Maria Contreras-Sweet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maria Contreras-Sweet
Official portrait, 2015
24th Administrator of the Small Business Administration
In office April 7, 2014 – January 20, 2017
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Karen Mills
Succeeded by	Linda McMahon
California Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing Agency
In office January 4, 1999 – November 17, 2003
Governor	Gray Davis
Preceded by	Dean Dunphy
Succeeded by	Sunny McPeak
Personal details
Born	1955 (age 69–70) Guadalajara, Mexico
Political party	Democratic
Education	San Antonio College California State University, Los Angeles (BA)

Maria Contreras-Sweet (born 1955) is an American businesswoman and former government leader. She was the 24th head of the Small Business Administration (SBA) from 2014 to 2017. The SBA is a U.S. government agency that helps small businesses grow.

Before joining the government, she founded ProAmérica Bank. This bank helped small and medium-sized businesses, especially those in the Latino community. Maria was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. She moved to Los Angeles, California when she was young. She has worked in both private companies and for the government. For example, she was the California Secretary of Business, Transportation, and Housing. This was under Governor Gray Davis.

On January 15, 2014, President Barack Obama chose her to lead the Small Business Administration. She was approved by the government on March 27, 2014. She started her role on April 7, 2014.

Early Life and Education

Maria Contreras-Sweet was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1955. When she was five years old, her family moved to the United States. This included her mother and five brothers and sisters. Her mother worked hard at a chicken packaging plant in El-Monte, California. She did this to support their family. Maria later earned her bachelor's degree from California State University, Los Angeles.

Career Highlights

Working in Private Business

7-Up / RC Bottling Company

Maria Contreras-Sweet began her career in private business. She worked for Westinghouse's 7-Up / RC Bottling Company. She started as the Director of Public Affairs. She then became the Vice-President of Public Affairs. During her time there, the company grew. It added other drink brands like Evian and Sunkist.

Maria helped create the Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act of 1986. This law started the California Redemption Value for bottles. It also greatly expanded recycling in California. She later became an owner in the Bottling Company.

Contreras-Sweet Company

Maria Contreras-Sweet also started her own company. It was called the Contreras-Sweet Company. This company helped businesses with marketing and research. It specialized in reaching the Latino market. Some of her clients were The Coca-Cola Company and The Walt Disney Company.

Fortius Holdings, LLC

After working in government, Maria joined Edward P. Roski. They formed Fortius Holdings, LLC. This company invested in small businesses. They especially focused on businesses owned by Latinos and women.

ProAmérica Bank

In 2006, Maria Contreras-Sweet helped start ProAmérica Bank. This was the first commercial bank started by Latinos in California in over 35 years. ProAmérica Bank helps small businesses in Southern California. Maria brought together important people to help, like Henry Cisneros. The bank works with many important companies and non-profits in California.

Working in Public Service

State Legislature

Maria's first experience in public service was as a secretary. She worked for Leo T. McCarthy. He was the Speaker of the California State Assembly. This job helped her learn about how state laws are made. Later, California Senator Joseph B. Montoya hired her. She worked as a field deputy. In this role, she helped people in the community. She also worked on new public policies.

U.S. Census Bureau

After working for the state, Maria joined the Department of Commerce. She became a District Manager for the United States Census Bureau in 1979. She was in charge of over 800 employees. Her team made sure to count everyone accurately in a part of Los Angeles County.

California Cabinet Secretary

Governor Gray Davis chose Maria Contreras-Sweet for an important job. She became the Cabinet Secretary of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency (BTH). She was the first Latina to hold such a high position in U.S. history. She worked in this role for five years. This made her the longest-serving BTHA secretary. She oversaw 44,000 employees and a large budget.

Some of her big projects included:

• Creating a new department for health care.
• Helping build the eastern part of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. This was a huge construction project.
• Helping pass California Proposition 46. This provided $2.1 billion for housing.
• Leading the 2000 United States Census for California.

Small Business Administration

On January 15, 2014, President Barack Obama nominated her. He wanted her to lead the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA helps small businesses across the country. Maria was approved for the job on March 27, 2014. She officially started her role on April 7, 2014.

Other Activities

Maria Contreras-Sweet is the founder of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE). This group teaches Hispanic women about politics. Their goal is to help women improve their communities. HOPE has programs like the HOPE Leadership Institute.

Maria was also appointed to the Federal Glass Ceiling Commission. This group studied why women and minorities sometimes hit a "Glass ceiling" at work. This means they can't advance past a certain level.

She is a founding director of The California Endowment. This is a large foundation that gives money to good causes. Maria has also served on many important boards. These include the Board of Directors for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association of California. She also advised Harvard University on women's issues. She is an executive member of the Board of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the board of Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Maria led the committee that created the "Latinas: The Spirit of California" Exhibition. This exhibit was shown at The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts.

In 2016, Maria Contreras-Sweet received an honorary degree from Whittier College.