WASHINGTON-The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the appointment of several members of the leadership and management team of SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills.<br /><br />“The SBA has the vital role of helping the nation’s small businesses access the resources and capital they need to survive and build,” Mills said. “I am pleased to appoint these experienced and dedicated public servants to the SBA team. They recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, and they will help the SBA deliver on this promise.” <br /><br />Recently appointed members of the management team include:<br /><br />Michael Brown is the special assistant to the chief of staff. Previously, Brown served as a regional field director for the Obama for America Campaign for Change, where he was responsible for developing strategies aimed at increasing the electorate in Atlanta and Detroit. He was also the regional political director for several states during the campaign primaries. Brown holds a master’s degree in public administration from North Carolina Central University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of South Carolina.<br /><br />Jonathan Carver is the chief financial officer and associate administrator for Performance Management. Carver was most recently the SBA’s deputy chief financial officer. He was previously the cluster budget director at the Office of the Chief Financial Officer for the District of Columbia, where he designed and implemented performance measures, budgets and financial reporting systems to provide financial transparency. He holds both a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree from George Washington University.<br /><br />Michael Chodos is the deputy general counsel. Chodos was the principal attorney of his own law firm, responsible for counseling a diverse group of business entrepreneurs, equity investors, technologists and intellectual property and creative works developers. He also engaged in complex, high-stakes domestic and international civil litigation in contract, fiduciary duty, finance, intellectual property and employment disputes. Chodos holds a juris doctorate from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College.<br /><br />Gerard C. Flavin is the assistant administrator for the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Flavin worked for more than 20 years for Home Box Office, where he served in a variety of capacities including regional vice president and executive vice president of Affiliate Relations. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a master’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree from Providence College.<br /><br />Eileen Harrington is the chief operating officer. Harrington was previously with the Federal Trade Commission as acting director, and deputy director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, where she set priorities and developed strategies for the FTC’s consumer protection law enforcement, regulatory, policy and public education work. She served in a variety of senior management posts at the FTC, and received a Service to America Medal for leading the effort to create the National Do Not Call system. She holds a juris doctorate from Antioch School of Law and a bachelor's degree in history and social sciences from Edgewood College.<br /><br />Penny K. Pickett is the associate administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development. Most recently, Pickett served as senior advisor to Administrator Mills. Pickett previously worked as business director for the Telecommunications Development Fund and as president of the Washington, D.C., Technology Council. She has a bachelor’s degree from Agnes Scott College and a master’s degree from the University of New Mexico.<br /><br />Denise Wright is the director of Business Operations and senior procurement executive. Prior to serving as the associate director of Business Policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation, she was a senior procurement analyst at the U.S. Department of Energy. She holds an MBA in financial management from Southeastern University and a bachelor’s degree in business and management from the University of Maryland University College.