Building Sustainable & Responsible Inner City Businesses: Jose Corona of Inner City Advisors

Jose has worked in business and community development for over ten years. Currently, as the Executive Director of Inner City Advisors, Jose provides strategic leadership, management and direction to the organization.  He is passionate about entrepreneurship, having been raised by his father - a successful farming entrepreneur - who taught him how businesses have the power to transform communities.  Jose was recently recognized for his commitment and track record in supporting entrepreneurs by receiving the 2009 Young Professional of the Year Award by the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.Prior to Inner City Advisors, Jose served as Development Director for five years at Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA), a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that provides microenterprise business technical assistance and neighborhood planning services to small businesses.  Before working in the nonprofit sector, Jose also worked in Corporate Retail Operations and Human Resources at Macy's West, Inc.Jose sits on various economic development board.  He serves on the Oakland Workforce Investment Board and sits on the Bay Area Business Advisory Board of Directors for the Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco and the OneCalifornia Bank Advisory Board.  Jose is also a member of Board of Directors of the YMCA of The East Bay, OBDC Small Business Finance and People's Grocery.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from UC Davis, and Entrepreneur Management Development Certification from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.When he is not busy doing community development work, you will find him coaching and playing soccer--his other passion.You can read a transcript of this interview on Have Fun Do Good.