John L. Brown II is the District Director of the U. S. Small Business Administration’s South Dakota District Office. Appointed in June of 2005, Mr. Brown oversees a federal staff responsible for the delivery of all SBA programs and services throughout South Dakota, including the SBA’s 7(a) guaranty loan and 504 loan programs, the government contracting and 8(a) business development programs, and oversight of SBA’s technical assistance program partners.
A graduate of the SBA’s District Director Candidate Development Program, Brown has served with the SBA in a number of capacities since 1983. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Brown served as the Acting District Director in several SBA offices, including Los Angeles, Wisconsin and South Dakota. He also served in the capacity of Acting Regional Administrator in SBA’s Region IX and as Acting Deputy District Director in the Los Angeles District Office. Mr. Brown entered the SBA as a Presidential Management (Intern) Fellow in 1983 and subsequently served in progressively more responsible roles as a Commercial Loan Officer, Chief of Portfolio Management, and Assistant District Director for both 8(a) Business Development and for Economic Development, respectively. Mr. Brown has received numerous commendations over the years, including the Administrator’s Award for Excellence in 2003 and the Gold Medal Employee of the Year, SBA’s highest Agency wide honor, in 1996.
Mr. Brown holds a B.A. in Government from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia. Mr. Brown’s civic endeavors have included service as a Bradford Woods Councilman, Borough liaison to the North Hills Council of Governments, and member of the North Allegheny School Board Financial Systems and Services Advisory Committee. Mr. Brown has coached his older daughter’s soccer teams for a number of years and is a Life Member of the National Eagle Scout Association and a private pilot. Interests include golf and travel, a pursuit that has led him to over 45 countries on 5 continents.
Mr. Brown has family roots in South Dakota dating back to a sod house in the Dakota Territory. Both his mother and grandmother were born in South Dakota and the extended family still maintains the old homestead in Bryant. Mr. Brown is married and has two daughters.
