Arrive early from 11am-11:30am to take advantage of dedicated networking time with fellow local business owners, community partners, and presenters. This half hour is your chance to build relationships, ask questions, and make connections that matter.
At 11:30am the program kicks off with GGHI’s Annual Meeting, highlighting key accomplishments from the past year and sharing what’s ahead, including priorities and goals aimed at continuing to support and strengthen our local business community.
The second half of the luncheon dives into our small business roundtable featuring engaging presentations from:
- Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
- Speaker bio coming soon!
- Office for Regulatory Innovation & Assistance (ORIA)
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ORIA is a Washington State government office that helps employers and entrepreneurs understand and navigate regulatory and permitting systems, saving them time, money, and frustration. ORIA provides clear, practical guidance on business requirements—from starting, licensing, and compliance to environmental permitting through free tools, resources, and personalized support. It also partners with state agencies through the Small Business Liaison Team to improve access to information, expand multilingual support, and make it easier for businesses of all sizes to succeed in Washington.
Speaker: Hugo Nicolas, Small Business ConsultantHugo Nicolas is a Small Business Consultant with ORIA where he works with employers, entrepreneurs, and community partners to help businesses navigate regulatory requirements and access state resources.
Through his work with ORIA and the Small Business Liaison Team, Hugo helps improve customer service across state agencies, expand multilingual business guidance, and reduce regulatory barriers. These efforts support thousands of business owners statewide through Washington’s business one-stop hub, the Small Business Guide, multilingual workshops, on-demand trainings, and statewide business events.
Born in Veracruz, Mexico, and raised in Oregon, Hugo brings a background in banking and economic development to his work supporting local economies. His approach is grounded in practical problem-solving and the belief that strong small businesses are essential to healthy communities and resilient regional economies.
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- Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA)
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Lisa Smith is the Executive Director of the WSMA which provides grants, capacity building, technical assistance, and networking support for 120+ nonprofit Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs) in Washington state. These ESOs provide business training, technical assistance and/or financing to microenterprises so they can earn more, innovate, grow, and contribute to Washington State’s economy. Over the last 30 years, she has collaborated with policy makers, lenders, manufacturers, port districts, Tribal partners, leaders in sustainability, workforce/economic development teams, and ESOs around the country to grow the field of microenterprise development. Lisa is a strong advocate for business ownership and believes that strengthening marginalized and rural communities, growing regenerative enterprises and developing good policy will boost Washington’s economy and help close the wealth gap. Her research and writings have been published in Consumer Reports, Scholastic Magazine, and the American Journal of Public Health. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to grow smarter and stronger, this forum offers tools, support, and connections tailored to small businesses in Grays Harbor. Don’t miss this opportunity to invest a lunch hour in your business’s future.
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