Meet the Agencies

Get to know your state agencies like never before in our panel discussion, "Meet Your State Agencies: The Small Business Liaison Team." Join us for an insightful session where you'll have the opportunity to connect with the dedicated professionals who make up your state's Small Business Liaison Team. Learn how these experts can serve as invaluable resources for your small business, offering guidance, support, and vital information on navigating WA State Government. Discover how their insights and connections can empower your enterprise to thrive in the public sector. Don't miss this chance to build bridges with the key players who can help propel your business to new heights.

Hugo Nicolas, Small Business Consultant
Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance

Hugo Nicolas was born in Mexico Veracruz and grew up in Oregon, later attending the University of Oregon. As a formerly undocumented immigrant and one of the first recipients of DACA, Hugo gave back to his community by organizing campaigns to protect undocumented families in Oregon. Hugo was involved in advocating for Dreamers and immigration reform at the national level and remains connected with the Latino community in Washington and Oregon. Hugo found a passion in economics that lead a transitioned to a professional career in banking for six years and Consulting for the Mexican Foreign Affairs office. In his corporate career he was able to use his knowledge and resources to provide financial literacy education to minority owned businesses and assist creating opportunities for Latinos looking at professional careers. He joined ORIA two year ago as the Small Business Consultant and is currently working to connect small business to state agency regulatory services and programs.

 

Constance Parbon, Charities, Nonprofits and Public Affairs Administrator
Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division

Constance Parbon is the Government and Public Affairs Administrator under the Washington Secretary of State Corporations and Charities Division and has been with the division for 8 years. She is passionate about meeting people, where they are, throughout Washington State. As part of this passion, Constance is actively expanding the Division's education and engagement throughout Washington State for small businesses regarding state compliance, Nonprofits and Charities regarding state compliance and internal governance, and consumers regarding making informed giving decisions and preventing fraud. This is being accomplished through partnerships with the Office of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division and the Small Business Liaison Team which is made up of over 25 state agencies.

 

Andrew Bryan, Small Business Liaison
Department of Labor & Industries

Andrew Bryan is the Small Business Liaison for the WA State Department of Labor & Industries. Andrew has been assisting small business owners navigate state government regulations and requirements at L&I for over seven years by providing direct customer assistance, training, customized presentations, and publishing the quarterly Small Business Newsletter. He has an MA in Anthropology and experience as a small business owner prior to joining state government.

 

Lynn Longan, Manager
Small Business Training & Education Center, Department of Commerce

Born and raised in rural Washington State, Lynn's introduction to economic development was in family-owned and operated businesses such as logging, road construction, tree farming and shellfish farming. Lynn brings 20 years of economic development experience to our team. After working for the Department of Commerce in the Economic Development Division for 16 years, she accepted the role of Executive Director of the Economic Development Council in Mason County. Returning to Commerce, Lynn serves as the agency expert responsible for setting the agenda for the state's economic development strategies for rural and underserved communities. She is responsible for developing and overseeing entrepreneur and small business training and education programs such as ScaleUp, Thrive!, Global Entrepreneurship Month and other technical assistance, education and training programs and services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, particularly those in rural and underserved communities.

 

Nicky Budnuchit, Linked Deposit Manager
Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises

Nicky Budnuchit is the Linked Deposit Manager for the Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) where her program helps make borrowing capital more affordable for state-certified businesses. She and her team work to listen to customers to provide them with post-certification support, technical assistance, and resources. Her office helps businesses owned by minorities, women, and other underrepresented communities access contracting and procurement opportunities in state government.

Nicky has an extensive background in lending and business management. She obtained her degree from the University of Washington before working as a consultant for a non-profit organization guiding small and large corporations in navigating complexities such as industrial insurance, workers compensation, and safety.

She spends most of her time spoiling her animals and, when they allow her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, motorsports, and travelling.

 

Jessica Smith, Tax Information Specialist
Department of Revenue

Jessica Smith is a Tax Information Specialist for the Department of Revenue's Education and Outreach team. She has been with the department for five years, working at the front counter in two different field offices and as a supervisor in the agency's call center. Before coming to Revenue, Jessica worked in the salon and spa industry for 20+ years. She has extensive customer care experience, as well as an understanding of small business needs.

 

Shana Greenberg Barehand, Business Diversity and Marketing Manager Procurement Inclusion and Equity Program
Department of Enterprise Services

Shana Greenberg Barehand, originally from Los Angeles, is Mono Indian from the Cold Springs Rancheria in California. Shana holds a law degree from Arizona State University as wells as a bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University, Long Beach. Shana, supported herself entirely through college and law school. Her previous jobs include working at the Southern California Indian Center, Indian education program counselor, waitressing, and bartending.

As an attorney, she has worked for the United States Environmental Protection Agency as an environmental enforcement attorney, the Federal Communications Commission as the senior tribal advisor to the Commissioner, and for Washington state Department of Revenue as the Tribal Liaison. Her expertise in creating and leading innovative new programs led her to Department of Enterprise Services, where she established the Procurement, Inclusion and Equity (PIE) program. The PIE program helps lead the state's effort to procure more goods and services from small, diverse, veteran owned businesses.

In a volunteer capacity, she coaches soccer, serves on the Tumwater School District's Equity Committee, and is the co-founder of the Wa-Ya Outdoor Institute, the state's only outdoor camp that teaches outdoor adventure, STEM, and intertwines indigenous culture and knowledge. She has previously served as the treasurer of the National Native American Bar Association, as the Chair of the advisory board for the Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS), Washington DC, and is a founding board member and past treasurer for the Society of American Indian Government Employees.

Shana is married to actor/filmmaker, and owner of Sky Bear Media, Jeffrey Barehand and has five children. As a family, they participate in a diverse array of experiences including volunteering for important causes, dancing at Pow Wows, and snowboarding.