Paula Bahamon is nominated for the Fernando Award

Paula Bahamon has been an integral part of the WLACC Outreach Committee the past two years. We are thrilled to share that Paula has been nominated for the Fernando Award. The Fernando Award is the only award in the San Fernando Valley that recognizes the Spirit of Volunteerism. The Fernando Award Foundation believes that through volunteering, you can be a positive influence on young lives, help older individuals remain independent in their own homes, clean up the environment, offer your professional skills to local nonprofit groups, and lend your talents to strengthening our communities in countless ways.

Biography:

Ms. Paula Bahamon is Vice President – Community Development Officer at Mission Valley Bank, Sun Valley, California. Paula has spent her career specializing in the support and growth of small to mid-sized businesses. She has extensive commercial banking experience, specializing in small business, business development, and client relationship management. As a results-oriented banker with broad-based management skills, she has earned a solid reputation as a skilled and knowledgeable Trusted Advisor.

Her responsibilities also include providing community outreach in an advisory capacity to business owners for financial literacy.

Prior to her current role, Paula was founding member of the Small Business Banking Program for Bank of America in 2010. The consultancy, advisory and training experience she previously acquired with the Small Business Administration technical assistance programs during 2001-2007 have been particularly relevant in all her subsequent roles due to the specialized mentorship services provided to more than 2,000 entrepreneurs launching new businesses. She conducted extensive needs analyses in order to develop business plans and maintain essential industry partnerships, which helped her to build substantial client portfolios.

Ms. Bahamon currently serves as:

• Board Member for MEND (Meeting Each Need with Dignity), a non-profit organization serving economically challenged communities of the San Fernando Valley
• Advisory Board member for the School of Management – Woodbury University
• Board Member for VIA Education Foundation
• Committee Member of Outreach Program Boys and Girls Scouts

Awards:

• 2021 Nominated to the Fernando Award: The Fernando Award is the highest award for volunteerism and philanthropy in the San Fernando Valley
• 2021 SFVBJ Mentor of the Year
• 2021 SFVBJ 200 most influential
• 2020 SFVBJ 200 most influential
• 2019 SFVBJ 200 most influential
• 2019 SFBJ Women’s Council – Rising Star
• 2018 SFVBJ Trusted Advisors – Banker of the Year

Paula received her MBA from the University of La Verne in La Verne, California and earned her BS in Business Administration from the Latin American University of Science and Technology in San Jose, Costa Rica.