Purpose
The Small Business Advisory Task Force (SBATF) was established in 2018 to facilitate feedback and recommendations to the City regarding proposed changes to policies affecting small business growth, such as procurement and outreach. The small business community’s feedback allows the City to update and/or adjust its current policies, processes, and programs to best meet the needs of small businesses and ensure their growth and development. The SBATF advises Vice Mayor Chappie Jones, and he in turn conveys the Task Force’s feedback and policy recommendations to the City Council and Mayor. In addition, the SBATF also provides a forum in which small business representatives discuss, share, and learn about mutual items of interest in relation to City operations, policy, and programs that they in turn convey to their membership businesses.

Membership
The Small Business Advisory Task Force is made up of nine voting members representing ethnic chambers of commerce, non-profits that provide small business services, and small business owners registered and located in the City of San José.  Designated representatives may appoint an alternate representative and are allowed the same voting privileges at any of the task force meetings.  Election of Officers occurs annually in October and November. Associate Members are non-voting representatives that attend, participate and contribute at task force meetings and subcommittee meetings.

2020 Schedule of Meetings

2020 Agenda & Minutes 2019 Agendas & Minutes 2018 Agendas Bylaws
Additional Background
Reports/Memos/Letters Work Plan 2018
Work Plan 2019
Accomplishments 2019
Priority Nominations for 2020
Work Plan 2020

Task Force Members & Alternates
District 1, City of San José
Vice Mayor Chappie Jones, Chair         
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley
Dennis King, Vice Chair
James Duran, Alternate
Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley
Allie Lopez, Member
Marinel Messersmith, Alternate
Rainbow Chamber of Commerce
Bettie Owen, Member
Hank Dean, Alternate
Silicon Valley Chinese Technology & Business Association
Helen Wang, Member
Khanh Hoang, Alternate
Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce 
Carl Davis Jr., Member
Wilbur Jackson, Alternate
Silicon Valley Organization
Mason Fong, Member
Eddie Truong, Alternate
Vacancy
Winchester Business Association, Member-at-Large 
Ken Kelly, Member

Associate Members
Taiwanese American Chamber of Commerce
Annie Tsai
Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce
Nga Nguyen
Silicon Valley Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce
Nancy Kieu Nga Avila, Member
Alan Nguyen, Alternate

​Staff Liaison
Raania Mohsen, Deputy Chief of Staff, District 1
Contact Information:
raania.mohsen@sanjoseca.gov
​408-535-4901

​Additional Information
  • Taskforce Appointment: invitation by District 1.
  • Meeting Cycle:
    • One meeting per month, 2nd Thursday’s, 4 pm;
    • The voting membership may decide by majority vote to replace a meeting with an event at their discretion or cancel a meeting.
  • Meeting duration: one hour per meeting.
  • Agendas: published at least three days prior to meeting.
  • Meeting Notes/ Minutes: Meeting notes are optional. If any notes are sent to Task Force members, copies will be distributed within one week.
  • All meetings are open to the public.