| October 2014  | | 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. At SBA, we know business success can be achieved with the right tools. We have a reason to celebrate Women's Small Business Month with our success stories. I have had the honor to visit women-owned small businesses in every state of Region IV; the Southeast Region. I have been encouraged by the sucess of these small businesses and appreciate that many of them succeeded by utilizing the tools the SBA and resource partners have provided them. There is a sense of pride that goes along with this. The SBA provides the tools and the business owner puts the tools to work which drives success. 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.  | | Patrick Rodriguez recently joined the North Carolina District Office team and took over the Senior Area Manager position based out of Raleigh. Patrick will assist business owners, lenders and government contracting entities throughout 20 counties around the Raleigh area access SBA programs and services. Previously, Patrick worked as an Economic Development Specialist in the Los Angeles District Office. Patrick served in the Army Reserve for eight years where he worked as a Journalist and Military Historian, serving in Kosovo in '02 and in Iraq in '05 and '06. Welcome aboard, Patrick! |
 | | Shannica Owens joined SBA in 2004 with the National Guaranty Purchase Center in Herndon, Virginia. Shannica previously served as a Loan Specialist working with 7a Lenders on the servicing and liquidation of their portfolio. She has over 10 years of service with SBA, and recently relocated from Charlestown, West Virginia to Charlotte, NC where she accepted a new position as the Lender Relations Specialist for the North Carolina District Office. Shannica is a graduate of George Mason University with a B.S. degree in Health Systems Management. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Business Administration. We are excited to have Shannica join our team! |
 | | SBA Alabama District Office Tom Todt, District Director |
On October 14, as part of Hispanic Heritage month, District Director Tom Todt and Lender Relations Specialist Rod Perkins participated in a networking event sponsored by the Birmingham Business Alliance's Hispanic Business Council. The council, part of the BBA's Birmingham Regional Enterprise Council, assists Hispanic-owned businesses and Hispanic business professionals through networking and educational activities. It offers a forum for sharing business information and seeks to increase awareness of the growing Hispanic population within the Birmingham region. The Birmingham region covers a seven-county footprint with a population of 1.1 million. During the session, each attendee presented their elevator speech, and then did informal networking. Many of the attendees picked up copies of the Alabama Small Business Resource Guide, as well as Recursos Para La Pequeῆa Empresa. (Muchas gracias to Mark Gibson from the Georgia District and Sharon Murff-Harvey of the Indiana District for sharing copies of Recursos). For information on upcoming events, please visit www.sba.gov/al.  | | SBA North Florida District Office Wilfredo J. Gonzalez, District Director |
As part of Veterans Business Ownership Week the North Florida District Office will be hosting a franchise ownership training on November 4, 2014. The workshop will focus on how veterans, transitioning service member, or their families can become an entrepreneur through franchising. The workshop will be hosted at the SBA office in Jacksonville, Florida. For more information about the workshop or to register, please contact Natalie Hall, Veterans Representative at (904)443-1902. The North Florida District will also participate in the City of Jacksonville and the University of North Florida Veterans events during the Veterans Business Ownership Week. For upcoming events in NOrth Florida, please visit www.sba.gov/fl/north.  | | SBA South Florida District Office Francisco "Pancho" Marrero, District Director |
Thirteen of the original 16 businesses selected for South Florida District's inaugural "Emerging Leaders" class made their final 3-year strategic plan presentations on Oct. 13. Along with local business leaders, several South Florida District employees volunteered to evaluate the 15-minute presentations and provided feedback on the plans. An "Emerging Leaders" graduation event will be held next month. We began our new fiscal year with three new strategic alliance memorandum ceremonies. A strategic alliance memorandum (SAM) was signed with Greater Miami Gardens Chamber of Commerce (GMGCC) Executive Director Ula Zucker Williams on Oct. 22, and Goodwill Industries Chief Executive Officer, Tom Feurig on Oct. 23. Five days later, a new SAM was signed with Marie Capita, Executive Director of the Immokalee Business Development Center. The first week of November is designated Veteran Owned Business Week. SBA South Florida District and the City of Palm Bay will be sponsoring a half-day workshop titled: "How to Start Your Own Veteran Owned Business". This workshop will reach out to veterans and their family members and go over the major milestones of the journey to small business ownership. Finally, the district, our Miami Dade SCORE chapter and city of Miami partner on Friday, Oct. 24 at Jose Marti Park for another successful Encore Entrepreneur workshop. This no-cost workshop, targeting entrepreneurs over the age of 50, continues to be a popular workshop for everyone.  | | SBA Georgia District Office Terri Denison, District Director |
The Georgia District is Proud to Introduce to You 2 New Members to Their Team!The Georgia District is excited to welcome the newest Lender Relation Specialist, Lewis Burger. He joins us from the Colorado District office by way of the National Guarantee Purchase Center. Lewis is no stranger to Georgia or small business. He is a native of Kentucky and has been a Georgia resident since 1978. Lewis' SBA, entrepreneurial experience and superior customer service will greatly add to the Georgia District office mission. | |  |
Turning the page and opening the door to her next chapter; the Georgia District Office warmly welcomes Ms. Jennifer Tilden, Supervisor Business Opportunity Specialist. Team Georgia carries one of the SBA's top performing 8(a) portfolios. We are very excited to have Jennifer on the team in the great state of Georgia. Ms. Tilden hails from Connecticut and joins the team from the Philadelphia PA district office. Welcome Jennifer! | |  |
 | | SBA Kentucky District Office Ralph Ross, District Director |
The SBA Kentucky District Office has training or outreach events scheduled the entire month of November all across the state. Highlights include three events for women-owned businesses, the annual Lenders Conference and Small Business Saturday. For women business owners in Kentucky, there is an SBA Programs and Certifications seminar for the Lexington, KY Government and Commerce Lexington on November 3; a webinar by the Women's Business Center of Kentucky, the EEOC and SBA on November 5; and a Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses Seminar with the Lexington SBDC on November 19. SBA is also offering a HUBZone and Contracting Outreach program geared towards minority-owned businesses in underserved areas of west Louisville on November 5, as well as a repeat session on November 11 at Greater Louisville Inc. – The Metro Chamber of Commerce. SBA will be participating in the Kentucky Association of Economic Developers annual conference on November 12 in Louisville and provide a presentation on SBA programs at the Build, Go and Grow Entrepreneur Conference in Madisonville on November 15. The month will be capped off with the annual Kentucky SBA Lenders Conference, a two-day event in Louisville on November 20/21, followed by the Small Business Saturday event with the Louisville Independent Business Alliance on November 29. Details for all events can be found on the Kentucky District Office calendar, www.sba.gov. For questions, send an email to michael.ashcraft@sba.gov or call Michael Ashcraft at 502.582.5971, extension 225.  | | SBA Mississippi District Office Janita Stewart, District Director |
The SBA Mississippi District Office is seeking nominations for the 2015 Mississippi Small Business Person of the Year and Small Business Champion Awards. "You can be part of this year's celebration by nominating an outstanding small business owner or small business champion in your community for one of these awards," said Janita Stewart, SBA Mississippi District Director. Small Business Champions of the Year award categories are for those who promote small business, including volunteering time and services to small business interests and groups. Champions may or may not be small business owners. SBA Awards given in celebration of Small Business Week include the following categories: - Small Business Person of the Year
- Small Business Exporter
- Young Entrepreneur
- Generational Family-Owned Small Business
- Minority Small Business Champion
- Women in Business Champion
- Veteran Small Business Champion
- Home-Based Business Champion
- Financial Services Champion
- Entrepreneurial Success Award
- Small Business Journalist
- Phoenix Awards (recognizing outstanding accomplishments during disaster recovery)
Nomination packages for the Small Business Person of the Year can be submitted online, mailed or hand delivered. All other categories the nomination packages can be mailed or hand delivered. Packages mailed or hand delivered must be received by the SBA Mississippi-Gulfport Branch Office no later than 4:00pm, January 16, 2015. Nomination packages submitted through the online web portal must be uploaded and submitted no later than 2:00pm CST, January 5, 2015 at http://awards.sba.gov. For nomination guidelines and additional information regarding the awards, visit the SBA Mississippi web site at www.sba.gov/ms or contact the SBA Mississippi District Office at (601) 965-4378, Gulfport Branch Office at (228) 863-4449, Ext. 225. Veterans Advantage Initiative: As part of the Veterans Advantage Initiative, the SBA Mississippi Gulfport Branch Office will participate in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) at the Navy Military Base in Gulfport on November 3. The TAP workshop is for transitioning service members. SBA will provide the participants with information on business development, loan programs, and government contracting program. The TAP workshop is expected to have 60 service members that will benefit from the workshop.  | | SBA North Florida District Office Lynn Douthett, District Director |
Veterans Small Business Week is November 3 – 7, 2014! During this special week, SBA works with partner organizations to provide training and mentoring opportunities to help to assist veterans on the road to entrepreneurship. Goldsboro, NC – November 4- On Tuesday November 4, 2014, The Wayne County Chamber in Goldsboro is hosting a Veteran's Business Workshop. The session will highlight entrepreneurial opportunities for service members. Topics covered include SBA resources, government contracting and small business finance. Q&A session will follow. For more details and registration information visit www.sba.gov/nc and scroll down to News & Events. WHAT: Veteran's Business Workshop WHEN Tuesday, November 4th 11:00 am – 12:30 pm WHERE Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, Goldsboro, NC Speakers include: - Patrick Rodriguez, SBA Senior Area Manager, Raleigh Area Office
- Charles P. Gaylor, IV, Director, Wayne Community College Small Business Center
- Boyce Haywood, Business Dev. Specialist, North Carolina Military Business Center
- Procurement Technical Assistance Counselor, NC SBTDC
Morehead City, NC – November 6- On Thursday, November 6, 2014 Carteret Community College Small Business Center is hosting a seminar on Veterans Entrepreneurship Programs. SBA Senior Area Manager in Wilmington will discuss special SBA programs targeted to veterans and service members. These include special finance programs for start-ups and existing business, and contracting with the federal government. To register online, click here. WHAT: Veteran's Entrepreneurship Programs Seminar WHEN Thursday, November 6th 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm WHERE Carteret Community Collegem, Wayne West Bldg. 3505 Arendell St., Morehead City, NC  | | SBA South Carolina District Office Elliott Cooper, District Cooper |
As part of SBA's 2015 National Small Business Week Awards, the South Carolina District Office is proud to announce its annual S.C. Small Business & Advocacy Awards. In addition to national SBA awards like the Small Business Person of the Year and Exporter of the Year, the S.C. Small Business & Advocacy Awards include: Nominations for the S.C. Small Business & Advocacy Award are due to the South Carolina District Office by Monday, January 5, 2015. For more information, contact Anna Huntley at anna.huntley@sba.gov.  | | SBA Tennessee District Office Walter Perry, District Director |
On September 2nd Regional Administrator, Cassius Butts, visited the Tennessee District Office and discussed the upcoming plans the for the district's FY 2015 outreach to the small business community and to personally meet with employees who deliver SBA's programs across the state. Hispanic Heritage Month was a key part of the District's outreach recent outreach in collaboration with SBA partner the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. At a kick-off event on September 15, District Director Perry signed an extension to a long standing SAM agreement with the Chamber and also introduced Tennessee's new Deputy District Director, LaTanya Channel. On October 11, Economic Development Specialist/PIO David Tiller along with Chamber CEO Yuri Cunza presented SBA's 7 Points of Small Business Success on Spanish-language "El Jefe" Radio 97.6FM in Nashville. To conclude Hispanic Heritage Month, a Gala and Awards Program was held by the Chamber where Perry and Channel accepted on behalf of the Tennessee District Office the NAHCC "Partner Award of the Year" award from the Chamber. On October 15 the District Director met with the Memphis Strong Cities, Strong Communities Team Lead to discuss upcoming collaborative opportunities between SBA and other federal agencies in support of the needs of small businesses in the Memphis area. Also in Memphis, SBA is participating in sessions for the Emerging Leaders Program, which will be graduating it's 2015 class on November 5. The District is supporting the upcoming open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act starting November 15 and training was conducted for navigators from Seedco of Memphis to highlight how small businesses can benefit from providing health care to employees across the Volunteer State. In November, the District will be hosting several Veteran Owned Small Business Week activities November 3-7. Tiller will be hosting Renee Bobb, a service-disabled Veteran-owned small business person on WFSK, "The Money Show" on 88.1 FM in Nashville as part of highlighting SBA services to the Veteran community. Additionally, a November 10th Government Contracting workshop focusing on federal contracting opportunities for Veterans will be held at the District Office. SBA Region IV Office 233 Peachtree St. NE; Suite 1800 Atlanta, GA 30303 Region IV Staff Listing: | 
