Ronald A. Carlson
Cincinnati Branch Manager

JWP Federal Building
525 Vine Street, Suite 1030
Cincinnati OH 45202

Mr. Carlson started with the SBA in January 1989 as a Commercial Loan Specialist. He was appointed to his present position of Branch Manager in June 1994. The Cincinnati Branch serves small businesses in a ten county area of southwestern Ohio.

Prior to coming to SBA, Mr. Carlson's background had always been linked to finance and management. After graduating from Ohio University with a BBA degree in Economics and Finance, he enlisted in the US Navy and attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. Upon his commissioning, he was assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Group and served two tours in Vietnam before his discharge in 1972.

After returning to his home in Cincinnati, Mr. Carlson began a career in commercial banking. For several years he was involved in all facets of the industry from collections, to commercial lending, to managing a region of retail outlets. Next he became the Secretary and Managing Officer of a $74 million Savings and Loan Association. During that time he gained valuable experience in real estate lending and appraisals before the savings and loan crisis of the late 80's.

Mr. Carlson has always been a strong advocate of marketing and outreach as tools to accomplish the SBA mission of assisting small businesses. He is a member of the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Cincinnati Hispanic Chamber. He is active with both the University of Cincinnati and Miami University and serves on a number of entreprenuership curriculum committees. He is on the Advisory Committee for the University of Cincinnati SBDC. Mr. Carlson currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Minority Business Mentoring Program of the South Central Ohio Minority Business Council. He was active in establishing the Small Business Collaborative in Cincinnati, a group of various organizations, agencies, and associations who share a common purpose of helping small business. Mr. Carlson is called upon often to speak to various groups about small business and the SBA and has become respected for his candid comments and sincerity.

Mr. Carlson and his wife, Patricia, have two sons. When he is not "living the SBA", he enjoys golf and travel