Meet the SBA: Valerie Coleman, Helping Small Business Owners Contract with the Government

When a friend or family member asks what you do to help small businesses, what do you say?  

As a Procurement Center Representative (PCR), my focus is to work with federal agencies to ensure that small businesses receive the maximum possible opportunities to bid on contracts. As a Commercial Market Representative (CMR), I work with the large prime contractors by monitoring their compliance with subcontracting plans. As both a PCR and CMR, I counsel and train small business owners on how to do business with the federal government and/or subcontracting. I also work on size determinations and certificates of competency as needed.

What’s your favorite thing about what the SBA does for small businesses?

SBA gives small businesses hope even when they thought there was none. I especially remember a story of a contractor who came into my office literally crying because he thought he was going to have to close his business because he was not able to get any contracts. The only thing I could advise him was to be “patient” with the system. A few months later, he was able to sign two multi-million dollar contracts that allowed him to continue to operate and he is still in business today.

Is there a particular small business “success story” that comes to mind when you think about how the SBA helps people?

After almost 38 years with SBA, there are many success stories, so to pick just one would be impossible. Having the opportunity to have beenable to work or do rotations in numerous divisions of SBA including financial assistance, portfolio management, disaster assistance, 8(a) and management assistance, success comes in many different forms. It might be the guaranty loan that a small business so desperately needed to keep their business going or it was that counseling/training session that an owner took that finally put “the pieces of the puzzle” together or seeing a family getting the disaster assistance that will allow them to have a home again after theirs was destroyed.  In my current capacity, it’s a small business that was awarded their first federal contract or being able to receive a subcontract from a large prime contractor that they never thought they would be working with.

Do you have any advice for entrepreneurs and small business owners out there? 

Two things -  1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. SBA and its resource partners are there for you. Please use us! and  2. Support other small businesses and work with them as often as possible especially in the areas of government contracting.  If a federal contract requirement might be too big for you, find teaming partners and go after that opportunity.

“Don’t worry about failure. Worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.” –Unknown. As a small business owner, you are taking the chances – Congratulations!

Anything else to add?

I am very fortunate to not only have a job in this economy, but to have a job that I absolutely love and gives me a feeling of fulfillment. When asked if I am going to retire soon, my answer is always, “Why? I am enjoying what I do too much” and very few people can say that.

Meet the SBA is a series of features on SBA employees -- both in Washington, D.C., and around the U.S. -- who work every day to help small businesses grow and create jobs. Employees were nominated by their colleagues to be recognized during Public Service Recognition Week 2011.