About Podcast
When a public-health crisis hit, one connector turned a patchwork of government resources into a lifeline for tens of thousands of small businesses. Jesse Torres, former Regional Director of the Los Angeles SBDC, California Small Business Advocate, and founder of ArroyoWest, used decades of cross-sector relationships to help distribute PPE at scale and protect small business livelihoods.
Jesse walks through the step-by-step infrastructure he helped assemble: brokering partnerships between the State, L.A. County, and the L.A. SBDC; designing logistics and distribution networks; and launching a simple public-facing website (PPEunite.org) that supported 55 distribution centers. He shares concrete lessons on reading bureaucracy (knowing “how the paper works”), building trusted referral channels into underserved neighborhoods, and applying rapid estimates and tech-light solutions to move 40 million units of PPE to 50,000+ businesses.
Key Takeaways:
- Treat your network as a strategic asset: map contacts, surface community champions, and make introductions that align resources with need.
- Build a minimal, resilient infrastructure that links people, processes, and tools so partnerships can scale beyond a single leader.
- Learn the bureaucracy: identify approval gates, timelines, and required documents so you can pierce red tape instead of being stalled by it.
- Design distribution for scale with low-friction tech simple websites, and local distribution hubs let you convert partnerships into impact quickly.
- Institutionalize disaster preparedness: create continuity plans, local champions, and repeatable logistics so relief becomes sustainable, not one-off.
Join us with Jesse Torres as he shows leaders how strategic networking and scale-ready infrastructure can mobilize resources, pierce bureaucracy, and protect thousands of small businesses in a crisis.
- Career Growth: Embrace diverse experiences and remain adaptable.
- Networking: Build strong relationships to drive success.
- Entrepreneurship: Apply skills to help businesses during crises.
- Mentorship: Learn valuable leadership lessons from mentors.
- Process Management: Navigate bureaucracy and optimize operations.
Special Guest: Jesse Torres, Owner & Principal of ArroyoWest, LLC
Location: Los Angeles, CA USA
Air Date: February 9, 2025
Websites:
- ArroyoWest: the website home of Jesse’s strategic consulting firm specializing in working with public sector entities, higher education institutions, and non-profit organizations.
- PPE Unite: a California-based organization that is “…a joint effort to give small business owners, organizations, and their workers access to much-needed personal protective equipment. This program creates access to PPE, promotes PPE use and education on safety, and provides additional resources for businesses.”
Book:
- The Tipping Point: bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell classifies some people as “Connectors.” These are people with a special gift for bringing the world together. And as you’re about to discover, Jesse is a master Connector.
Producer & Host: Alicia Butler Pierre
Additional Voiceover: : Clarence Levy III
Audio Editor: Olanrewaju Adeyemo
Sound Design: Sabor! Music Enterprises
Video Editor: Gladys Jimenez
Show Notes: Hashim Tale
Sponsor: Equilibria, Inc.More About Guest, Jesse Torres:
Jesse Torres is the owner and principal of a minority-owned consulting firm, ArroyoWest, LLC. They specialize in economic and workforce development, particularly in the area of small business development and disaster preparedness, response, and resiliency programs. He’s also the founder and creator of the Hack My Business podcast, available on Apple and Spotify – and the annual holiday social media campaign #12DaysofTakeout.
More About Host, Alicia Butler Pierre:
Alicia Butler Pierre is the Founder & CEO of Equilibria, Inc. Her career in operations began over 25 years ago while working in various chemical plants and oil refineries. She invented the Kasennu™ framework for business infrastructure and authored, Behind the Façade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success. She is the producer of Scale Tales podcast and the weekly top 2% Business Infrastructure podcast with a global audience across 70+ countries.Alicia is also an adjunct instructor of Lean Principles at Purdue University and serves as the USA Chair of the G100’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. The Process Excellence Network recognized her as a Top 50 Thought Leader in Operational Excellence. A chemical engineer turned entrepreneur, she’s designed and optimized processes for small businesses, large enterprises, non-profits, and government organizations alike.
More About Sponsor, Equilibria:
Equilibria, Inc. is a 19-year-old boutique operations management firm. We build the business infrastructure necessary for fast-growing businesses to scale with less pain. With a range of services and products, entrepreneurs can get the operational support and resources they need on demand. 
