Kerry Praises Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Today, Sen. John Kerry [D-Mass.], chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, made the following statement in honor of 2007 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week:

“From barrier-breaking pioneers like Martin Luther King, Jr., and Justice Thurgood Marshall, to media moguls like Oprah Winfrey,” said Kerry, “Historically Black Colleges and Universities have produced some of our nation’s brightest minds and most courageous leaders.

“As we celebrate the milestones and accomplishments of HBCUs this week, we hope it also inspires the next generation to make their mark. We can do more to invest in their dreams and encourage their business aspirations by passing legislation which will foster entrepreneurship for minority students and give them the tools to build their own piece of the American dream.”

Kerry authored the Entrepreneurial Development Act [S. 1671], which includes the creation of a Minority Entrepreneurship and Innovation Pilot Program [S. 2586], designed to expand minority business ownership in highly skilled fields like engineering and computer science by creating an entrepreneurial curriculum at Historically Black Colleges and Universities [HBCUs], Hispanic Serving Institutions [HSI], and Tribal Colleges.

The legislation also creates the Minority Access to Information Distance Learning Pilot Program, which increases small businesses' ability to compete with larger firms for federal contracts, and establishes an Office of Minority Small Business Development at the Small Business Administration [SBA] to give minority entrepreneurs an advocate in the agency. Kerry's committee passed the bill in June.

Kerry has also sponsored the Max Cleland Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act [S. 1650] to invest in technology and education for students at HBCUs and other minority serving institutions. The Commerce committee passed the bill in June.

Sources: Library of Congress, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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Senate Confirms Jovita Carranza as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration

Early on Saturday, Dec. 9, the U.S. Senate confirmed Jovita Carranza, an experienced Latina business executive, to be the U.S. Small Business Administration’s next deputy administrator. She was nominated by President George W. Bush, and had been unanimously endorsed Wednesday by the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Named Hispanic Woman of the Year by Hispanic Business Magazine in 2004, Carranza said she is enthusiastic about transferring her 30 years of experience at UPS to the SBA. She drew a direct parallel between the corporate operations she directed at UPS to the infrastructure and mission at the SBA.

"Both institutions have a network whose employees are dedicated to meeting the service needs of small businesses and the communities they serve," said Carranza. "Like large corporations, small businesses expect timely assistance in the delivery of services. I will bring to the Small Business Administration a goal-oriented management philosophy with a history of successes on two continents."

SBA Administrator Steven C. Preston welcomed Carranza’s confirmation. “I look forward to working with Jovita,” he said. “Her combination of drive, insight, personnel management and business-process experience offers a tremendous value to the SBA as we work toward a higher degree of customer responsiveness and operational sophistication at the agency.”

Carranza drew praise from Sen. Olympia Snowe [R-Maine], outgoing chair of the Senate committee, and from Sen. John Kerry [D-Massachusetts], ranking member and committee chair designate. “I truly believe that Jovita Carranza is yet another outstanding example of a dedicated American making a tremendous sacrifice to serve her country by accepting this nomination to help lead the SBA -- an agency that is essential to the well-being of our nation's economic vitality,” Sen. Snowe said.

Sen. Kerry said he was anxious to get Carranza on the job at SBA, so she can transfer her private-sector experience to the SBA. “You’ve got a terrific set of credentials and background,” he told her. “It’s impressive. It’s a great story. It’s the way it should work in America.”

Carranza started at UPS in 1976 as a part-time, night-shift clerk in Los Angeles, and then worked her way up to regional manager for international relations in Miami by 2000. Most recently, she was vice president of air operations at the worldwide package shipping company at its facility in Louisville, Ky., and oversaw the cutting-edge automated package processing operation there.

While at UPS, Carranza also served as president of Latin American Operations and the Caribbean. Additionally, she has extensive experience in human resources management and workforce planning.

Carranza, a native of Chicago, earned her MBA from the University of Miami [Fla]. In addition to her professional career, Carranza has been actively involved in community service -- both in leadership and advisory capacities.

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