Executive Director

Bob Dickerson

Bob Dickerson has spent his career finding ways to get money into the hands of people. For years, he did it as a commercial and consumer lending officer while working at several large financial institutions. Today, he does it as the executive director of the Birmingham Business Resource Center, which offers loan and training programs to help small businesses.

Bob started the BBRC in 1996 after realizing there was no program in Birmingham that combined loan programs with capacity building and advocacy – three things every business needs to succeed. Bob secured the support of Birmingham elected officials, and various development companies and boards to start BBRC. What he ended up with was an organization that has become a “one-stop shop” for small businesses.

“We see projects that range from a few thousand dollars, to projects that go as high as several million dollars,” Bob said. He added that the programs the BBRC manages have included nearly $200 million in loans to businesses since 1996.

Bob graduated from Tuskegee Institute in 1973 with a degree in business administration. He has worked at several financial institutions but said that working for Birmingham business icon A. G. Gaston may have been the greatest moment in his career.

Gaston made such an impression on Bob, that Bob and others started the A.G. Gaston Conference in 2005. The annual conference looks at the challenges and achievements of the “black business,” and examines how to strengthen it through networking, skills and workshops.  The conference is usually held in February in Birmingham.

Bob is a member of several foundations, boards and civic organizations. His efforts in helping people earned him the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce’s Jesse J. Lewis Jr. Community Service Award in 2001; and the Birmingham Business Journal’s Wachovia Minority Business Executive of the Year in 2007.

Bob is a dedicated father, grandfather and community businessman. When he’s not working, he’s on the golf course, no doubt talking about how to help get money into the hands of the next well-deserving entrepreneur.

Bob can be reached at 205-250-6380, or bdickerson@bbrc.biz for more information.