Core Teaching Team
Don Loewel
Director, Small Business Development Center
With over 20 years of sales, marketing and management experience in the Medical Device industry, Don served as a consultant and adviser to multiple startup companies in southern California. With his strong commercial strategy and business development skills, he has worked with small and mid-market companies to build long-term, sustainable growth.
Don is the Director at the Pasadena Small Business Development Center, where he manages a team that mentors new and existing businesses in the areas of: Lean Launch principles, value proposition development, customer discovery, sales and marketing strategies and raising capital. At the SBDC, Don has the chance to mentor startup teams at the USC Marshall School of Business and Cal State LA, and has also judged several pitch competitions. Don has completed the Lean Launchpad Educators Seminar, and has a passion for helping entrepreneurs achieve their maximum potential.
Don has a Bachelor of Science in Biology and MBA from Santa Clara University.
Albert Napoli
Business Development Consulting
Albert Napoli is a seasoned entrepreneur and consultant who has worked with thousands of business owners to help start, grow and exit successfully. He provides practical advice using the lean startup method. His consulting has helped entrepreneurs not only in the United States but in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Indonesia, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Columbia Albert has had businesses in food distribution, real estate, business strategy and family business succession. He was worked with business owners in a variety of industries including tech, retail, professional services, military, consumer goods, and entertainment, to name a few.
Albert is also a faculty member at the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Southern California where he teaches over 100 graduate and undergraduate students per semester for the last 12 years. He is immersed in the Southern California startup ecosystem with friendships and connections with some of the largest and most active angel investors and venture capital firms.
Albert graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance and Economics in 1989 and with an MBA in 2007, both from the University of Southern California. He is currently working on a doctorate program in organizational change and leadership also at USC with an anticipated graduation in May 2021.