Mr. Eugene Cornelius, Jr. is the Center for Regional Economics Senior Director for Milken Institute responsible for federal, state and local small business policy coordination. Prior to his role there, he held a distinguished career in public service, most recently as Senior Advisor to the Office of International Trade, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). After successfully setting up and organizing the Office of International Trade at the SBA, Mr. Cornelius accepted a one-year detail to the International Council of Small Business (ICSB). He utilized his extensive international experience and executive leadership to design, develop, and deliver the ICSB Global program between the U.S. and ten allied countries. The Program also promotes the facilitation of trade between other countries’ small businesses and the small businesses of the United States. As Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade, Mr. Cornelius was responsible for administrating the oversight and execution of four program divisions: (1) The Federal & State Trade Development Division, (2) The International Trade Finance Division, (3) The International Affairs & Trade Policy Division, (4) Administration & Operations. In addition to his agency role, he served as an International Consultant in the countries of Bahrain, Tunisia, and Jordan and twice in Egypt under the U.S. State Department Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) where he facilitated public-private forums to streamline registration and regulations and zoning policies and expanded lending and non-financial services to small and medium-sized enterprises. He previously served as the Deputy Associate Administrator for Office of Business and Economic Development where he provided senior leadership to over 42% of the Agency’s budgeted workforce, ensuring the implementation of its overall goals, programs, and operations, covering all 50 states and U.S. territories. Mr. Eugene Cornelius, Jr. is a graduate of both the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and Acquisition (Level 3) Senior Project Manager Program at American University and is nationally certified as an Associate in Risk Management (ARM). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Public Administration and is a Visiting Scholar at George Washington University. He was awarded the Harvard University School of Business “Bright Idea” for Innovation in American Government Award for the Business Builder economic development initiative. He is a native Chicagoan and life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
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