Jose R. Sifontes
District Director for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Small Business Administration

José R. Sifontes was appointed District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands Office and Assistant Administrator for Non-Contiguous States and Territories on October 14, 2007. 

As District Director, Mr. Sifontes is responsible for the delivery of the agency’s financial assistance, management counseling, business development and minority enterprise development activities throughout the islands of Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas.  Also, as Assistant Administrator for Non-Contiguous States and Territories he will represent the concerns of Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories, and advise the SBA as to the help small business communities in those areas need to get started and grow.

Mr. Sifontes previously served as the SBA’s New York City District Director. Before joining SBA, he spent 16 years with the American Express Company in the Travel and Corporate Services divisions. During his tenure, he held positions of increased responsibility including Senior Area Manager, Puerto Rico and Eastern Caribbean; District Director, New York and Vice President and General Manager for the Americas.

Throughout his career, Mr. Sifontes has been a long standing champion of small and minority owned business interests in New York, New England, Latin America and the Caribbean and has initiated and supported significant outreach and small business development efforts. He served for two years as the National Co-Chair of the American Express Diversity team and was appointed as a Board member of the Long Island Conventions and Visitors Bureau, the Connecticut Hotel Association, and the Connecticut Restaurant association.

Mr. Sifontes holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing and a minor in economics from the University of Florida.