J. Adalberto Quijada is the District Director of the Santa Ana District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration with service responsibility for the counties of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino in Southern California. In fiscal year 2010, the Santa Ana District Office approved 1,341 loans generating $606 million in financial assistance to small businesses. The district also earned the distinction as one of the top 504 lending offices in the nation with 333 loans approved totaling $241.5 million. In addition, the Santa Ana District Office awarded 140 8(a) contracts for a total of $119 million.

As District Director, Mr. Quijada is responsible for the delivery of SBA programs and services to approximately 6 million people in the tri-county area, which covers over 28,000 square miles. Small businesses in the geographic area comprise in excess of 600,000, representing 16% of the total California business population. Quijada is also responsible for the management and oversight of SBA Resource Partners including four Women’s Business Centers, three SCORE chapters and a Regional Lead Center with a network of three Small Business Development Centers and three satellite locations. The district office and its resource partners provided counseling and training assistance to approximately 23,000 clients in fiscal year 2010.

Prior to his appointment as District Director of the Santa Ana District Office, Mr. Quijada served as the acting District Director of the San Antonio District Office with service responsibility to 55 counties in South Central Texas. He also served as the Deputy District Director of the Los Angeles District Office providing assistance to over 12 million people in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. Before coming to SBA, he led the marketing department of the U.S. Postal Service in Los Angeles and held an executive position as a member of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs promoting programs related to NAFTA and other programs of bilateral interest.

Mr. Quijada holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University, respectively.