WILMINGTON — As the new leader of the Small Business Administration in the First State, Michelle Harris wants to take the federal business-centered agency to places it isn’t already.
On Feb. 16, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced that Ms. Harris would be taking over as district director of SBA’s Delaware office. In her new role, she will manage the delivery of SBA programs and services to small businesses throughout the state.
As the new leader of Delaware’s small business resource agency, Ms. Harris said she wants to look at “Where isn’t the SBA? Where are the small businesses that still need SBA assistance and how can we reach them?” We are here to help,” Ms. Harris said.
The SBA was created to support and encourage American small business ownership.
“From the moment that you get a thought in your mind about, ‘Oh, I might want to open a business,’ to actually putting it on paper and making it happen, that’s what the SBA and our resource partners are there for — helping you develop that idea, helping you bring out that business plan, helping you identify the resources and then connecting you to who’s buying what you want to sell — that market research.”
Ms. Harris brings with her 33 years of leadership and agency experience to her new role. Before joining the SBA, she was Regional Assistance Division Manager for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.
Before that, she served as an SBA Lead Business Opportunity Specialist in the agency’s 8(a) Business Development Continuing Eligibility Office. In that role, Ms. Harris served as a technical resource to team members; a member of the leadership team centralizing all reviews from SBA field offices to SBA’s headquarters office; and assisted in developing policy and training for this then-newly formed office. She also held a leadership role with the state of Delaware as the executive director for the state of Delaware’s Office of Supplier Diversity.
She got her start in public service in 1989 working for the Internal Revenue Service.
“I was with them for about 20 years. I worked up from one of the lowest grades you can come in at, GS2, and moved up the line over the years,” Ms. Harris said.
Before leaving the IRS, she worked in its disaster assistance office.
“I am pleased Michelle Harris will head SBA’s field operations in Delaware,” said Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator and former SBA Delaware Director John Fleming. “Her leadership and experience will serve our First State small business community well.”
Ms. Harris hopes to be an example for others.
“Speaking from my own perspective, coming up as a young woman here in this country, and a minority woman, I didn’t see a lot of images like me in higher-level leadership,” she said. “I know that people are watching me. Specifically, other women are watching, and other women of color are watching as well. I would like for them to just know ... If I made it here, anybody can make it here.”
The SBA helps businesses by sharing knowledge, connecting business owners with funding opportunities and helping to cut through red tape associated with government contracts.
The Delaware SBA office conducts regular training sessions geared to help small businesses. Ms. Harris said the Delaware office takes an “innovative approach,” to reaching small business owners. Many of the training sessions are offered virtually to make them more accessible to business owners.
One way the local SBA office supports entrepreneurs is with targeted programs.
According to Ms. Harris, only 14% of global exporters are women-owned companies. To help, the SBA created the Women Go Global program that teaches women-owned businesses how to get their products and services to buyers in other countries.
The SBA also works with what Ms. Harris called “resource partners” like the Small Business Development Centers and Women Business Centers.
An example of a Delaware success story is Dover-based Mountain Consulting.
Kim Adams started her company with her husband Troy and connected with the Small Business Administration, jumping into its many training programs.
“The SBA has been very helpful to my business by providing the steps and information needed to grow our business. We attended many of the workshops to learn about the certifications. They have been instrumental in the growth of our business. From those workshops, we became certified as Woman Owned, HUBZone and 8(a). These certifications made the way to gain contracts through these contracting vehicles,” Ms. Adams said.
Ms. Adams said entrepreneurs should reach out to the SBA if they want to succeed.
“If you are serious about growing your business, attend the workshops and learn how to do business with the government,” she said. “There are many programs and products offered by the SBA. Take the time to learn about it.”
Ms. Harris was born in Philadelphia but now considers herself a Delawarean.
She moved to the First State with her husband and son in 1996. She lives in Clayton with her husband. When she isn’t working to support small businesses, Ms. Harris said she is an avid reader and she and her husband enjoy taking road trips.
For more information about the programs offered by the Delaware District of the SBA, visit here.
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