Regina Grant Peterson is a native of Houston, Texas. After graduating from high school, she decided to attend college in Los Angeles, California and later made California her home. She graduated with a B. S. Degree in Business Administration and a M. P. A. Degree in Public Administration from Pepperdine University.

She worked at the City of Long Beach, Community Development Department from 1975 to 1992 in all professional capacities in economic development with emphasis in redevelopment and marketing. She served in management as Economic Development Officer, Business Assistance Officer and Housing Assistance Officer from 1985 to 1992.

While serving in economic development, she assisted in the establishment of the non-profit Long Beach Area CDC (aka Long Beach LDC) which was licensed as a U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 502/503/504 loan program providing financing to persons wishing to grow their businesses, own their own facilities, and create new jobs. She served as senior staff of the CDC from 1979 to 1990.

Since 1992, she has served as the CDC’s executive director which includes staff supervision, marketing, loan processing, closing and loan servicing. The CDC also serves as a SBA 7(a) loan packaging and technical assistance provider under the SBA’s Community Express Program. Regina and her staff have assisted in financing over $650 million in projects and created and retained over 20,000 jobs. In November 2003, the CDC expanded its SBA - Los Angeles district-wide territory to its state-wide designation.

Regina takes pride in the customer service offered to the CDC’s borrowers, lender partners and other professional industry partners. She is also proud of the high representation of minority and women-owned borrowers which the CDC has financed over the years. She serves regularly as a speaker on panels to walk businesses through their business financing needs.

Regina is actively involved in a variety of SBA professional organizations, area chambers of commerce, minority/women business and professional organizations, and community service organizations. She also serves as Vice Chairperson of the Trustee Board and Chairperson of the Scholarship Fund at her church.

Regina has served as founder and coordinator of various community organizations in Long Beach, one of which is the Black Manager ‘s Association of the City of Long Beach where she continues to serve as a member. She has also established two local high school scholarship funds at Lynwood High School, in Lynwood and Mayfair High School in Lakewood in her late husband’s, Chick Peterson’s memory. Regina is the proud mother of two adult sons.

Regina has received numerous awards over the years. Recently, she has been the recipient of two prestigious awards: SBA’s 2007 Financial Services Champion of the Year Award in May 2007 and the Long Beach Business Journal Women’s Leadership Award from the Women’s Leadership Exchange in August 2007.