In a statement this month announcing her appointment as director of the U.S. Small Business Administration”™s New York district office, Beth Goldberg said her past in economic development and social work will make her a well-rounded leader of the SBA”™s downstate efforts.
“As a business executive, I have a lifetime passion of creating and growing businesses here in New York City, and I look forward to leading the office to help others achieve their business dreams,” she said.
The announcement was made by SBA Region II Administrator Kellie LeDet, who referred to Goldberg as a “specialist in the field of economic development” and credited her as one of the architects of New York City”™s economic development program.
- Beth Goldberg
“We are extremely fortunate to have a person of Beth Goldberg”™s caliber and experience leading our New York district office,” LeDet said. “Beth brings with her a wealth of knowledge to this position and I am confident New York small-business owners and entrepreneurs will be well served by her team”™s efforts.”
The SBA in its announcement recognized Goldberg for her business development firm, Auric Ventures Ltd. The company spearheaded what the SBA called one of the largest and most successful industrial development projects in the past 60 years ”” the $200 million investment by Pratt Industries for its state-of-the-art recycled paper mill in Staten Island.
Goldberg founded Auric Ventures in 1987 with a particular focus on facilitating the relationship between corporate America and government.
Prior to starting the firm, she served first as director of finance and development (1981-1982) and then as president and chief operating officer (1982-1987) of the Brooklyn Economic Development Corp., where she served as the lead consultant on economic development matters to the president of the borough of Brooklyn, the New York City mayor and the New York governor.
Goldberg earned a social work master”™s degree in social planning, community organizing and not-for-profit management with a specialization in industrial social welfare from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Science with a dual major in psychology and political science from Brooklyn College. She is a fully licensed New York state real estate broker and holds National Association of Securities Dealers series 7 and 63 licenses ”” all of which will inform her new role at the SBA, she said.
“This job is about community outreach and relationship building. I believe my background in real estate and social work and planning will help me to quickly develop these relationships and identify where the SBA can have the greatest impact throughout the district,” she said. “One of SBA”™s many missions is helping those in underrepresented areas, and having the background to address social issues like financial literacy or credit repair will go a long way to develop and transform those markets into vibrant neighborhoods supported by small businesses.”
Goldberg is responsible for overseeing the delivery of the SBA”™s financial and business development programs in New York City, Long Island and the downstate counties of Westchester, Duchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster.
Via phone, Goldberg said increasing the availability of loans and participation by lenders was her top priority.
“That is done through education and making them (lenders) aware of the needs of the business community as well as making the business community more knowledgeable about the underwriting criteria that these institutions have,” she said. “I am hoping to be able to open up more lending to businesses by forming a relationship with the banks and credit unions throughout the district. If we can provide good service to those institutions, hopefully that will make it easier for small businesses to get financing.”
She noted that in Westchester, the SBA”™s New York office approved 160 loans for a total of $66.1 million in fiscal year 2014 and 136 loans totaling $44.4 million in fiscal year 2013.
The SBA has already taken steps toward increased education, with the New York district participating in the SBA”™s Emerging Leaders educational program for the first time this year, Goldberg said.
The program is an intensive business “boot camp” providing what could be considered a pre-master”™s level education to spur sales and employment in small businesses “on the verge of getting to the next level,” said Harry Menta, a public affairs specialist with the SBA.
Dollar Saving Discount Fuel Oil of Mount Vernon is one of 17 businesses chosen from more than a hundred applicants that will participate in the program this year.
“I think the small-business community could always use some help either in their educational services in marketing or structuring their business plans,” Goldberg said. “I would like to take the foundation that we already have set in Westchester and build upon it by developing new relationships with civic leaders, business groups, associations and lenders to see how we can strive to do more in Westchester. Again, it”™s all about being proactive and being out in the community and developing relationships and partnerships that will allow us to have a greater impact on the small-businesses community in Westchester County.”
