| Academy Director & Mentor |
As an economic development, marketing, and sales professional, Ms. Alex Vaughan began her
professional career as a model for some of the most sought-after fashion houses in Europe, New York, and Los
Angeles. She used her runway poise and transformed into a boardroom executive at Johnson Publishing Company’
s cosmetic division, Fashion Fair Cosmetics in 1997.
After her tenure with JPC, Alex joined the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network –
Lead Center hosted by the Long Beach Community College District in 2005, where she was instrumental in
assisting the Regional Director with the roll out of the Los Angeles SBDC Network, which includes Los Angeles,
Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. Alex joined the El Camino College Business Training Center (BTC) as the
Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in August 2006, which is one of seven SBDC Service
Centers in the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network.
Alex directs the activities and deliverables for the California Construction Contracting Program (CCCP) funded by
Caltrans, which provides construction and business management counseling services and training to Disadvantaged
Business Enterprises (DBEs) that are certified and those that qualify for DBE certification. This program
assists DBEs in building internal capabilities and gaining certification to become bid-ready to contract with
Caltrans. Additionally, Alex developed and implemented Small Business Mentor Protégé Programs in the cities of
Carson and Compton, which provide certificated training to small business owners to educate and provide a
working knowledge on every component of business operations, as well as provide individual workshops during the
evenings and on-site One-on-One technical and business management counseling in the respective cities.
Alex has ramped up on activities for the 2008 Summer Buzz on Biz Academy for the El Camino College SBDC
Youth Entrepreneurial Program. This program provides 50 youth and young adults between ages 14 – 27 with a
theory of, and application to, the entrepreneurial way of thinking to aid them in the development and operation
of part time businesses. These businesses can lead to full time operational status, while the youth and young
adults complete their high school and college education.
Alex's transformational leadership style has been recognized by many organizations, public and private,to
include: the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Association of Small Business Development Center by
receiving the 2008 SBDC Service Center Excellence and Innovation Award and the 2007 State Star,
respectively. These awards recognize exemplary contributions to small business development and significant
impacts within the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network.
Alex believes that building relationships and a network of resource partners will foster a communication system
that brings awareness about the services and programs of the El Camino College SBDC to the business
communities it serves, which is key in ensuring that clients and stake-holders understand the benefits and value.
Alex received a Certificate in Business Administration – Nano Technology from Loyola Marymount University
March 2008 and plans to pursue her Doctorate degree in Business Management and Organizational Leadership in
summer 2008. She holds an MBA in Marketing from The University of Phoenix and a BS in Marketing from
California State University, Long Beach. Alex is an Adjunct Professor at Long Beach City College, teaching
advertising, marketing, and management in the department for School of Business, and teaches Event Planning
and Management in the department of Community Education at Long Beach City College.
Alex is active on several Advisory Boards to include the Mayoral Business Advisory Council for Inglewood, the
Port of Los Angeles Small Business Program, and the United Negro College Fund Walk for Education and Evening
of Stars Steering Committees. Alex has been a member of Faithful Central Bible Church, where Bishop
Kenneth C. Ulmer is Pastor and Teacher since 1992 and joined the Music Ministry Leadership in 1999.
Alex is a mother of two, Sophia Alexander and CJ Vaughan, is a native of California and resides in Long Beach,
California.
professional career as a model for some of the most sought-after fashion houses in Europe, New York, and Los
Angeles. She used her runway poise and transformed into a boardroom executive at Johnson Publishing Company’
s cosmetic division, Fashion Fair Cosmetics in 1997.
After her tenure with JPC, Alex joined the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network –
Lead Center hosted by the Long Beach Community College District in 2005, where she was instrumental in
assisting the Regional Director with the roll out of the Los Angeles SBDC Network, which includes Los Angeles,
Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. Alex joined the El Camino College Business Training Center (BTC) as the
Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in August 2006, which is one of seven SBDC Service
Centers in the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network.
Alex directs the activities and deliverables for the California Construction Contracting Program (CCCP) funded by
Caltrans, which provides construction and business management counseling services and training to Disadvantaged
Business Enterprises (DBEs) that are certified and those that qualify for DBE certification. This program
assists DBEs in building internal capabilities and gaining certification to become bid-ready to contract with
Caltrans. Additionally, Alex developed and implemented Small Business Mentor Protégé Programs in the cities of
Carson and Compton, which provide certificated training to small business owners to educate and provide a
working knowledge on every component of business operations, as well as provide individual workshops during the
evenings and on-site One-on-One technical and business management counseling in the respective cities.
Alex has ramped up on activities for the 2008 Summer Buzz on Biz Academy for the El Camino College SBDC
Youth Entrepreneurial Program. This program provides 50 youth and young adults between ages 14 – 27 with a
theory of, and application to, the entrepreneurial way of thinking to aid them in the development and operation
of part time businesses. These businesses can lead to full time operational status, while the youth and young
adults complete their high school and college education.
Alex's transformational leadership style has been recognized by many organizations, public and private,to
include: the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Association of Small Business Development Center by
receiving the 2008 SBDC Service Center Excellence and Innovation Award and the 2007 State Star,
respectively. These awards recognize exemplary contributions to small business development and significant
impacts within the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network.
Alex believes that building relationships and a network of resource partners will foster a communication system
that brings awareness about the services and programs of the El Camino College SBDC to the business
communities it serves, which is key in ensuring that clients and stake-holders understand the benefits and value.
Alex received a Certificate in Business Administration – Nano Technology from Loyola Marymount University
March 2008 and plans to pursue her Doctorate degree in Business Management and Organizational Leadership in
summer 2008. She holds an MBA in Marketing from The University of Phoenix and a BS in Marketing from
California State University, Long Beach. Alex is an Adjunct Professor at Long Beach City College, teaching
advertising, marketing, and management in the department for School of Business, and teaches Event Planning
and Management in the department of Community Education at Long Beach City College.
Alex is active on several Advisory Boards to include the Mayoral Business Advisory Council for Inglewood, the
Port of Los Angeles Small Business Program, and the United Negro College Fund Walk for Education and Evening
of Stars Steering Committees. Alex has been a member of Faithful Central Bible Church, where Bishop
Kenneth C. Ulmer is Pastor and Teacher since 1992 and joined the Music Ministry Leadership in 1999.
Alex is a mother of two, Sophia Alexander and CJ Vaughan, is a native of California and resides in Long Beach,
California.
| Small Business Development Center 13430 Hawthorne Boulevard Hosted by El Camino College Hawthorne, CA 90250 (310) 973-3177 * Fax: (310) 93-3132 www.southbaysbdc.org * www.buzzonbiz.org sbdc@elcamino.edu * info@buzzonbiz.orgc |
