A Sharpe Outlook: HUB Zone

The Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) program helps small businesses in urban and rural communities gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities. The federal government has a goal of awarding 3% of all dollars for federal prime contracts to HUBZone-certified small business concerns. But many small businesses aren\'t even aware of the HUBZone program

Mariana Pardo

Mariana Pardo is the Director for the HUBZone Program at the United States Small Business Administration (SBA). As Director, Ms. Pardo is responsible for issuing final determinations on firms applying for HUBZone certification, the continuing monitoring of certified HUBZone small businesses and adjudicating protests of eligibility, regarding HUBZone contracts. In December 1998, Ms. Pardo joined the federal workforce as a Business Opportunity Specialist in the SBA’s Small Disadvantaged Business Certification processing unit. In July 2006, she became Director of the 8(a) Business Development Certification and Continuing Eligibility. On May 2008, she became Director of HUBZone Program. Under her leadership, the HUBZone team developed and implemented new business processes to reduce fraud, waste and abuse. Ms. Pardo was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, South America and moved to the US in 1973. She lives in Fort Washington, MD and holds a Masters in Technology Management.

the HUBZone Program