🔹 Name: Mark Winchester
🏢 Organization: U.S. Small Business Administration – Houston District
📍 Region: Covers 32 counties in Southeast Texas
🌐 Website: http://www.sba.gov/

🧠 Overview: Mark Winchester is the District Director for the SBA Houston District Office and has over 22 years of federal service and experience in economic development. He supervises the district staff and oversees delivery of SBA’s core programs in funding, federal contracting, mentoring, and disaster recovery assistance for small businesses.

📊 Key Impact:

• Oversees SBA program delivery across 32 counties
• Managed over $1.5 Billion in loan guarantees and surety support for small businesses last year
• Recipient of the 2015 Ike Award, the highest federal civilian honor for distinguished service

🗣️ Why it important:
Mark plays a crucial role in empowering Houston’s small business ecosystem—especially early-stage founders and underserved communities. Under his leadership, SBA Houston connects entrepreneurs to capital, contracting, and coaching at scale.