 | | Cassius Butts Regional Administrator U.S. Small Business Administration |
The face of entrepreneurship is changing in America. Women-owned small businesses are one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy and are helping us recover from the Great Recession. Yet, there are still profound challenges women small business owners may face – lack of access to capital and resources, lack of knowledge about business basics, and lack of financial education. Women entrepreneurs should not be discouraged or be deterred for these reasons. In the Southeast Region, the U.S. Small Business Administration stands alongside entrepreneurs, including women, to knock down these small business obstacles. As an advocate and champion for small businesses across the nation, we in the Southeast Region of the SBA recognize that women are under-represented in the federal contracting marketplace despite being essential job creators in communities across the country. We all know federal contracts provide critical opportunities for owners of small firms to boost their small businesses to the next level and create good-paying jobs. That's why we rolled out the SBA Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program (WOSBs) in 2011. This program authorizes contracting officers to set aside federal contracts for eligible women-owned small businesses or economically disadvantaged small businesses to ensure women earn a fair share of the federal marketplace. Continued support for women is essential as women-owned small businesses have grown by 20 percent in five years and a quarter of small businesses are now owned or led by women. The SBA offers additional resources such as local Women's Business Centers (WBCs) and SBA Lending Programs. WBCs are an effective resource that encourage and help women small business owners navigate to success through mentorship and training. Additionally, there are various SBA loan programs that can cater to your small business needs. Overall, your gender, your race, your age, or your neighborhood should never impact you as a potential small business owner. Only your creditworthiness should. Look to the SBA as your small business resource and partner. Check out: http://www.sba.gov/content/women-owned-businesses to jumpstart your potential woman-owned small business. The SBA Region IV Office Welcomes Tawana Farley to the Team! We welcome Tawana Farley as the new Administrative Resource Coordinator within the SBA Region IV Office. Tawana previously served as the Management & Program Analyst for SBA's Government Contracting- Area III prior to her promotion. She has over 20 years of federal service and began her career with the USDA, Forest Service and later with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Tawana is a proud alumnus of the Fort Valley State University and she enjoys attending football games with her 13 year old son. We are very excited to welcome Tawana to the regional team!  | | SBA Region IV Welcomes Tawana Farley as the new Administrative Resource Coordinator within the Region IV Office!!! |
Find Out What is Happening in YOUR Area in the Southeast! | | Alabama District Office Tom Todt, District Director Alabama District Director Tom Todt spoke to over 100 attendees at the Lowndes County Small & Minority Business Lending Symposium on September 24. The event was held at First Citizens Bank in Hayneville, Alabama. The stated mission of the symposium was "to rally all state and Federal lending programs to Lowndes County small and existing businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs seeking lending options to start or expand their businesses." Among the speakers was John Harrison, State Superintendent of Banks, who had challenged Alabama banks to reach out to small businesses in Alabama at the Alabama Lenders Conference held in August by the SBA and the Alabama Small Business Development Center Network. |
Alabama Superintendent of Banks John Harrison and Alabama District Director Tom Todt at the Lowndes County Small & Minority Business Lending Symposium | |  |
 | | Florida (North) District Office Wilfredo J. Gonzalez, District Director The National Football League (NFL) and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) partner annually to recognize the contributions of Hispanic leaders in each NFL market. The Jacksonville Jaguars presented Wilfredo Gonzalez, SBA District Director with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award on September 21, 2014. The awards are presented during weeks three and four of the football season to correspond with Hispanic Heritage Month. Each recipient will receive $2,000 to donate to an organization that serves the local Hispanic community. Mr. Gonzalez selected Guardian Catholic Schools as the beneficiary of his cash award. The North Florida District Office participated in the annual Florida Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (FLAGGL) conference from September 17-19, 2014 in Orlando, FL. Regional Administrator Cassius Butts renewed the Strategic Alliance Memorandum with FLAGGL. Diane Seaborne, SBA Financial Analyst and Veronica Wallace, Lead Lender Relations Specialist provided key updates about national policy changes and local market information respectively. Key workshops at the conference included Lender Oversight, Liquidation, Liquidation Plans, Litigation, Business Acquisitions, and Credit Scoring for Small SBA 7(a) Loans. SBA and FLAGGL share a joint mission of increasing access to capital for small business owners. |
The Jacksonville Jaguars presented Wilfredo Gonzalez, SBA District Director, with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award on September 21, 2014 as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month. | |  |
 | | Florida (South) District Office Francisco "Pancho" Marrero, District Director SBA South Florida Assistant District Director, Vince Lopresti, and Veteran Business Development Officer, James Brooks, presented at the 14th Annual Veterans Conference hosted by the Small Business Development Center at Easter Florida State College. The conference attracted more than 100 veteran entrepreneurs and business owners. The lender's panel addressed the ways small business can access traditional sources of financing including those provided by SBA. |
 | | Deputy District Director Jonel Hein signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) with Miami's Beacon Council on Sept. 22. Beacon Council is Miami-Dade County's official economic development partnership that facilitates local, national and international business growth and expansion programs. The office also co-signed a statewide SAM with Florida Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders on Sept. 18. |
SBA South Florida District welcomes Leon "Lonnie" Koyama to the staff. Lonnie comes to us from the Colorado District Office. Lonnie has been a Lead Economic Development Specialist for SBA the past year, and was a Business Opportunity Specialist for the prior 4 years. He will be working out of the district's remote office in Fort Pierce. As we prepare to welcome Lonnie, we must also say farewell to Jose Negroni who retires Sept. 30. Jose has been here as a lenders relations specialist since 1993. | |  |
 | | Georgia District Office Terri Denison, District Director Harrison and Leppert Celebrate Long Careers with SBA The Georgia district is saying good bye to two seasoned Lender Relations Specialists. Both Vianna Harrison and Peter Leppert will be retiring from SBA on September 30. Vianna will be retiring with 44 years of federal service and Peter with 28 years. Vianna began her career with the Department of Defense in Denver Colorado. She came to SBA as part of the Office of Financial Operations and relocated to the Georgia District in 1987 where she worked in Servicing and Liquidation, then Financial Assistance and most recently Lender Relations. Peter joined the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in his home state of Florida right out of college. He would later take a detour from federal services to work for three different Florida banks, before bring that experience back to SBA as part of the Servicing and Liquidation team in the South Florida DO. He later worked in the South Carolina and then Georgia districts, where he was also in Servicing and Liquidation, Financial Assistance and then Lender Relations. Both Vianna and Peter plan spend more time with family and travel as much as possible. They will both be missed by the Georgia Lending Community and their SBA colleagues in the Georgia District. |
The Georgia district is saying good bye to two seasoned Lender Relations Specialists. Both Vianna Harrison and Peter Leppert will be retiring from SBA on September 30. Thank you for your years of excellent service!!! | |  |
 | | Kentucky District Office Ralph Ross, District Director Three Retiring from the Kentucky District Office The SBA Kentucky District Office is bidding a fond farewell to three long-term team members. Retiring this month are Linda George, Phil Danhauer, and Sandi Preston. Linda, who has served as SBA District Counsel for the Kentucky and North Florida District Offices, retires after 27 years of government service. She also performed the role of Acting District Director twice for the Kentucky District Office. Linda began her federal career at the Corps of Engineers in 1987 after receiving her Juris Doctorate five years earlier. She joined SBA's Kentucky District Office four years later as District Counsel. Linda also has been an adjunct instructor for Sullivan University, where she has taught legal and business topics since 1985 in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. She has been a practicing mediator since 1994, focusing predominantly on workplace conflict. Phil, Chief of Finance and Lead LRS, joined SBA in 2000 as Director of the One-Stop Capital Shop in Somerset, KY and transferred to the District Office in 2002 as Lead LRS. As Chief of Finance, Phil has overseen the SBA loan guaranty programs for the state, which has provided over $1.4 billion in loans to Kentucky businesses in the past 10 years. Using his background in banking and financial management for service-based companies, he previously was the Director of the Jackson County Entrepreneurship Center operated by Eastern Kentucky University, and his work was recognized nationally by the National Association of Management and Technical Assistance Centers and the SBA Office of Advocacy. Sandi, joined SBA in 1977 in the disaster relief division. After working four years as a Miscellaneous Document Examiner, she left the agency and worked in the private sector. In 1985, Sandi rejoined SBA as a Paralegal Specialist and has worked in the areas of commercial lending, bankruptcy and foreclosure. In addition to receiving numerous performance awards, Sandi has been chosen as the District Employee of the Year, Federal Executive Association Employee of the Year, and The General Counsel's Award, one of the highest legal achievements. She has been a member of the Kentucky Paralegal Association (KPA) and Louisville Association of Paralegals, and in 2013, Sandi received the Founders Award from the KPA. The Kentucky District Office team will miss Linda, Phil and Sandi and wishes them well in their retirement. |
 | | Mississippi District Office Janita Stewart, District Director The SBA Mississippi District office held its 2014 Bi-Annual 8(a) Conference and Procurement Matchmaking Event at the JSU e-Center in Jackson, MS on Thursday, September 4th. The free event provided an opportunity for 8(a) firms to network, receive forecasts of FY2015 federal procurement opportunities, overview of the SBA's Mentor-Protégé and JVA programs and best practices from mentors and protégés were shared, testimonials from 8(a) graduates, management and technical assistance via the SBDC, SBA's financial assistance programs, a general Q&A session, one-on-one time with small business specialists from federal, state and local organizations during the matchmaking session and how the changes to Mississippi's Lien Law may impact construction firms. |
Clockwise: Joyce Thurmond, Area III PCR addressing the audience; Janita Stewart, MS District Director and Gary Reed, MS Deputy Director presenting a certificate of appreciation to Attorney Bradford Ray for his participation; Signage welcoming the audience; and current & former 8(a) firm members introducing themselves. | |  |
 | | North Carolina District Office Lynn Douthett, District Director
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SBA North Carolina District Hosts Two ChallengeHER events SBA North Carolina District staff participated in two successful ChallengeHER Women-Owned-Small Business Contracting events co-sponsored with Women Impacting Public Policy and American Express OPEN. On August 19th in Raleigh and August 20th in Charlotte 220 attendees learned about the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program and were provided with resources and knowledge to help grow their businesses through federal contracting. Aditi Dussault, Special Advisor to the Associate Administrator in SBA's Office of Government Contracting and Business Development welcomed the group. One of the panels included SBA Business Opportunity Specialist Joe Ann Shaeffers and women-owned small businesses that were awarded contracts through the WOSB program.  Charlotte, NC is last stop on 12-city Boots to Business: REBOOT Tour Charlotte was the final city on the SBA Boots to Business: Reboot held on August 25-26 2014. Almost 900 participants attended the two-day events during the 12-city tour. The Charlotte event was held during the American Legion 96th National Convention at the Westin Charlotte Hotel. Speakers included Rhett Jeppson, Associate Administrator from SBA's Office of Veteran's Business Development, Bill Bailey, President of Rapier Solutions an 8(a) participant firm in Charlotte, staff from the North Carolina SBTDC and the Veteran's Business Outreach Center at Fayetteville State University.  Left to Right (top) top – Lynn Douthett, North Carolina District Director and Rhett Jeppson, Associate Administrator for Office of Veteran's Business Development. Bill Bailey, President of Rapier Solutions, Inc. Joe Ann Shaeffers, SBA Business Opportunity Specialist. Left to Right (bottom) - Sgt. Antoinette Walker, 81st Regional Support Command and James A Eddis, O.D.
North Carolina SBTDC Director George McAllister leads a group session.  | | South Carolina District Office Elliott Cooper, District Director
On Wednesday, September 10, the SBA South Carolina District Office and Clemson University joined forces in a strategic alliance to better serve the needs of startup technology companies in South Carolina's rural and other non-metropolitan communities. The agreement was signed by District Director Elliott Cooper and Clemson University President James P. Clements. "This agreement, along with the agreement our office signed last year with Benedict College, will give us opportunities to work with growing communities and businesses over the coming year," said Gregg White, Deputy District Director of the SBA South Carolina District Office. Mr. White, a Clemson alumnus, was a key player in the agreement's development. The Strategic Alliance Memorandum—or SAM— agreement will engage SBA's support in Clemson's new "Technology Villages" pilot program, which will link community centers to intellectual property, technology evaluation, product development services, seed financing, business mentorship, corporate relationships and staff recruiting.
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Elliott Cooper, SBA District Director, and Clemson University President James P. Clements Sign Alliance | |  |
 | | Tennessee District Office Walter Perry, District Director The 3rd Annual "Services for Those Who Have Served" Veterans event was presented on September 12th in Johnson City with over 70 attendees, featuring a keynote address by U.S. Congressman, Phil Roe, along with panels and SBA participants and presenters, District Director Walter Perry and Veterans Business Development Officer, David Tiller. Event partners included Dr. Bob Justice, Director, Tennessee Small Business Development Center at East Tennessee State University along with representatives of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. On September 15th, the District Office participated in the kick-off of Hispanic Heritage Month with the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NAHCC) at Belmont University—the NAHCC is one of only eight Hispanic chambers chosen for the national partnership between SBA and the National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2012. Deputy District Director LaTanya Channel and PIO David Tiller also attended the event to announce SBA support for the month-long celebration, while witnessing the signing of the NAHCC Strategic Alliance Memorandum. Also this month, on September 10th, training was presented to the Memphis Emerging Leaders Class on financing options for small businesses and earlier in the day a government contracting training session was offered in Memphis in partnership with the University of Tennessee's Center for Industrial Services; an overview of 504 lending in Tennessee was provided by District Director Perry on September 15th at the annual meeting of Area-wide Development Corporation, a top CDC lender in the state. During the last full week in September, DDD Channel will be participating in a Small Business Forum conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, The Jackson Chamber of Commerce, and the TN Small Business Development Center in Jackson and serving as a panelist for the government contracting training to the Emerging Leaders class, while Veterans Business Development Officer, David Tiller will be conducting a two day Boots 2 Business event at the Naval Support Activity Millington. We recently received word that Citizens Bank of Nashville will be the newest SBA lender in Tennessee. Citizens is the oldest minority owned bank in the state and already has lined up two SBA loans to minority owned small businesses as soon as the Lender Service Provider Agreement is completed. |
The signing of the NAHCC Strategic Alliance Memorandum by District Director Perry and Yuri Cunza, CEO of the NAHCC | |  |
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