Office of Advocacy
    U.S. Small Business Administration

    NEWSRELEASE

    For Release: December 16, 2002
    Contact:     John McDowell (202) 205-6941
    john.mcdowell@sba.gov
    SBA Number:     02-47 ADVO

    Pat Gartland Appointed Office Of Advocacy Region IV Advocate

    Will Work Closely With Small Business, Trade Associations, Legislators, And Local Governments

    WASHINGTON, D.C. - Pat Gartland is the new Office of Advocacy Regional Advocate for the federal government’s Region IV, covering Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. He will be the direct link between small business owners, state and local government agencies, state legislators, small business associations, and the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

    “Pat Gartland is a great addition to our team,” said Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. “Small business owners in the South have an outstanding advocate in Mr. Gartland. He has a wealth of experience in advocating for small business. Plus, his trade association and local government contacts will allow him to immediately contribute to the Office of Advocacy’s role as the federal office that stands between small business owners and overly burdensome government regulations,” he continued.

    Gartland, a University of Alabama graduate and former Major in the U.S. Army, has over 20 years experience coalition building across the South. Most recently, he was Southeastern Regional Director for Congressional and Public Affairs of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He has also served as the National Director of the Center for Reclaiming America where he developed a 50-state network of a half million members, and as Georgia State Chairman of the Christian Coalition.

    “I am pleased to be part of President Bush’s team at the Office of Advocacy,” said Gartland. “I look forward to working closely with small businesses in Region IV and bringing their concerns to Washington, D.C.”

    Regional Advocates help identify new issues and concerns of small business owners. They also monitor the impact of federal and state policies on small business at the local level. They work closely with local government officials, state officials and legislators, and the Chief Counsel for Advocacy to develop programs and policies that encourage entrepreneurial success.

    For more information contact Pat Gartland directly at (404) 331-4999, or visit the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo <http://www.sba.gov/advo>.

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    Created by Congress in 1976, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy directs the office. The Chief Counsel advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. Economic research, policy analyses, and small business outreach help identify issues of concern. Regional Advocates and an office in Washington, DC, support the Chief Counsel’s efforts. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, visit www.sba.gov/advo <http://www.sba.gov/advo>, or call (202) 205-6533.