Minnesota SBA Honors
Veteran Small Business Champion
MINNEAPOLIS – Mark A. Cooper, Metro Area Manager, Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), has been named the Minnesota Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Minnesota District Office.
The Veterans Small Business Champion Award is presented annually in each state to individuals who have fulfilled a commitment to advancing small business opportunities for Veterans of the U.S. armed forces. Sherri Komrosky, Program Director of the PTAC in Minneapolis, nominated Cooper for this award.
Mark Cooper brings more than 25 years of corporate experience in contract administration and procurement to MEDA. In addition to supplier and diversity program responsibilities at Donaldson Company in Bloomington, Minn., and a senior contract administrator at Lawson Software in Saint Paul. Mark later founded his own consulting firm to develop minority business initiatives, and worked for a short time with the State of Minnesota as a vendor management specialist. Mark resides in Minneapolis and is actively involved in the community. Having previously served on the board of the Minnesota Safety Council, he is also past chair of the Minnesota Minority Supplier Development Council.
Mark volunteers as the veteran expert within the PTAC team, providing Veterans updates, assisting with registrations, verifications and continually monitors the changes to the Veteran First Program.
He has provided training to Veterans and family members with assistance in starting a new business, educating them on best business practices, and providing tools necessary for success. He also provides assistance to build and execute business or research plans and help them grow their businesses. Mark has participated in the Small Business Conferences for Veterans in Moorhead, Rochester and Saint Cloud and presented Introduction to Government Procurement for veteran companies at the Annual American Legion Business Conference; Lyon County Veteran’s Fair; Veteran’s Entrepreneur Seminar and the Veteran's Joint Business Venture Conference. Mark is also active with the Minnesota Chapter of Women in Defense and Minnesota Defense Alliance meetings.
For more information:
Mark Cooper
Metro Area Manager, PTAC
PTAC
250 – 2nd Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-259-6578
mcooper@mnptac.org
