Ryan Lincoln was announced this week as the new administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration Iowa District Office.
The retired Marine who brings Midwest small business roots to the job, took over duties at the Iowa District SBA office on Thursday, Nov. 13, Brad Zaun, administrator of the Great Plains Region of the U.S. SBA, said in a news release.
In that role, Mr. Lincoln is responsible for the management and delivery of the SBA’s programs and services in Iowa. He also will oversee the SBA grant-funded counseling and district training resource partners. They include SCORE, the Iowa Women’s Business Center and the Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) across the state.
“Iowa’s small businesses are the engine that drives our local economies. Ryan has lived the daily challenges of entrepreneurship and has the leadership skills to deliver real results,” said Mr. Zaun, who oversees SBA for the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
“He is going to be a tremendous partner for our business owners, ensuring they have the resources they need to create jobs and help our communities prosper,” he added.
Before joining SBA, Mr. Lincoln was associate supervisor for logistics, distribution and transportation for PepsiCo in Urbandale, Iowa. Prior to that he served in the Marine Corps from 1996 through 2017, retiring as a first sergeant.
“I grew up in a small business in rural northern Indiana. My father owned the only grocery store in a town of 1,200 people,” Mr. Lincoln said in the release.
“I understand what small businesses mean to communities, and I’ve seen what they can do for the families that run them. I started working at the store when I was 14, and that set in motion the ideals that I would grow up to believe in.”
Foundation of economy
Mr. Lincoln called small businesses “the foundation of our economy,” adding “We are fortunate to have them, and I am honored to have the opportunity to make a positive impact on Iowa’s small business community.”
The Iowa District SBA office is based in the Des Moines metro area. Mr. Lincoln is active in veteran and civic communities. He is commandant of the Department of Iowa, Marine Corp League. The senior marine within the League works with other Iowa Veteran Service Organizations to build on his belief of “We over Me.”
The U.S. SBA helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, it empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
