Greg Lopez has run the town of Parker, worked as a consultant and heads a nonprofit that certifies minority contractors in a four-state region.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Small Business Administration appointed Lopez, 43, to head its Colorado District Office.
Lopez is currently president and CEO of the Denver-based Rocky Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council.
At 27, Lopez was elected mayor and city manager of Parker, where he brought in retail outlets and helped build the town’s first recreation center.
He’s moving over to the agency at a particularly critical time.
The credit crunch that started last summer has left banks more reluctant to lend. Lopez said the SBA, which guarantees small-business loans, will need to work closely with borrowers to help them navigate the tighter credit markets.
“We want to help small businesses overcome the obstacles that they face on a day-to-day basis,” said Lopez.
Lopez is scheduled to start with the SBA on April 14. He replaces Patricia Barela Rivera, who stepped down in January after 11 years as the agency’s Colorado director.
Aldo Svaldi: 303-954-1410 or asvaldi@denverpost.com
