Mineola Native To Lead Small Business Administration's LI Branch

From the U.S. Small Business Administration: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has appointed Long Island native Robert Piechota as the Branch Manager of its Hauppauge, Long Island Office that serves both Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Piechota joins the SBA after six years directing the New York City College of Technology Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Brooklyn. Piechota also previously ran his own consulting business and is a U.S. Army Veteran where he served in the Military Police Corps. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

“This is really a ‘coming home’ for me,” said Piechota. “I’ve had a great career and many opportunities to serve our nation abroad, but my heart’s always been on Long Island. That’s why I’m excited to serve Nassau and Suffolk’s small business community, helping get the word out about the SBA’s many products and services.”

SBA Atlantic Regional Administrator, Steve Bulger, who oversees the federal agency’s operations throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, said, “We are fortunate to have someone of Rob Piechota’ s caliber and experience step into this role. I’m confident that his expertise as well as strong and effective leadership will connect current and aspiring entrepreneurs with the abundance of resources the SBA offers.”

Since Oct. 1, 2018 (the start of FY 19), SBA has guaranteed more than 500 loans totaling over $187 million to Long Island small businesses. SBA also supports two Small Business Development Centers on Long Island - one at Farmingdale State College, the other at Stony Brook University, and funds a SCORE Chapter of volunteer business advisors co-located in the Long Island Branch Office. The federal agency also partners with local governments and various organizations to provide advice, counseling and help to small businesses looking to self-certify for government contracts.

John Mallano is the Deputy Director of SBA’s New York District Office which encompasses Long Island, New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley. He said that with Piechota’s experience as a small business owner, military service veteran and leader of a Small Business Development Center, that he will make a great addition to the team.

“We’re excited for Rob to take the reins of the Long Island Office and lead outreach to the over 350,000 small businesses in Nassau and Suffolk counties,” Mallano said. “SBA’s here to help small businesses start, grow and expand so we’re excited to have Rob on board and help us fulfill that mission.”

Piechota was sworn in to SBA service on Monday, August 19, 2019 at the federal agency’s branch office in Hauppauge. SBA will host a “meet the branch manager” event in the coming weeks after summer and will make a public announcement before that happens.

Image Courtesy of the U.S. Small Business Administration