Willa Smith

Willa Smith is an accomplished business advisor with extensive experience in commercial lending and strategic business guidance. Currently serving as an Advanced Certified Business Advisor at the New York Small Business Development Center since June 2020, Willa specializes in helping business owners navigate the loan process and secure funding. Prior roles include VP/Relationship Manager at Gold Coast Bancorp, Inc., and VP, Business Relationship Manager III at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where Willa provided tailored financial solutions to a diverse portfolio of clients. Willa’s background also features leadership positions at Citi, extensive teaching experience as an adjunct professor in entrepreneurship at Stony Brook University, and a solid foundation in residential lending as Vice President & Regional Sales Manager at The Dime Savings Bank of NY. Willa holds a Master of Professional Studies in Human Resource Management from Stony Brook University and a BA in Sociology from the State University of New York at Oswego.