Reed moves to Mississippi SBA district office in Jackson

Reed

The Mississippi Link Newswire

Reed

Gary K. Reed, branch manager in the Small Business Administration (SBA) Gulfport office since 2011 has been selected as the new deputy district director for the U.S. SBA in Mississippi. As deputy district director, Reed will be second in command and responsible for supervising the activities of 12 employees in the Mississippi District located in Jackson and Gulfport branch offices.

Reed’s responsibility entails the supervision and oversight of the delivery of a wide range of SBA programs and services to the small business community, including financial assistance, entrepreneurial development, federal government contracting, minority business development and related special emphasis programs, such as women’s business ownership, export and international trade and veterans’ affairs.

He will also oversee the state office of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of Mississippi, its seven SBDC sub-centers located at various colleges and universities throughout the state, along with eight SBDC Business Assistance Centers and Small Business Jobs Act Satellite; the coordination of the Gulf Coast Chapter of SCORE and its Jackson, Cleveland and Belden branches; and the MACE Women’s Business Center in Greenville.

Reed is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where he received a baccalaureate degree in business administration with a major in marketing. He has been with the SBA since 1997, previously holding the

position of business development specialist.

Janita Stewart, SBA Mississippi district director, said, “Gary has a long and distinguished career with SBA. He has voluntarily and consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty, is a true SBA team player, and projects a positive image on behalf of the agency.

“He truly cares about the issues facing small businesses in Mississippi and looks forward to working with our resource partners, lenders, business leaders and economic developers throughout the state.”

Reed also is a graduate of Leadership Gulf Coast; a recipient of the Gulfport Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Fellow received for his civic role in business and community development; a member of the Gulfport Business Council; and a member and trustee of the Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church.

He and his wife Shelia reside in Gulfport. He will report to the SBA district office in Jackson in May 2013.

Marie Johns, deputy administrator of the national SBA office visited Jackson Wednesday, April 3, joined by Stewart and Reed, to meet small businesses, resource partners and highlight SBA initiatives like the National Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Month.

This is Johns’ first visit to Mississippi to address the SBA’s national efforts to help small businesses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration was established in 1953 to provide financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their businesses.

With a portfolio of business loans, loan guarantees and disaster loans worth more than $50 billion, the SBA is the nation’s largest single financial backer of small businesses.

The SBA also plays a major role in the government’s disaster relief efforts by making low-interest recovery loans to both homeowners and businesses.

For more information on SBA programs and services, call Gulfport branch office at 288-863-4449 ext. 223 or ext. 225. Or visit the website, www.sba.gov/ms.

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