SBA

Herb Mitchell, Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance

Herbert L. Mitchell is Associate Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance. He is responsible for administering, planning, developing, implementing and evaluating all SBA disaster loan making programs. The program offers low-interest loans to help homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes rebuild and recover in the aftermath of a disaster.

Before his appointment as Associate Administrator in 2000, Mitchell served as the deputy administrator for the agency's Disaster Assistance program. He held this position five years. Previously, he advised the Deputy Associate Administrator for the Minority Enterprise Development program. There, he recommended policies and procedures for the direction, evaluation and improvement of the program. He also participated as a member of Vice President Al Gore's National Performance Review Task Force.

In 1991, Mitchell was selected for the SBA's District Director Candidate development program. He later served as the agency's District Director in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Mitchell began his SBA career 26 years ago in Richmond, Virginia where he served as a Business Opportunity Specialist. While assisting many agency committees on a national level, Mitchell also authored regulations and procedures to enforce the Business Opportunity Reform Act of 1988. His contributions as chair of the Virginia Small and Disadvantaged Business Procurement Committee were recognized by small business leaders in Virginia.

Before joining SBA, Mitchell was a business development specialist with the Metropolitan Business league of Richmond. During his tenure the league gained national attention as an innovative business group. He also worked as a purchasing agent for Wheat First Securities and as a program director with the Salvation Army Boys Club of Richmond.

Mitchell earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has also pursued graduate studies in Economics at Virginia State University.