Steve Ells My undergraduate degree was in art history! Raising money for Chipotle was really my MBA. The money for my first restaurant came from my dad, the second from mostly cash flow. The third was an SBA loan. After my dad invested $1.5 million to open a few more, he suggested I raise the money myself for the experience. – Steve Ells
Sam Graves I want to take a close look at the SBA to see what works, what doesn’t, what is duplicative, and what isn’t even being utilized. We’ll focus on what they do well and strengthen those areas. – Sam Graves
Sam Graves I worry about whether SBA programs are still doing what they are meant to do – support lenders who fund good business startups and good expansion plans. – Sam Graves
Linda McMahon More entrepreneurs are looking to come back to start businesses, and that is where SBA is perfectly positioned to be helping more people to realize their dreams. – Linda McMahon
Linda McMahon We want to create more jobs. We want to qualify more lenders and expand lending markets. But also, I want a very different SBA – it’s not your father’s SBA. I want to modernize it and reposition it so when people think about jobs, they think about how the Small Business Administration would really be helpful. – Linda McMahon
Linda McMahon When I was asked if I supported merging SBA into Commerce, I really wasn’t focused on SBA or Commerce; I was focused on the concept of merging agencies, or reducing duplicative programs, so that we could reduce those costs. I am a firm believer that SBA needs to be a stand-alone agency. – Linda McMahon
Karen Mills The 2009 stimulus law got the ball rolling, allowing the agency to reduce and eliminate fees and raise loan guarantees to 90 percent of the total. I knew that we had the opportunity to use S.B.A. products to fill that gap in a rapid manner, as we ended up doing in the Recovery Act. – Karen Mills
Karen Mills I saw the S.B.A. with just enormous potential, and that’s what I told the president – this is really a jewel. – Karen Mills
Karen Mills The S.B.A. does not lend directly to businesses, but instead backs loans to encourage banks to invest in small businesses as part of a nearly $90 billion portfolio. – Karen Mills
Karen Mills After four years as Administrator of the SBA, I have let President Obama know that I will not be staying for a second term. I will stay on until my successor is confirmed to ensure a smooth and seamless transition. – Karen Mills
Karen Mills One of the most important tools we have at the Small Business Administration (SBA) to reach high growth entrepreneurs is the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program. – Karen Mills
