SBA Administrator Linda McMahon Appoints Four Top Senior Executives

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Administrator Linda McMahon of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the appointment of four new Associate Administrators: Peter Cazamias for the Office of International Trade; Robb Wong for the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development; Allen Gutierrez for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development; and Michael Hershey for the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs.

"I am thrilled to welcome four Associate Administrators to our team here at SBA," McMahon said. "We are continuing to bring talented, accomplished individuals onboard so our agency always operates in the most efficient, effective way possible. Each of our new Associate Administrators brings a breadth of knowledge, expertise and experience that will help America's small businesses succeed."

Peter Cazamias, Associate Administrator, Office of International Trade
Peter Cazamias is responsible for administrating the newly reorganized department with oversight and execution of four program divisions: (1) The Federal & State Trade Development Division, (2) The International Trade Finance Division, (3) The International Affairs & Trade Policy Division, and (4) Administration & Operations with focus on Budget, Human Resources, and Management.

Prior to joining the SBA, Cazamias consulted with an entrepreneurial partnership on a real estate private equity fund. Before this, he spent seven years in the energy industry, where he served as a business segment manager for an oilfield service supplier FMC-Technip and worked at a pipeline technology company Insituform (now Aegion Corp.). Cazamias served our country as a Marine Officer on active duty until October 2002, serving as a Judge Advocate in Quantico, VA, and achieving the rank of Captain. He also received a BA from Yale University, a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas, and an MBA in finance from University of Pennsylvania. Cazamias is fluent in Spanish, Italian and French and speaks some Mandarin.

Robb Wong, Associate Administrator, Office of Government Contracting and Business Development
Robb Wong advocates for small businesses in federal government contracting across government. Historically, the AA/GCBD oversees more than $500 billion in total federal spending within the federal marketplace and helps ensure that small businesses can compete for federal contracting opportunities.

Wong has a depth of experience focused on small business. He started his career as an SBA attorney in the Office of General Counsel; then was a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Houston District Office; and later was the SBA Acting District Director/Counsel in the Lubbock District Office. From 1996 to 2017, Wong held several leadership positions in several small businesses that successfully used the SBA's products and programs to enhance their growth. He is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center.

Allen Gutierrez, Associate Administrator, Office Entrepreneurial Development
Allen Gutierrez oversees a nationwide network of offices, business executives, and mentors that support current and aspiring business owners as they start, grow, and compete in today's global market. This nationwide network includes the following Resource Partners: Women's Business Centers (WBCs), Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), and SCORE.

Most recently, Gutierrez served as the national Executive Director of The Latino Coalition (TLC). Under his leadership, the coalition grew to include 1.2 million Hispanic business owners and over 90 coalition partners, transforming TLC into one of the nation's largest and most effective Latino advocacy groups. Gutierrez previously served in the U.S. Small Business Administration from 2001 to 2006; during his tenure, he served as Senior Advisor to the Chief Operating Officer, as well as Senior Advisor to the Office of International Trade.

Born in San Jose, Costa Rica, Gutierrez immigrated to California in 1974, where he achieved his dream of becoming the first member of his family to graduate from an accredited four-year college. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in business administration from the University of Southern California.

Michael Hershey, Associate Administrator, Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs
Michael Hershey focuses on Congressional relations and the development and enactment of SBA legislative proposals. This office works with congressional members and committees to ensure that Administration policy is properly represented in legislation and that all congressional stakeholders are fully informed about SBA programs and initiatives.

Hershey was Principal of Columbia Strategies, a government relations and consulting firm in the broadcast industry. The firm's portfolio addressed communications, policy and legal issues related to copyright law, communications law and tax law. Previously, he was the Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the National Association of Broadcasters, where he advocated for the 8,300 television and radio members of NAB.

Hershey also has extensive experience on Capitol Hill. He served as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA); was a Ways and Means Associate; and served as a Legislative Aide to his hometown congressman Representative Bob Walker (R-PA). Hershey earned his Bachelor of Arts in government from Franklin and Marshall College.

About the Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012 has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. To learn more about SBA, visit http://www.sba.gov.

Release Number: 17-39

Contact: Roma Daravi, 202-205-6552
Internet Address: www.sba.gov/news
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SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

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