voter Outreach for the Overseas Vote Foundation. Whitmer graduated summa cum laude in Political Science from San Francisco State University and is a dual citizen of France and the United States. Her mission is to help grow her region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in pursuit of an economy that works for everybody.

Bob Adams is the Small Business Local Engagement Specialist serving the vibrant Central Valley region. With his wealth of experience and passion for fostering small business growth, Bob is a driving force behind empowering local entrepreneurs to thrive. 

Bob's journey began at the University of Idaho, where he earned his bachelor's degree. Equipped with a solid educational foundation, he embarked on a career path focused on supporting small businesses and creating opportunities for their success.

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Before joining the team at CalOSBA, Bob served as the Caltrans District 10 Small Business Liaison based in Stockton. In this role, he spearheaded supplier outreach initiatives for various programs, including the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and state Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise certification programs. Bob's dedication ensured that underrepresented businesses had a fair chance to participate in government contracts and procurements.

Drawing on his extensive broadcasting background, Bob recognized the potential of social media and broadcasting platforms in boosting small business growth. To harness this power, he founded Local Social, a dynamic business aimed at developing effective social media, radio, and television strategies to enhance small business engagement. Through Local Social, Bob successfully helped numerous small businesses increase their online presence, reach a wider audience, and ultimately elevate their brand visibility and customer engagement.

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Bob's commitment to empowering small businesses includes actively engaging with local communities, sharing his expertise through workshops, seminars, and networking events. By nurturing connections between entrepreneurs and providing guidance, Bob strives to create a supportive ecosystem where small businesses can thrive.