SANTA ANA, Calif. — During its annual meeting in August 2025, Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County welcomed two new directors to its board––Ernie Hwang, president and chief executive officer of Icon Business Bank in Riverside, and Alice Corona, president and chief executive officer of Kresser, Corona & Associates in Woodland Hills.
Hwang arrives with more than 36 years of commercial banking experience. His background prior to leadership of Icon bank, which was founded in 2023, includes serving as senior executive vice president at Pacific Premier Bank. In that position he oversaw lending groups focused on Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP), healthcare, entertainment, and the bank’s institutional syndicated loan portfolio.
“Our board of directors plays a vital role in the oversight and direction of our agency.””
Hwang has roots in banking entrepreneurship. He founded and served as president of Security California Bancorp and served as vice chairman and chief lending officer of its subsidiary, Security Bank of California, a $750 million bank headquartered in Southern California. He held this role from 2004 until the bank’s sale in 2016 to Pacific Premier Bank.
During the years leading to his establishment of Security California Bancorp, Hwang held various senior management positions in corporate and commercial with City National Bank and Bank of California (Mitsubishi/MUFG). He begin his career in the banking industry as a corporate apprentice in Security Pacific National Bank’s (now Bank of America) corporate credit training program.
He is currently a member of Grayhawk Capital’s investment committee, a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC), and serves as a director of NSPC Management, Merit Oil and PBC Companies. He was previously a director with Rovema GmbH, a German manufacturing company until its sale to an equity-sponsored firm.
Hwang is also a trustee with La Sierra University and serves as audit chair for the Riverside Art Museum. He previously served as finance chair of the Riverside Community Health Foundation and president of the Loma Linda University Health Children’s Hospital Foundation Board.
Hwang earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Loma Linda University and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.
Ernie Hwang
SBDC-OC board director, president and chief executive officer of Icon Business Bank. (Photos: Jon Hwang)
Corona’s firm offers a full menu of Small Business Administration (SBA) loan consulting services to lenders and small businesses, including full compliance loan reviews, legacy loan services, SBA guaranty purchase packages, underwriting and packaging, loan document and closing, assistance with mergers and acquisitions, forensic reports, internal audits, among others.
Alice Corona
SBDC-OC board director, president and chief executive officer of Kresser, Corona & Associates.
Corona has served as president and CEO since 2020 and previously held the position of executive vice president and chief financial officer with the firm for 13 years.
In her current position she is responsible for strategic planning, financial and operational leadership. She develops and implements programs and services, analyzes financial trends and budgets, advances banking relationships and develops strategic financial partnerships, works for increased operating efficiencies, and enhanced visibility with lenders and community stakeholders.
Prior to her work with Kresser, Corona & Associates, Corona served as president and CEO of Las Villas, Inc. for 12 years. During this time, she worked with government agencies, nonprofits, and private lenders in developing SBA and Community Reinvestment Act-funded housing and mixed-use real estate developments.
Corona holds an MBA from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business, and a BS in business from the University Tecnologico de Monterrey. She is a member of the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders, the primary trade association for the SBA 7(a) lending industry.
“Our board of directors form a vital role in the oversight and direction of our agency,” said Michael Ocasio, chief executive officer of Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County. “We are delighted to welcome Ernie and Alice to the board and deeply appreciate the insights and expert guidance they give us.”
