The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) appointed 15 individuals to the Council on Underserved Communities (CUC). The CUC provides feedback and recommendations on how to assist with competitiveness and sustainability for small businesses in underserved communities.
The CUC plans to increase entrepreneurship and technical assistance as well as create new outreach by training and raising awareness in underserved communities about readily available SBA programs.
Before the first official meeting of CUC in July, the council will be hearing from small business owners and members of underserved communities. The council would like to hear from these individuals to see what they need from SBA, as well as what they would like to see changed.
CUC is just one of the many efforts by SBA to expand outreach to developing communities. CUC will meet regularly starting in July and will increase access to capital, endorse sustainability and forward development and job creation.
The 15 members of CUC include:
Hassell McClellan, associate professor – Operations & Strategic Management Department, Carroll School of Management.
Dasil “Das” Elius Velez, Senior Executive with the New York State Empire State Development Corporation
B. Doyle Mitchell Jr, President and CEO, Industrial Bank
Eric Collins, COO, Mobile Posse
Derek Hyra, associate professor of Urban Affairs and Planning, Virginia Tech.
Ron Busby Sr, president, U.S. Black Chamber, Inc.
Randy Blass, director, Florida State Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities Program.
Ned Fawaz, founder and CEO of Energy International Corporation
Eddie Reyes, historically underutilized business coordinator, University of North Texas.
LeeAnn Marker, business advisor, Hutchinson Credit Union.
Roni Wisdom, CFO, San Luis Valley Development Group.
Hilda Kennedy, founder/executive director, AmPac Tri State CDC
Rod Hsiao, Director of Strategic Operations, BUILD
Hugh Short, president and CEO, Alaska Growth Capital.
Marilyn Strickland, mayor, Tacoma, Washington
