Patricia Barela Rivera, the Small Business Administration’s Colorado district director, has announced her retirement from the agency effective Jan. 3. Rivera retires after 20 years of federal service.
During her 11-year tenure as district director, the Colorado office approved 17,500 small-business loans worth nearly $2 billion. The office participated in more than 3,000 outreach events even though staffing levels dropped from more than 50 employees to 10. The Colorado district has consistently ranked as one of the top 10 SBA offices in the nation, according to an internal rating system.
Under her direction the Colorado office received several SBA national recognitions, including the Administrator’s Award for Excellence for the Greatest Increase in Emerging Markets.
In 2007, Rivera received the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce’s Athena Award and recently received the Women’s Foundation of Colorado’s Be Bold Award.
Rivera plans to spend more time with her parents, who reside in Albuquerque, and possibly travel the world consulting and advising Third World nations on small-business development. She also may pursue other business opportunities but has no specific plans.
The Denver Post
