Michigan Business Beat | Welcome Everett M. Woodel, Jr. , SBA - Great Lakes Regional Administrator

Chris Holman welcomes Everett M. Woodel, Jr. , SBA - Great Lakes Regional Administrator. Welcome Everett, you've stepped into the role of new Great Lakes Regional Administrator . Can you briefly share some of your career up to now? Can you tell us more about the new Made in America Manufacturing Initiative and how it’s aiming to boost U.S. manufacturing, especially in the Midwest? What is the SBA’s new Onshoring Portal, and how can it help small businesses connect with domestic suppliers? The SBA is asking small businesses to share burdensome regulations—how can business owners participate in this effort to cut red tape? Michigan manufacturers have been active in this initiative—can you share highlights from the Manufacturing Roadshow’s visit to the Detroit area? What does it mean for Michigan that Greg and Shelley McArthur of NTL Industries were named National Small Business Persons of the Year? » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/ The SBA’s new Made in America Manufacturing Initiative aims to fuel a manufacturing resurgence that will reshore manufacturing and revitalize communities across the country. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler kicked off the initiative in the Great Lakes Region, highlighting the key role that manufacturing plays in the region’s economy. As part of this initiative, SBA created an Onshoring Portal, a free tool to connect small businesses to a network of 1 million domestic suppliers. Also, SBA wants to hear from small businesses about burdensome regulations that get in the way. To share your challenge via the Red Tape Hotline. Michigan small business owners can leverage the U.S. Small Business Administration’s extensive network of lenders and resource to help them start, grow and expand. For more about SBA loan programs, click here. To find an event near you or a virtual event about a specific topic, click here. For more information, visit the SBA Michigan District Office. Entrepreneurs can also tap into Michigan’s SBA Resource Partner network where they will find free and low-cost counseling services, SBA Resource Partners can be a small business owners’ best friend – offering business advice and mentorship during all phases of their small business journeys. BACKGROUND ON EVERETT Everett M. Woodel, Jr., is the new Great Lakes Regional Administrator, overseeing operations in the six-state region, which includes Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. His appointment started in March. Previously, Everett served 6 years as the SBA District Director in the SBA office in Columbus, Ohio. In January-February, Everett spent a month in Washington, D.C., as Acting Administrator until Administrator Kelly Loeffler was confirmed by the Senate. He held executive roles in both the public and private sectors, including serving as Regional Director for VEIC and Director of Business Development at American Structurepoint, Inc. He also held leadership positions in Ohio state government, including Director of Public Affairs for the Ohio Treasurer’s Office and Director of Operations for the Industrial Commission of Ohio. Everett’s mom owned a small business (bakery) for 45 years in Fremont, Ohio, where he grew up.