Rudolph “Rudy” Estrada
C0-founder of MBJF

Estrada served (semi-retired) as Chief Executive Officer of the Estradagy Business Advisors, a business and banking advisory firm started in 1987 and has represented more than $100 billion in banking assets and serving hundreds of small businesses in the areas of debt and equity finance. He was a founder and partner of Pacific Crest Bank a successful regional bank and was appointed by the mayor of Los Angeles to help start the Los Angeles Community Development Bank. In 2018 he retired after 40 years as a professor of business and management with the California State University as well as executive director of the Small Business Institute at the university. Prior experience has included serving in commercial and corporate banking for over thirty-five years in senior executive assignments for both domestic and international banking firms. In 1994 he was appointed by the president of the United States to serve as White House Commissioner on Small Business and in 1997 was once again appointed by the president to serve as White House Commissioner on the White House Fellows Commission Estrada served as the District Director of the United States Small Business Administration in California overseeing the largest federal district in the United States. He was responsible for the complete oversight of all federal small business lending and contracting programs with a portfolio of more than $4 billion and annual government contracts exceeding $450 million and a staff of 400+ employees. He has served on numerous public and private corporate boards and currently serves as Lead Director on the board of directors of East West Bank, a $62 billion bank with over 120 branches throughout the United States and China.
Estrada has published articles ranging from ancient Greek gold coinage to current economic conditions in the United States and has been quoted in a multitude of journals, newspapers, and magazines. He has received numerous national and local awards and citations for his public service and business accomplishments. He has been recognized for his outstanding board service and is a National Association of Corporate Directors Fellow. He served with military intelligence in the United States Army from 1969-70 and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business at the California State University, Los Angeles, and graduated with a master’s degree in Management at the University of Southern California. He completed his doctoral studies in Strategic Management at the Peter Drucker School of Management, Claremont Graduate University.