Allegra F. McCullough, a native of Charlottesville, Virginia is a proven leader with an impressive track record in both the public and private sector.

Her results oriented approach led the Administration of President George W. Bush to appoint her to the position of Associate Deputy Administrator for Government Contracting and Business Development (ADA/GCBD) at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in May 2004. In this capacity, Ms McCullough was responsible for the delivery of SBA’s procurement assistance programs to assist small businesses seeking to sell their products and services to the federal government. She directed the Agency’s business development programs which included the 8(a) Business Development and Small disadvantaged Business Programs as a well as the Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB ZONE) Program and procurement assistance programs to ensure that small businesses received their fair share of federal procurement contracts.

During her 18 month tenure as the ADA/GCBD, Ms. McCullough recommended and guided SBA through statutory and regulatory reform that affected small business size standards, Hub Zone status, subcontracting and 8(a) certification and assisted federal agencies in surpassing their statutory small business procurement goals.

Prior to assuming the ADA/GCBD position, Ms. McCullough was appointed Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Mid-Atlantic Region (Region 3) in October 2002. The region encompasses Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, DC and West Virginia. As Regional Administrator, Ms. McCullough was responsible for the delivery of SBA’s financial assistance, business development and counseling programs throughout Region 3. From the SBA’s regional headquarters in Philadelphia, McCullough lead district offices that helped 5,252 small businesses obtain 7,332 loans totaling $991 million in fiscal year 2003. These numbers reflected a 31 percent increase in region 3’s lending volume over fiscal year 2002. These numbers also represented an increase in lending to African American 0wned small companies by 75% and an increase to Hispanic-Owned small businesses by 25%, and an increase to Asian American-Owned businesses by 20%. During 2003, Ms McCullough and the Region 3 offices also received the Administrator’s Award for creating and developing more strategic alliances with community and corporate groups than other region.

Prior to her appointment to SBA’s Region III, Ms. McCullough was the Director of the Department of Minority Business Enterprise for Virginia. She was appointed to that position in August 2000, two years after becoming the first minority in the history of the state to be appointed to the position of Assistant Secretary of the Commonwealth.

She received her undergraduate degree in education from the University of Virginia and a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Marymount University. She is a former high school English and drama teacher and has also worked as a marketing and human resource consultant, corporate trainer and television producer.

Her most recent awards include the 2005 "Vision and Leadership Award” and the 2002 "50 Influential Minorities in Business Award” from the Minority & Professionals Network, Inc; special recognition for her contributions to the Southeastern Economic Development Council of Pennsylvania in 2004; the 2003 Sturdivant Award from Vernell Communications; special recognition from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2003; the 2002 Daisy Bates Business Advocate Award from the National Federation of Black Business Women Owners; the 2002 Virginia Minority Business Advocate Award from the SBA; and, the 2001 Community Service Award from the League of Korean Americans—USA.

Ms. McCullough currently resides in Washington, DC and recently founded Allegra F. McCullough & Associates, LLC a business and. economic development firm. Ms. McCullough is also a seasoned speaker, conference presenter, and a member of the George Fraser PowerNetworking faculty.