08/29/2026
CJ believes access to capital should come with something just as important: someone willing to listen, explain the process, and meet business owners where they are.
As Fourth Plain Forward’s Business Lending Officer, CJ works alongside local entrepreneurs to make financing feel more understandable and accessible. A Certified Financial Counselor (CCUFC) with a background in community banking, he brings together lending, financial education, and one-on-one support in a way that centers the person behind the business.
In 2025, CJ helped connect Clark County small businesses with more than half a million dollars in capital, supporting business owners as they refinanced debt, purchased equipment, expanded, and invested in their next steps.
But his connection to this work started long before lending.
Before moving from Guam to Vancouver as a child, CJ grew up watching his mom raise three children while running a catering business and his dad teach fourth grade while also working a second job. His Chamorro upbringing centered family, community, hard work, and looking out for others, values that continue to shape the way he shows up for people today.
That same commitment extends beyond his role at Fourth Plain Forward. CJ volunteers around food access and environmental education, serves on the board of the Clark County Historical Museum, and has mentored youth through basketball. He is also pursuing his business degree and cares deeply about making financial information approachable for people who learn in different ways.
And if you know CJ, you know relationships matter to him. Whether he’s on a basketball court, talking through a business idea with an entrepreneur, or introducing friends and family to one of his favorite local food spots, he enjoys connecting with people, sharing what he knows, and learning from those around him.
CJ, thank you for the care, knowledge, and steady support you bring to small business owners and to our community. We’re grateful to have you on the Fourth Plain Forward team.
