Georgia Business Radio – Spotlight – SBA

Douglas Kramer, Deputy Administrator
U.S. Small Businesses Administration

Guest BIO:
Deputy Administrator Kramer was confirmed by the Senate to this position last June. Prior to that he held a variety of positions in President Obama’s administration, including four years in leadership roles at the White House.

As Deputy Administrator, he is responsible for managing the agency and ensuring the efficient operation of its programs. He works to make sure the Agency fulfills its promise to support U.S. Small Businesses.

Topics/Questions:
We understand you are here in Atlanta as a Host City National Small Business Week. This is fantastic, for Atlanta and the Southeast Region.

We understand there is more to come for this week, can you tell us a little more about this week’s events? Will the public be able to watch and participate in all of these events?

We talk about the steady growth in the small business community frequently and the support from the SBA is excellent for all entrepreneurs. Georgia must be honored to be a host stop of the National Events.

We appreciate it. What are the topics of the breakout sessions?

We are always amazed to learn about all of the programs and services that are available for the right price to entrepreneurs. Where else in the world can you go and find free business consultants provided by the Government. When people think of the SBA they immediately think access to capital right? Can you talk a little bit about SBAOne and tell us how that affects the end users/entrepreneurs across America?

Web Site and Social Media:
www.sba.gov
www.sba.gov/nsbw
@SBAGov
SBAGov- FB

Cassius F. Butts, Region IV
U.S. Small Business Administration

Guest BIO:
Cassius F. Butts was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2011. He is responsible for the delivery of SBA programs in Region IV comprised of the eight Southeastern states. During his appointment, Cassius has managed oversight of five record breaking years for SBA lending in Region IV. Nearly $20 billion in SBA-backed loans were awarded to small businesses within Region IV. Under Cassius’s leadership, we have witnessed historic lending, record-breaking government contracting dollars awarded and the highest number of entrepreneurs trained and counseled in SBA history.

Cassius is a serial 15-year entrepreneur and college professor and was previously employed with the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Since 1992, Cassius has worked in leadership positions for Bank of America, Fleet Bank, and the City of Atlanta. As a small business owner, he co-founded CB Consulting Group, LLC.

In 2013, he was appointed to the National Partnership Council and he is an active Policy Board Member for the Atlanta Federal Executive Board. Cassius is a graduate of Edgewater High School in Orlando, Atlanta’s Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University’s School of Public Administration, and he obtained his Certificate of Grant Writing from Emory University’s Life Learning Institute. Cassius is also a 2012 graduate of Leadership Atlanta.

Topics/Questions:
1) Cassius, how are things looking in the region? You always have great information to share

2) what were some of your take-aways from the opening of the national celebration that took place today in Atlanta?

3) How do you see the small business climate in the Southeast? Should people look here to start a small business?

Web Site and Social Media:
@CassiusButts
@SBASoutheast
SBAGov
www.sba.gov

Terri L. Denison, Georgia District Director
U.S. Small Businesses Administration

Guest BIO:
Terri Denison is the Georgia District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). In this role since May 2002, she is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the SBA’s financial, counseling/training and business development programs for small businesses throughout Georgia.

Terri began her SBA career in 1987 as a Presidential Management Fellow at the Agency’s Washington, D. C. District and Headquarter Offices. Other positions included working with the Agency’s Minority Enterprise Development and One Stop Capital Shop programs and Office of Field Operations.

Terri holds a B.A. Degree in American Government from Cornell University and an M.A. Degree in Urban Studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. She is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia.

A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Terri currently serves as the President of the Cornell Alumni Association of Atlanta and a member of the Cornell University Council. Other personal interests include ballroom dancing and travel.

Topics/Questions:
1) Please tell us about the Georgia Small Business Week winners- what type of recognition will they be receiving this week?

2) Can you tell me about the small business profile of Georgia? What does Georgia look like in the eyes of small business?

3) I understand you have had some record-breaking lending happening in Georgia- can you tell us more?

4) how can listeners in Georgia learn what is happening for small business?
Web Site and Social Media:
www.sba.gov/ga
@SBASoutheast

Georgia Business Radio hosted by:
Rich Casanova

Interviewing industry leaders throughout Georgia each week live from the Pro Business Channel studios in Atlanta.

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