WASHINGTON – SBA Administrator Linda McMahon has named seven new members to three-year terms on the Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs (ACVBA) and one new member to a two-year term on the Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development (IATF).
Both committees serve as independent sources of advice and policy recommendations to the SBA Administrator, the Associate Administrator of the Office of Veterans Business Development, Congress, the President, and other U.S. policy makers under Section 203 of the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999. Both ACVBA and IATF committees are established in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
“It’s an honor to appoint these veteran champions to each Veterans Small Business Advisory Committee. Their commitment to improving the accessibility of resources for our veteran-owned small businesses is unmatched,” SBA Administrator Linda McMahon said. “I look forward to hosting them at SBA headquarters for their first meeting as official committee members. Together, we can achieve more for our veteran and military small business owners.”
The new member of the IATF, appointed to a two-year term is:
- William Hubbard, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Student Veterans of America. Hubbard has served as an active reservist in the U.S. Marine Corps for nine years.
The new members of the ACVBA, appointed to a three-year term, include:
- Brandon Webb, Founder and CEO of the Hurricane Group. Webb is a former Navy SEAL, having served for more than 21 years.
- Evan Hafer, Founder and CEO of Black Rifle Coffee Company. Hafer is an Army veteran, serving 14 years with the U.S. Army Special Forces.
- Elijah Crane, Founder and CEO of Bottle Breacher, LLC. Crane is a Navy veteran, serving 13 years as a Navy SEAL.
- Brandon Shelton, Founder and Managing Partner of Task Force X Capital Management. Shelton is an Army veteran, serving 20 years as an Army Airborne Infantry Officer and Intelligence Officer.
- Alexander Fender Jr., Founder and Director of Marketing & Sales at Funnel Science, LLC. Fender Jr. is a Marine veteran, serving four years on active duty and four years as an active reservist for the U.S. Marine Corps.
- Glenn Banton Sr., CEO of Operation Supply Drop Inc. Banton is a champion for veterans, through his support of the military community as a leader of social, professional, and service-oriented global programs.
- Sean Gwinner, Program Director of Bunker Labs. Gwinner is an Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient.
Both IATF and ACVBA meetings are open to the public and held quarterly at SBA headquarters, 409 3rd Street SW, Washington D.C. 20416. The next IATF meeting will be held Wednesday, June 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. The ACVBA will meet on Thursday, June 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The committee meetings will be accessible via teleconference at 888-858-2144, access code: 7805798#, and on webinar at https://connect16.uc.att.com/sba/meet/?ExEventID=87805798.
Both public meeting transcripts may also be found at www.sba.gov/ovbd under section heading, “Federal Advisory Committees,” following each meeting.
Please email any questions to veteransbusiness@sba.gov or call (202) 205-6337.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start and grow their businesses. It delivers services to people through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.