SBA Regional Administrator to Speak on the Role of Small Business in Economic Recovery

(March 31, 2014) — Seth Goodall, the New England Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration, will speak at a Small Business Luncheon hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut on Tuesday, April 15 in Mystic.

Goodall, who was appointed to the position by President Obama in July 2013, will talk about how important small business has been to our economic recovery, and will continue to be essential to our improving economy. He will touch on entrepreneurship, job creation, and resources for small business development. He will be joined by state Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Catherine Smith, and Small Business Development Center Director Emily Carter.

The event is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 15 at the Quality Inn, 9 Whitehall Ave., Mystic. You can register here: http://www.chamberect.com/chamber-activities. The cost, which includes a hot buffet, is $20 for Chamber members and $25 for nonmembers. There is a $5 fee applied to walk-ins. Advanced registration is appreciated.

Goodall, who lives in Maine, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy and a Master’s Degree in Plant Science from the University of Connecticut in Storrs. Goodall previously co-owned a full service landscaping company from 1992 to 1999—building the foundation for a successful, multi-million dollar company that today employs nearly 30 seasonal and 15 year-round employees, according to an SBA press release.

Most recently, he worked as an attorney at Dyer Goodall, P.A., where he represented municipalities, individuals and small businesses in a variety of cases, according to the SBA. He has also represented Sagadahoc County and Dresden in Lincoln County as a State Senator in the Maine State Legislature since 2008 and was the Senate Majority Leader. He resigned that seat last year to take the SBA position. Since 2009, he has served on the Maine Economic Growth Council.

Goodall has worked on economic development and small business matters in the Maine Legislature, co-chairing the Joint Select Committee on Maine’s Workforce and Economic Future and serving as a ranking member on the Joint Select Committee on Regulatory Reform and Fairness.

“As an attorney and public servant, Seth has worked with small businesses in the New England region throughout his career,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills at the time of his appointment. “I am pleased that, as Region I Administrator, he will be able to draw on his experiences as a small business owner, as well as his expertise garnered from extensive experience in the public and private sectors, to help entrepreneurs across the region start, grow and succeed.”

He also previously served as the Executive Vice President and key advisor to Starting Out, a Maine start-up company focused on career and workforce educational resources.