Senate Confirms Maria Contreras-Sweet as Small Business Administration Leader

It took more than a year, but the Small Business Administration finally has a permanent leader back at the helm.

The Senate on Thursday easily confirmed Maria Contreras-Sweet as the agency’s new administrator in a voice vote, handing the reins to the former banking executive and public official from Los Angeles. President Barack Obama nominated Contreras-Sweet to the post back in January, filling the last remaining vacancy on his second-term cabinet.

Contreras-Sweet is the founder of both ProAmérica Bank, a community bank specializing in small-business loans in southern California, and venture capital firm Fortius Holdings.