Congressional Forum, featuring Michael Barrera, District Director Kansas City, U.S. SBA
The Congressional Forum is a 55 year institution, and the Chamber's public policy series, which features local, state, and federal representatives to speak about issues relevant to the area's business community.
This month's featured speaker is Michael Barrera, District Director, of the Kansas City District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office. Barrera oversees and implements SBA programs including: lending, procurement, and entrepreneurial development for the small business community in Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas.
During his presentation, Mr. Barrera will highlight the small business impact of the NFL Draft coming to Kansas City as well as tips for small businesses to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.
Bio:
Mr. Michael Barrera was selected to serve as District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in Kansas City in February 2021. He is responsible for the oversight of over a billion dollars of annual federal contracting dollars and close to a billion dollars of annual lending guarantees in FY 2021 and FY2022 through the Kansas City District Office.
Mr. Barrera is an experienced attorney with over 30-years of business, government, legal, and non-profit experience. Mr. Barrera also has extensive history with the small business community. He previously served as the SBA’s third National Ombudsman from 2001 to 2005, where his office assisted small businesses who were subject to overburdensome federal regulations. He also served as the first director of the agency’s Business Match Making program from 2003 to 2005. Mr. Barrera served as an internal Ombudsman for SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance employees, subsequent to the hurricanes that devastated Puerto Rico, Florida, and Texas in 2017 and 2018. He was also past President and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of the Hispanic Bar Association of Greater Kansas City.
Mr. Barrera received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University. He was also educated at Harvard Business School and the Marshall School of Business at USC. He is a native of Kansas City, Missouri.
Mr. Michael Barrera was selected to serve as District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in Kansas City in February 2021. He is responsible for the oversight of over a billion dollars of annual federal contracting dollars and close to a billion dollars of annual lending guarantees in FY 2021 and FY2022 through the Kansas City District Office.
Mr. Barrera is an experienced attorney with over 30-years of business, government, legal, and non-profit experience. Mr. Barrera also has extensive history with the small business community. He previously served as the SBA’s third National Ombudsman from 2001 to 2005, where his office assisted small businesses who were subject to overburdensome federal regulations. He also served as the first director of the agency’s Business Match Making program from 2003 to 2005. Mr. Barrera served as an internal Ombudsman for SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance employees, subsequent to the hurricanes that devastated Puerto Rico, Florida, and Texas in 2017 and 2018. He was also past President and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of the Hispanic Bar Association of Greater Kansas City.
Mr. Barrera received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University. He was also educated at Harvard Business School and the Marshall School of Business at USC. He is a native of Kansas City, Missouri.
Date and Time
Friday Mar 17, 2023
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
Location
Children's Mercy Park
1 Sporting Way
Kansas City, KS 66111
Website
Contact Information
Katelyn Kaminski
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