Photo of Anna Siefert by Joseph Donato (Cashman Photo)

Anna Siefert

Helping Small Businesses Achieve Their Goals

BY CHANELLE HAYES

When you support a small business, you support a dream. And that’s exactly what Anna Siefert did. It ended up being her passion. She turned her passion into a career of helping others succeed through her work in small business development. However, getting there wasn’t easy, as she encountered some challenges and shifted her career focus.

“I grew up in a loving and protected family with education as a top priority,” she said. Siefert came to the United States from Vietnam in 1969. “In the Asian culture, every child is expected to grow up and become what their parents want them to become. They always said, “You’ll be this, you’ll be that,” she said. “I was to be a pharmacist.” After a few semesters at Washington State University, she realized pharmacy wasn’t the right career path for her.

While in Washington, she began her career in the financial industry as a banker. Her husband was in the military, so they soon moved to Nevada, where she accepted an operations manager position for a Nevada National Bank branch. Still, she felt like something was missing. “I finally realized what I wanted to do,” she said. “I wanted to be in business somewhere and help small businesses, especially women-owned businesses, achieve their goals.

She volunteered at the Nevada Microenterprise Initiative (NMI) and felt like she found her dream career. “I fell in love with their mission,” she said of the private nonprofit community development financial institution that offers services and programs for micro, small, women, and minority-owned businesses in low-income and disadvantaged communities in Nevada. “I volunteered with the NMI for a while and then moved into a business advisor position.”

She continued to grow with the NMI as a loan manager and business technical assistant before becoming the project director for the Nevada Women’s Business Center (NWBC), a program offered through the U.S. Small Business Administration, which, at one point, served 144 centers in the United States. The NWBC, rated in the top 10 for five consecutive years, offers entrepreneurs tools and resources, such as business counseling, workshop training, and seminars with industry experts. “I truly connected with the small business community,” she said. “Witnessing our clients’ dreams of owning and bringing to fruition a successful business was and continues to be the driving force in my advocacy commitment.”

Siefert furthered her business and economic development career as a Nevada community liaison for the Women’s Business Enterprise Council-West (WBEC-West). “Together with the leadership and support from Dr. Pamela Williamson, president/CEO, enabled me to grow the Nevada territory,” she said. “My role was assisting, advocating, and hosting events for certified women business owners growing their businesses and increasing membership. We went from 50 to more than 200 members, which I am very proud of.”

In addition to serving the small business community through her work, she also served on various committees and boards. “I was the chair of the State of Nevada Commission on Minority Affairs,” she said. “I did that for quite some time. I was also a regional judge for the U.S. Small Business Administration Small Business of the Year Awards.” Siefert also lent her time to the National Judicial College and Salvation Army Southern Nevada Board of Advisory and served on the Nevada Contractor Association Diversity Committee.

Siefert has been honored with numerous awards over the years, including the Women of Distinction Award, Nevada Minority Supplier Development Council Advocate of the Year Award, the Nevada Small Business Development Center Michael Graham Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, the U.S. Small Business Administration Small Business Lifetime Advocate Award, the Urban Chamber of Commerce Women in Business & Politics Award, and the Women Business Enterprise Council-West Nevada Community Resource Partner of the Year Award.

Siefert retired in 2021 and in that same year former Governor Steve Sisolak and Mayor Carolyn Goodman proclaimed April 2nd as “Anna Siefert Day” to commemorate her tremendous career and service to the Las Vegas business community. “I was honored and humbled by these proclamations as serving the community and others has always been my passion and what I truly love doing.”

Although she is retired, her need to support worthy causes continues. She currently serves on the executive leadership team for the Annual Night en Blanc Gala for the Collaboration Center Foundation. This nonprofit organization is becoming the largest disability resource network in Nevada, with programs and services for individuals, families, and caregivers of all ages with intellectual, developmental, physical, and learning disabilities.

“I have lived a long life and want always to be remembered for my honesty, integrity, and perseverance.” One of Siefert’s favorite books is Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. “It’s such an inspirational book,” she said. “It talks about having a mission and how that will include your family, friends, and community. If you were going to die, think about what your memorial service would be like. What would your family say about you? What would your friends say about you? What would the community say about you? That’s how I choose to live and will continue to live my life.”

Siefert spends a lot of quality time with family: Her husband, David, of 56 years, two daughters, and grandson, who attends Bishop Gorman High School. “Family is very important to me,” she said. “I always admired my parents for their strength, compassion, and love for family and others. They are the reason why I am who I am today.”