NGLCCNY is partnering with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready to provide education, insights, workshops, and virtual events through the free-to-use platform. Register here or copy and paste the URL below to set up your free account.
https://digitalready.verizonwireless.com/partner-nglcc-ny
Want to take control of your business space and start building long-term wealth? Owning commercial real estate can help small business owners build equity, stabilize occupancy costs, and protect their businesses from rising rents and unexpected lease changes. Join this informative session to learn how to evaluate your readiness for ownership, identify and assess potential properties, navigate the acquisition process, and understand what lenders look for when financing commercial real estate purchases.

Steve Hall serves as Vice President of Small Business Lending at LISC, where he leads efforts to expand access to capital and financial resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners. With extensive experience in commercial lending and community development finance, Steve works closely with business owners to help them access financing, build wealth, and achieve long-term business growth.

Vanessa Rodriguez Aguirre joined LISC in August 2020 as Small Business Program Officer and Underwriter. Vanessa has over 15 years of business banking experience ranging in roles from sales, underwriting, and administration. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from DeVry University and an MBA with a focus in Finance from Keller Graduate School. She utilizes her experience to help support small business lending and programing.

Karen Bennett is LISC's Small Business & Commercial Underwriter covering the Southeast and Southwest and working out of Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to joining LISC, Karen spent eight years as Vice President, Small Business Underwriting Manager at Mutual of Omaha Bank. Karen created the enterprise-wide, centralized Small Business, SBA and Consumer Underwriting Unit at Mutual of Omaha Bank supporting the branch network throughout the United States.
Tuesday Jul 21, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
This virtual event is through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform.
This virtual event is free to attend.
Printed courtesy of www.nglccny.org/ – Contact the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce New York for more information.
340 W. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10108 – (646) 964-5027 – info@nglccny.org