Washington State Department of Commerce
presents
Small Business Support Resources
Small Businesses are the backbone of Washington State’s economy. The small business teams at the Washington State Department of Commerce are excited to share tools and new programs designed to support small business owners and expand lending and investments in communities across the state. Also included in the presentation is the resources available to small businesses that desire to expand into trade or increase their export overseas.
Chris Wills
Washington State Department of Commerce
Prior to joining the Washington State Department of Commerce, Chris Wills worked in environmental management, forestry, wildland fire, and aquatic leasing. As an entrepreneur, he started
and subsequently sold a vending business and a small taproom/restaurant. Before coming to Commerce,
his focus has been on land purchase, disposal, and development within northeast and southwest
Washington.
Chris graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of
Science in Resource, Recreation, and Tourism and minored in
Business.
Linda Lee Womack
Washington State Department of Commerce
Linda Lee Womack joined the newly formed Small Business Finance and Community Support department at the Washington State Department of Commerce in June, 2022. The department will run the Washington State Small Business Credit Initiative Program and other grant programs to support the small business community.
Before joining Commerce, Linda served as the Director of the
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) – Washington
Business Center, operated by the City of Tacoma’s Community and
Economic Development Department, under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce. As the MBDA director from 2016 to 2022, she was recognized for targeting minority-owned enterprises with technical and strategic business consulting to increase their capacity to create and retain jobs. Prior to her role as the business center director, Linda operated a boutique Korean interpretation/translation firm specializing in cultural brokering, business contracts, and medical interpretations.
Before opening her firm in 2015, Linda spent 12 years in Asia working as a go-to-market and global marketing strategist with Samsung, AIG International, and the Korean Tourism Organization’s international convention team to increase their presence and attract foreign direct investments globally. Linda received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington and holds an MBA from the Helsinki School of Economics (Aalto University School of Business).
Callum Cleary
Washington State Department of Commerce
Prior to joining Commerce’s Export Assistance Team, Callum Cleary worked for a law firm focused on trade remedy litigation, serving as an International Trade Specialist. In this role, Callum managed trade policy research and advocacy projects on behalf of domestic
manufacturers, trade unions, trade associations and consumers.
Callum has strong experience in international trade analysis,
import-export policy compliance and enforcement research. He
worked closely with U.S federal regulatory agencies such as the
U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration, Customs and Border Protection and the
International Trade Commission.