HIGHLAND, CA — The BBOP Center and Entrepreneur High School celebrated the Inland Empire’s entrepreneurial spirit at the State of the I.E. Entrepreneurship Address & Awards on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at Entrepreneur High School in Highland, CA. The event brought together local business leaders, innovators, and community changemakers to honor achievements and chart a bold path for economic growth across the region.
“When we talk about small businesses being the backbone of our economy, we can clearly see the contributions they make to the economy by driving growth, creating jobs, and strengthening our local communities,” Dr. Tara Lynn Gray said, highlighting her office’s commitment to democratizing access to capital, diversifying the innovation economy, and driving economic mobility and wealth creation through entrepreneurship.
The address continued with a panel discussion featuring Monica Robles of Asociación de Emprendedor@s, Kailin Scott-Peoples of Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire, and Mihai Pătru of Caravanserai Project.
Their conversation highlighted both the challenges and opportunities facing Inland Empire entrepreneurs while centering the three pillars of this year’s address: entrepreneurship as workforce development, building a strong pipeline for the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and unlocking inclusive capital, demonstrating BBOP Center’s role in supporting founders with the resources, networks, and guidance they need to grow and succeed.
The highlight of the event was the State of the I.E. Awards, honoring entrepreneurs and organizations making meaningful contributions across industries. Awardees included Shannon Martin of The GuudSeed Company (EmpowerHER Award), Marisela Medina of Medina Builders (Legacy Building), Jacob Oroks of Iboto Empire (Innovating Excellence), and Katie McClendon of Foreseeing Success, LLC (Youth Empowerment Award).
“We have people here, we have innovation here, and we have opportunity, we’ve got to make it happen,” said Dr. Kim Carter-Tillman, BBOP Ambassador. “Entrepreneurship can be manifested in our community. By revitalizing downtown San Bernardino and investing in local talent, we can build a future where bold ideas thrive.”
