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Equity Alliance for Business: Meet Your Bankers

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Abby Nguyen-Burke

Senior Vice President, Team Leader

Abby Nguyen Burke smiles at the camera

Meet With Abby

Abby has over 19 years of business and community development experience in the Boston Metro area. She is currently leading a new lending initiative focused on serving the needs of women entrepreneurs and small business owners who are people of color.

Abby is first generation Vietnamese-American. Growing up as a refugee, she prioritizes the importance of family and community, and she strives to make a meaningful and lasting impact in the community where she lives and works. Recently, she was named as one of the 2022 40 Under 40 by the Boston Business Journal as well as one of the 2022 Emerging Leaders by the American Bankers Association.

As of 2023, Abby serves as Vice-Chair for the Policy Committee for the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA). In this role, she helps to lead members from 45 chapters across the country as they gather in Washington, D.C. for the 2023 Diversity and Fair Housing Summit to lobby and advocate for AAPI homeownership rights. Abby served as Chairperson for the AREAA Boston Chapter in 2021 and 2022. At Eastern, Abby has served as Co-Chair of the Asian American Professional Collective since 2012. She was formerly Board Chairperson and President of Quincy Asian Resources, Inc. for over 12 years, a volunteer teacher at Citizen Schools, Advisory Board member of Women of Means, and a volunteer for VIETAID and Dorchester House. Abby has been certified by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce with a Transformational DEI Certificate and is an alumna of The Boston Partnership. In 2014, she was named as one of the 40 under 40 by South Shore Stars, and in 2018 was named GK25 Boston’s 25 Most Influential Millennials of Color by Get Konnected!

Get to Know Abby

What was your first experience with a small business?
Helping my father with his small business. As an immigrant, my father had the opportunity to work in a printing shop and learned all the skills to eventually open his own shop. For over 20 years, he was the go-to printing company for the Vietnamese community in the Greater Boston area, printing menus, business cards, wedding invitations and more. Growing up I was tasked to help him with translating materials, responding to customers, helping with invoices and more. Through this experience, I saw my dad waking up early, coming home late, and working on the weekends. He was the end-all of every issue and decision for the company.

What does Equity Alliance for Business mean to you?
Growing up as a first generation Vietnamese American, I have always been passionate to help the underserved and underrepresented. Equity Alliance for Business gives more fuel to my fire to advocate for change and assist in elevating businesses owned by women and people of color.

What excites you about Equity Alliance for Business?
Collaboration. Seeing individuals and teams step out of their comfort level to become allies for this community. Collaboration is a big aspect of Equity Alliance for Business, from the planning to the launch and future delivery. Internal and external collaborations are essential. I’m excited to be a part of an ecosystem that prioritizes seeing everyone prosper and succeed.

What’s a favorite story involving a small business?
I have many favorites, but a standout story is about a small business I helped open its first free business checking account when it launched and I was working in a branch in retail banking. As the business has grown, I’ve been able to continue helping them with their lending needs as a business banker.

“Small business” means to me…
Grit, passion, entrepreneur.

Victoria Downes

Vice President, Relationship Manager

Meet With Victoria

Victoria Downes is a renowned consultant, speaker, educator, and banking professional with expertise in Small Business Program Design, Development and Entrepreneurship. As a Vice President in the banking sector, she brings extensive experience to support small businesses, providing the resources and guidance needed to thrive. A fierce advocate for women, Victoria fosters vibrant entrepreneurial and professional communities, with a strong commitment to equity and inclusivity. Her collaborations with local organizations champion DEI and address the unique challenges faced by communities of color. With over 17 years of entrepreneurial experience, and as an immigrant, she deeply understands the challenges faced by small business owners, particularly those of color. In all her endeavors – whether consulting, speaking or mentoring – Victoria Downes empowers individuals and organizations to excel and make a lasting impact.

Get to Know Victoria

What was your first experience with a small business? 

My first experience with a small business was through my mother, who owned a boutique travel agency in Lagos, Nigeria. As her “assistant”, I loved watching her lead, make decisions, and even getting to do a bit of “bossing” myself. Although I didn’t fully understand her role, I admired her strength and determination. I saw both the highs – like the accolades she received – and the lows – such as long nights at the kitchen table, poring over stacks of paperwork to make ends meet. Seeing her resilience and the worth she found in her work inspired me to dream of becoming a business owner. Over time, I realized the depth of her dedication and knew that entrepreneurship was a path I wanted to follow. 

What does the Equity Alliance for Business initiative mean to you? 

To me, the Equity Alliance for Business (EAB) program is alignment. With nearly two decades of experience as a small business owner and five years as a consultant for women and entrepreneurs of color, I understand the unique challenges and systemic inequities they face. EAB represents an opportunity to address these barriers by offering access to both capital and essential resources. It’s a program where entrepreneurs who have historically been underserved can feel seen, heard and supported. EAB enables businesses owned by women and people of color to survive and thrive in an often-unequal system. 

What excites you about Equity Alliance for Business? 

I’m excited about the chance to help women and entrepreneurs of color stabilize, grow and thrive through the Equity Alliance for Business. EAB is a distinctive program, and I’m passionate about amplifying its impact. This role allows me to bring awareness to EAB’s mission and connect more entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed. 

What’s a favorite story involving a small business? 

One of my favorite small business stories involves Kevin Thai, the owner of Three Circles Studio. I met Kevin during the fall of 2021 when he joined my classes at Uptima Entrepreneur Cooperative, eager to expand his business. Kevin was dedicated from the start, showing up with a ten-page Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for his photography business that he’d developed over the summer. Seeing his dedication and openness to growth was inspiring and as we worked together, his SOP more than doubled in size, and so did his vision for what his business could achieve. Three Circles Studio has established itself as the go-to studio for organizations looking for event and headshot photography in the Greater Boston and beyond with over 350 five-star reviews across platforms.

When I recently ran into Kevin again at a local business event, his success and progress filled me with pride. Hearing him share how the foundational lessons from our sessions continue to shape his business today reminded me of the profound impact that access to resources can have on an entrepreneur’s journey. 

A small business means to me… 

A small business is more than just a livelihood; it’s a pillar of community, a space for innovation and a testament to resilience. Small businesses bring people together, create jobs and fuel local economies, all while reflecting the dreams and hard work of those behind them. To me, small businesses are a cornerstone of our communities and a vital part of what makes them thrive.

Jason Solomon

Vice President, Relationship Manager

Jason Solomon smiles at the camera

Meet With Jason

Jason has over seven years of banking experience and has held management roles at various financial institutions including Cambridge Trust Company and CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. With a consultative background around outsourced CFO and finance support, Jason enjoys working with clients looking for a strong banking relationship, with a particular affinity for supporting women business enterprises (WBE) and minority business enterprises (MBE). Jason joined Eastern in 2021 as part of the Equity Alliance for Business.

Currently, Jason serves as a Board Member for the University of Maine Alumni Association and is actively involved with several business networks and community organizations, providing insights and support.

Get to Know Jason

What was your first experience with a small business?
Growing up in Dorchester, MA, I remember seeing small businesses from block to block, and many were owned by people of color. Even today, Dorchester is filled with small businesses, which is great to see as it mirrors many areas in our New England region.

What does Equity Alliance for Business mean to you?
Being a part of Equity Alliance for Business speaks to lessening systemic inequities for women and people of color business owners. In prior roles, I’ve had great experiences working directly with small business owners, and listening to their stories about how they started and got to where they are. To now have a direct impact in terms of where these business owners want to go is something that I truly relish.

What excites you about Equity Alliance for Business?
To be able to focus on women and people of color businesses owners that need support, whether with banking, lending, or beyond, is most special to me. As someone that grew up in a minority community without specialized resources and support available for businesses, I am looking to provide just that as an Equity Alliance for Business banker.

What’s a favorite story involving a small business?
My favorite recent story was hearing from a minority association group that they had tried to reach out to financial institutions. To hear from the community that our Eastern team responded, followed up and met with them served as a reminder of the great work in which Equity Alliance for Business is embarking.

“Small business” means to me…
Small business equals impact! Healthily supported and strong small businesses can have a major impact and contribute to the overall strength of a community.

 

Jose Abreu

Assistant Vice President, Relationship Manager

Jose Abreu smiles at the camera

Meet With Jose

Jose is a business management professional with over 15 years of experience in business development, relationship, and project management across different industries in Chile, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, and the United States. Jose joined Eastern Bank in 2017 as part of the consumer banking/retail team and later transitioned to the business banking team to support the small business ecosystem in Eastern’s footprint.

Jose is an active member of several Eastern employee resource groups that support communities including LGBTQIA+, young professionals, Latinos, and persons with disabilities. He serves as a mentor/coach for small business entrepreneurs and member of the Board of Advisors at Entrepreneurship for All - Merrimack Valley and Lynn, a Board Member for Daydreaming Organization, and Director of Memberships at the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) Boston. Jose is also an active member of Business Networking International in South Boston and serves as a member of the Alumni Board for AIESEC International.

Get to Know Jose

What was your first experience with a small business?
My first experience with a small business was in my late teens, when one of my sisters started her nail salon in the Dominican Republic. I watched her work against the odds by managing a business without having a bachelor’s degree. She was driven by passion and an artistry she knew better than anyone: how to make others feel pretty, confident, and empowered. Witnessing firsthand all the changes and preparation she had to undertake to begin and become profitable made me realize I wanted to support the small business ecosystem and elevate others so they can thrive and provide for their loved ones, just like my sister did.

What does Equity Alliance for Business mean to you?
Equity Alliance for Business represents a chance for me to bring in help tailored specifically to meet our women and minority business owners’ needs as well as to deliver upon their expectations for a quality banking experience.

What excites you about Equity Alliance for Business?
The game changing opportunity it will bring to our communities. We are not just doing a good thing, but the right and smart thing by helping our small businesses prosper.

What’s a favorite story involving a small business?
It involves one of my most valued customers, who owns an asset management firm in Boston. In 2018, after I was promoted to Assistant Branch Manager, he approached me for financial assistance to grow the business he started the year prior. He heard about Eastern Bank but had no relationship with us. When I heard his business plan, I immediately believed in his vision. We started to explore alternative financing options, and as a result he moved all his personal and business banking relationships to Eastern. The alternative approach ended up working, and I’m happy to say he has since been able to grow his business, despite the global pandemic, and solidify his firm. He later emailed me with these words: “Ever since I met you many years ago, you have impressed me. I follow your career on LinkedIn and continue to see you move forward. I am proud of everything you have accomplished.” I credit his trust and appreciation as the reason we were able to connect. That experience has taught me relationships matter and we need to think outside the box to become true connectors and change agents if we want our small businesses to thrive in this fast-changing economy.

“Small business” means to me...
Community development!