President Bush announced last week his decision to appoint Sandy Baruah as acting head of the SBA. Baruah, who is pending Senate confirmation as SBA Administrator, is Assistant Secretary for Economic Development at the Department of Commerce, and comes to SBA with experience in promoting local business growth, managing organizational change, and responding to federal disasters. He has worked for small businesses, helped small businesses grow, and was raised by a mother who ran her own small business.

If approved by the Senate, Baruah would replace Steven Preston, who was recently confirmed as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Jovita Carranza, the SBA's second-in-command as the deputy administrator, has been the agency's interim head since Preston’s departure from SBA.

As America’s oldest small-business advocate, NSBA holds a deep interest in the success and functioning of SBA, and welcomes Administrator Baruah to his new position as chief advocate for the small-business community.