Advisory Members

Sylvia Castillo served as director and foundation and community officer for MUFG Union Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility group. In this role she was responsible for building relationships with civic and business leaders, community-based advocacy organizations, and multicultural leaders throughout the communities that the bank served. Additionally, Ms. Castillo directed initiatives that involved the bank’s Foundation, public policy, and community development efforts.

Ms. Castillo has more than 35 years of experience in the banking industry. Prior to joining Union Bank in 2012, she served as a senior vice president and consumer market executive at Bank of America, where she was responsible for driving growth of consumer markets. Ms. Castillo also held several other management and executive positions at Bank of America.

Active in the community, Ms. Castillo served on the board of Vermont Slauson EDC, The Wiley Center, The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the corporate advisory board of the Brotherhood Crusade and the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce. In 2020, Sylvia was invited to serve on the board of the newly formed CDFI NEW Economics for Women; she also joined the University of La Verne President’s Council.

Ms. Castillo previously served on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association of Greater Los Angeles, the Governing Board of (MEND) Meet Each Need with Dignity, LA Youth Network, United Negro College Fund and Leadership Council, the National Latina Business Women Association Los Angeles Chapter, the Latin Business Association as well as Latino Health Access and New Economics for Women.

In 2019, Ms. Castillo was honored with the prestigious Ethel Levitt Humanitarian Award and also the Latinas Award by the Latina Public Service Academy. Ms. Castillo is a graduate of the UCLA Business

Quentin D. Strode is a community economic development leader dedicated to offering equitable financial solutions for marginalized businesses of color.

Quentin has served in senior leadership roles at Bank of America and U.S. Bank as top producer for the Western Regions. Running multi-state retail and small business operations while overseeing all aspects of bank operations, Quentin was in charge of integrating resources to drive and differentiate the brand and increase market share for both banks. Instrumental in revenue generation, Quentin delivered the bank’s full resources to various consumer and business-related services while also guiding decisions on local charitable giving, sponsorships, marketing and coordination of all community relations activities including local youth business training and mentorship.

Leveraging his expertise as a former executive for Bank of America and U.S. Bank, Quentin takes on a comprehensive approach to bridging the capital access gap for underserved community entrepreneurs and small business owners.

As CEO of Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation, Quentin is focused on improving the economic wellness of South LA’s disenfranchised entrepreneurs and small business communities by boosting capital access, capacity building and networking opportunities that expand beyond the LA neighborhood. By amplifying technical and entrepreneurial assistance and strengthening youth education, Quentin envisions a strong roadmap that facilitates business growth and job creation enhancing community self-sufficiency. Most recently as President and CEO for NEW Community Investments, Strode launched two business centers, offered college-level proprietary entrepreneurial courses, and provided alternate financing options to help underserved women, women of color and minority small businesses succeed.

Quentin is deeply involved in community affairs and is a sought-after board member, serving on the board of some of the most influential industry associations and community organizations like the LA Urban League and the Center Theater Group in the past. He also supports educational and scholarship opportunities for Southern California’s disadvantaged communities through board memberships for The Randal Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of La Verne, USC Dornsife College of Letters Arts and Sciences, Educating Young Minds, MUFG Union Bank Community Advisory Board, STEAM:CODERS and Woodstock Institute in Chicago, Il. He was recently appointed to the board of BizFed Institute.

Quentin is currently working on a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of La Verne. He holds a certificate from the Graduate School of Banking at the Pacific Coast Banking School, University of Washington in Seattle, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Jacksonville State University in Alabama. He is also a graduate of the Leadership Los Angeles and studied at Master of Public and Private Management program at Birmingham Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama.