Profile | Frances A. Padilla

Frances A. Padilla, Deputy District Director, Colorado District Office

Frances A. Padilla, Deputy District Director, joined the SBA’s Colorado District Office in the summer of 2014. As Deputy, she is responsible for directing the statewide expansion and delivery of SBA’s loan guaranty programs, business counseling & training, and small business contracting assistance throughout Colorado.

Prior to coming to Colorado, Padilla served as the Deputy District Director and Chief of Finance in the New Mexico District Office providing direction, management, oversight and deployment of the SBA Capital Access program to internal and external stakeholders. In addition to her current responsibilities at the district office level, Ms. Padilla is also a national Lender Relations Trainer and has served on several field advisory committees to SBA headquarters.

During her SBA career, Padilla has acted as the statewide point of contact for commercial and community-based lending institutions providing lender training and relationship management. She has also worked as the District International Trade Officer, Brand Manager, Public Information Officer, District Office Technical Representative, and Women Business Ownership Representative.

Prior to joining the SBA team in 2007, Padilla worked with the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development, the State of New Mexico’s Department of Finance & Administration and the New Mexico Finance Authority. Her career includes more than 15 years of experience in public finance, guaranteed lending, governmental relations, project management, and strategic planning and community development. A native of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Padilla earned her Bachelor of Arts in business management from the College of Santa Fe.