WASHINGTON D.C. -- Maria Contreras-Sweet
(58) of Los Angeles has been tapped by President Barack Obama to be
Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). If approved by the Senate, she would one of
two Latino Cabinet members within the Obama Administration.
Born in
Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico, Contreras Sweet came to the U.S. at age 5, where
her mother supported them by working at a chicken packing plant in El Monte,
California. She grew up to be a powerful
entrepreneur, investor and political leader.
In 1999,
Contreras-Sweet was appointed by California Governor Gray Davis to lead the
massive California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. With 44 thousand employees and an enormous
budget, she retained that position the longest of any of her predecessors. Upon leaving the post in 2003, she
established and investment group and in 2006, she founded Proamerica Bank,
which provides loans to small businesses.
Contreras-Sweet
has been an active member of the Latino community, serving as mentor and
helping found such organizations as Hispanas Organized for Political Equality
(HOPE) and is founding director of The California Endowment, a multi-billion
dollar philanthropic foundation. She
also spearheaded the committee that produced the “Latinas: The Spirit of
California” Exhibition featured at The
California Museum for History, Women and the Arts.
Contreras-Sweet
is married and has 3 children. The position requires U.S. Senate confirmation.
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