Luz Hopewell is the Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Ms. Hopewell works to enhance the ability of small businesses to compete in the global marketplace. Her office oversees programs that facilitate access to capital, supporting international trade for eligible businesses through the SBA Export Express program, the Export Working Capital program and the International Trade Loan program. Additionally, her office ensures that the interests of small business are considered and reflected in the trade negotiations.

Before coming to the Office of International Trade, Ms. Hopewell worked in the Office of Business Development in the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development as the Associate Administrator and as the Deputy Associate Administrator for Financial Assistance in the Office of Capital Access.

Ms. Hopewell also served as the Associate Administrator for Government Contracting in the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development where she worked to create an environment for maximum participation by small, disadvantaged and woman-owned small businesses in Federal government contract awards.

Prior to joining SBA, Ms. Hopewell was the Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). She was responsible for the development and implementation of activities directed at ensuring small, minority and women-owned small business participation in DOT’s direct procurement and Federal financial assistance procurement activities. Ms. Hopewell was responsible for DOT recording the highest percentage of prime contracts to small business than any other Cabinet-level agency in 1999. In addition, she earned the Vice President’s prestigious "Hammer Award" for her role in assisting DOT in developing a unique procurement strategy for Information Technology Omnibus Procurement (ITOP).

Preceding her government service, Ms. Hopewell devoted twenty years to the Latin American Management Association (LAMA), a national small business trade association, which advocates on behalf of and operates programs to further minority business development. She began her career at LAMA as a Marketing Specialist and left as the President of the Association.

Ms. Hopewell has always been an advocate for small business and believes "When we all work together to assist the small and disadvantaged business community, there is a synergy that is very exciting!".