As we all know, the coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating effect on small business. To rebuild our economy, and in particular our small businesses, president-elect Biden has nominated Isabel Guzman to lead the Small Business Administration (SBA). The choice makes Guzman the fourth Latin nominee of Biden’s Cabinet, and the first Latina.
Isabel Guzman, the daughter of Latino small business owners and a small business entrepreneur herself, currently serves as Director of California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate. In this role, she has helped coordinate California’s economic recovery plan and supported small businesses in weathering the coronavirus crisis. Her office launched the Shop Safe Shop Local initiative aimed at helping small businesses reopen safely, and the Get Digital CA initiative to help businesses adopt technology to safely and successfully operate in the pandemic. As SBA Administrator, Guzman will oversee the Paycheck Protection Loan Program, intended to provide small businesses with forgivable rolls to maintain their employees on payroll and keep the business running.
Guzman earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. Prior to her career in public service, she was an advisor at ProAmérica Bank, the first California- chartered Latino-formed business bank to form in Los Angeles in over 35 years. Under the Obama-Biden administration, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor in the SBA.
Guzman’s nomination has been welcomed for her lifelong commitment to small businesses. “After four years of an administration that put the needs of big business first, we are encouraged to see President-elect Biden give small businesses the leadership and help they deserve. We welcome an opportunity to discuss small business priorities with the new SBA administrator and commerce secretary,” Rhett Buttle, senior adviser to the Small Business for America’s Future coalition, said. Additionally, the nomination is a win for Latina representation in Biden’s Cabinet, which, after his win, the President-elect pledged would “look like America.”