SUZANNE SIERRA
SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER
ST. LOUIS MOSAIC PROJECT
Ms. Sierra is Senior Program Manager for the St. Louis Mosaic. In her role, she manages community programs and initiatives which focus on the Mosaic Project’s goal of transforming St. Louis into the fastest-growing major metropolitan area for immigration by 2025. This includes collaborating with business and university leaders and community partners to provide professional and social connections to foreign-born individuals, professionals, and entrepreneurs. In addition, Ms. Sierra speaks regularly on behalf of the Mosaic Project and looks for opportunities to publicize examples of how the region is welcoming to the foreign-born community.
Suzanne holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin, is of Colombian descent and speaks Spanish. She is a graduate of FOCUS Leadership St. Louis, formerly served on the Olivette, MO City Council and regularly provides communication coaching to first-time entrepreneurs through the BALSA Foundation. She and her husband have two sons and reside in Olivette, MO.
Nha Nguyen serves as the Director of Economic Development at the International Institute of St. Louis. She leads a diverse team that specializes in supporting clients to start and grow their businesses. Nha believes immigrants and refugees enrich The U.S economically and culturally. She has dedicated more than 10 years at the Institute to promoting and developing small businesses through micro lending and financial stability programs for immigrants. She is an active member of St. Louis CDFI and CRA coalitions, cultivating professional relationships with bankers and local partners. Nha holds a MBA in International Business from Avila University.
Jeff Frankel
Jeff Frankel is an Assistant Vice President within St. Louis Economic Development Partnership’s (SLEDP) business development division where he leads Nvsted, an equity crowdfunding platform that connects St. Louis startups and small businesses to accredited and non-accredited investors in a centralized financial marketplace. Frankel also manages Heartland Regional Investment Fund, a $100 million Community Development Entity deploying New Markets Tax Credit financing throughout the greater St. Louis bi-state region, and supports SLEDP’s EB-5 Regional Center, Gateway to the Midwest Investment Center. Prior to STLPartnership, Jeff sourced, structured, and managed New Markets Tax Credit transactions for U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation and Advantage Capital Partners.
COLLEEN MULVIHILL
Colleen is the SBDC Business Counselor and Small Business Development Manager at the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. Colleen’s 25 years of start-up and management experience contribute to assisting STL small businesses to start and grow. Colleen serves on the St. Louis Equity in Entrepreneurship Collective Board and is passionate about connecting entrepreneurs to resources and to the community. Colleen is a St. Louis native and holds an MBA degree from Fontbonne University.
