Bisa Grant, President and CEO of the Dublin-based Anchor Engineering firm, credits Community Bank of the Bay for easing her transition from bookkeeper to company president and CEO. 

Grant, who holds an MBA from California State University at Dominguez Hills and a bachelor’s degree in sociology and African American studies with a business specialization from the University of California at Los Angeles, started working for Anchor part-time in 2010. When then-owner Chris Coles announced his plans to retire, he offered Grant the chance to buy the business. She hesitated at first, but her brother and CBB helped make it happen.

“After being introduced to Community Bank of the Bay, we were able to set up a meeting and go in and have a great conversation,” Grant said. “And I totally felt like our values were absolutely aligned.”

“What the bank perceived as a strong client was exactly who we were…this was refreshing. They wanted to help us, and we wanted to be a good client. We, as a company, wanted to provide deposits; we wanted to access a line of credit and to access any other resources that the bank could provide us in our relationship — so that we can continue to grow. And it’s been great ever since.”

Anchor, which serves as the field representative for public agencies during construction projects, went from being a $1 million company to a $5 million one. Grant said CBB’s ability to help Anchor access resources while waiting on payments from government agencies has been critical to that kind of growth.

“CBB was just the solution to a challenge at a pivotal time in our company’s history of growth,” Grant said. “Without CBB, we really would not have been able to sustain our operations. Honestly, we could have easily been put out of business. So, I can attribute our ability to pivot rather than sink to our relationship with Community Bank of the Bay.”

Thanks to CBB’s support, Anchor is also expanding its community service initiatives. Through a public-private partnership with the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs’ Activities League (DSAL), food hubs are being built to serve area residents.