Pratt named director for Office of Native American Affairs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the appointment of Clara Pratte as national director for the agency's Office of Native American Affairs.

"I am pleased to have Clara Pratte joining our team at the SBA in this vital post," SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills said. "Clara's background and experience will be an asset as we strengthen our efforts at the SBA to support the growth and development of small businesses and the economic opportunities they provide for Native Americans."

As national director, Pratte will help to ensure that American Indians, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians seeking to create, develop and expand small businesses have full access to the necessary tools available through the SBA's entrepreneurial development, lending and procurement programs.

Prior to joining the SBA, Pratte worked for the Navajo Nation as a policy analyst and legislative liaison focusing on economic and community development, housing, and education issues. Before that, she was with the U.S. Department of Commerce at the International Trade Administration as a trade specialist in the U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service. Pratte counseled small-to- medium sized U.S. companies on exporting. After serving with the U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service, she joined the Office of the Chief Information Officer, where she oversaw information technology projects for the U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service and the Import Administration.

Pratte is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation from Lupton. She received a master's degree from Carnegie Mellon University at the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management. Her bachelor's degree is from the University of Arizona's Eller School of Business. She is a former Udall Foundation Congressional Fellow and a Presidential Management Fellow.

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