Efrain Gonzalez, Jr.

Experience

• 

  University of Southern California

  May 1996 - Feb 1999

  Directed a regional business development center, generated millions in financing and contracts benefiting its clients, established strategic public and private sector partnerships, conducted community outreach, and fostered tremendous support for local businesses. Counseled small and minority-owned businesses to develop business plans, improve operations, secure financing, and procurement opportunities.

  • Associate Director, Business Expansion Network

    Nov 1996 - Feb 1999

  • Business Consultant, Business Expansion Network

    May 1996 - Nov 1996
• 

  Minority Business Development Agency - U.S. Department of Commerce

  Jan 2000 - Oct 2010

  Oversaw five operating units: Grants and Programs, Access to Capital, Research and Knowledge Management, Office of Native American Business Development, Access to Markets. Led a reorganization that increased productivity and eliminated inefficiencies. Served as Agency’s lead on several government-wide initiatives including hurricane recovery projects and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Co-led an Agency-wide reorganization transforming the Agency’s operating model in order have greater economic impact. Co-led an Access to Capital Initiative that expanded financing opportunities for minority businesses through angel and venture capital, private equity, standard commercial lending and alternative lending. Led the Agency’s implementation of new operational procedures that improved performance and reduced program failure rates by more than 75% in one year.

  • Chief, Office of Business Development

    Aug 2007 - Oct 2010

  • Program Manager/Program Analyst

    Jan 2000 - Aug 2007
• 

  Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce

  Oct 2010 - Feb 2015

  Co-led launch and ran operations for a multi-million dollar White House initiative within 90 days of the Presidential announcement, which focused on making it easier for small businesses to access government resources through IT solutions. Co-led a Secretarial initiative that streamlined U.S. businesses access to programs, resources and tools offered by the Department of Commerce’s twelve bureaus. Oversaw operations, staff, training programs and the deployment of a cloud- based customer relationship management system.

  • Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer, BusinessUSA

    May 2013 - Feb 2015

  • Deputy Director, CommerceConnect

    Oct 2010 - May 2013
• 

  Minority Business Development Agency - U.S. Department of Commerce

  Feb 2015 - now

  Launched a new division that shapes the Agency’s efforts to address barriers and opportunity gaps faced by minority businesses through the development of evidence-based policy, data, research and evaluation. Lead operations to establish MBDA as the pre-eminent resource for and about minority business enterprises in the U.S. Led the Agency’s business development operations, programs, and public/private partnerships, creating opportunities for minority-owned businesses to access capital, contracts, and build capacity. Expanded the Agency’s domestic and global market initiatives including international business development events in China and Germany.

  • Associate Director, Office of Policy Analysis and Development

    Jan 2021 - now

  • Associate Director, Office of Business Development

    Feb 2015 - Jan 2021