WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced the appointment of Michael Vallante as Regional Administrator for SBA Region IX, which covers California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and Guam. A former small business owner, Vallante has extensive experience in communications and public relations; his company provided consulting and strategic communications services for small businesses and non-profits around the country.
Vallante most recently served as Chief of Staff to the Co-Chairman of the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C. Before that, he was Chief Operating Officer of the California Republican Party from 2003 to 2007 and Chief of Staff for the non-profit Minneapolis-St. Paul Host Committee, which organized the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minnesota. Vallante previously hosted a radio drive-time show in Rhode Island where he interviewed newsmakers from around the world and engaged listeners in a call-in talk show format.
“Mike is an experienced leader, skilled communicator, and as a former entrepreneur, understands the challenge of starting and scaling a company,” SBA Administrator Linda McMahon said. “He will be a strong voice for small business owners, and I look forward to working with him to help more entrepreneurs in Region IX.”
A Rhode Island native, Vallante is a graduate of Providence College and moved to Southern California in 1999. He lives in Pasadena with his wife Julie and their four rescue dogs, and he is passionate about animal rescue. As Region IX Administrator, Vallante will oversee SBA programs, offices and operations in Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii and Nevada. He started April 17, 2017.
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About the Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration 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, visit: www.sba.gov.