Maria Contreras-Sweet is an accomplished entrepreneur and California State University, Los Angeles alumna who serves on President Barack Obama's Cabinet as the administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. In more than three decades of service in the public and private sectors, she has promoted entrepreneurial initiatives to enable underserved community members to elevate their socioeconomic standing. Ms. Contreras-Sweet has worked tirelessly on behalf of disenfranchised communities and is the embodiment of California State University, Los Angeles' mission of engagement, service, and the public good. Prior to serving on President Obama's Cabinet, Ms. Contreras-Sweet was appointed as secretary of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. In overseeing the influential state agency she became the first Latina to hold a cabinet position in California. Ms. Contreras-Sweet later founded ProAmérica Bank, a Latino-owned community financial institution in Los Angeles that provides capital to small and mid-size businesses.