Founder / President
AmPac Tri State Certified Development Company
AmPac Tri State Certified Development Company (AmPac CDC) is a non-profit certified lender of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on a mission to finance the growth of small businesses through personalized services and advocacy in utilizing SBA resources. AmPac has funded over 130 businesses with greater than $200 Million in loans, creating more than 1,000 new jobs throughout the State of California. Our vision is to help small businesses to build wealth and create legacy by financing the purchase of commercial and industrial real estate and to provide resources to facilitate the success of promising small businesses at all stages of growth. As SBA’s first faith based CDC in the country, with a diverse Pastor’s Advisory Committee, AmPac seeks to lead SBA efforts to connect faith and business. AmPac maintains a commitment to walk hand-in-hand with business owners throughout the lending process and passionately seeks out faith centered business owners, and minority, women, veteran and disabled business owners.
Hilda Kennedy is the Founder/President of AmPac CDC. Prior to establishing the CDC, Kennedy worked in local government for the City of Inglewood, as Chief of Staff to the Mayor, Executive Assistant to the City Manager and Economic Development Director. As Economic Development Director, Kennedy established a $45 Million loan fund, leveraging HUD 108 funds with matching bank funds, to provide financing to businesses in the community.
Hilda Kennedy served on the White House and SBA Council on Underserved Communities; one of 15 representatives chosen across the country. She is current President-Elect for the National Association of Women Business Owners-California; Past President of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Inland Empire Chapter, and is immediate Past President of the Risk Management Association – Inland Empire Chapter. Kennedy serves on the Board of the National Christian Foundation and is a Board Member of the National Association of Development Companies. Hilda Kennedy is an active member of her church in Ontario, CA and serves on the Board of the Mt. Zion Economic Development Corporation.
Hilda has been recognized for her efforts to promote the growth of small businesses – she was recognized as the 32nd Senatorial District Woman of the Year by Senator Gloria Negrete McCloud 2012; received the 2012 ANITA Award by the National Association of Women Business Owners – Inland Empire Chapter; received the 2012 Community Excellence Community Builder Award, with her husband Pastor Brian Kennedy from Inland Valley Newspaper; received the 2011 Women in Business Champion Award by the U.S. Small Business Administration – Santa Ana District Office; was a recipient of the Black Rose Award-2009.
Kennedy recently completed the Goldman Sach’s CEO Cohort in Long Beach. Hilda Kennedy graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, completed a post-graduate fellowship with the Coro Foundation in New York, and completed Master’s coursework with the University of San Francisco.
Hilda Kennedy lives in Upland, CA with her husband, Pastor Brian Kennedy and their four children, Brian, Evelyn, Lelia and Joshua.