10/01/2026
🌟 Speaker Spotlight 🌟
Karen Friel serves as District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration's West Virginia District Office, leading the delivery of SBA lending, entrepreneurial development, government contracting, and business assistance programs across the state. Since joining the SBA in 2007, she has held several leadership roles, including Administrative Officer, Business Development Specialist, Lead Business Development Specialist, Deputy District Director, Acting District Director, and District Director.
Under her leadership, the West Virginia District Office has consistently exceeded agency performance goals while expanding access to capital, strengthening partnerships, and increasing resources for small businesses. Key accomplishments made by the district office include the expansion of SBA lending opportunities, securing major federal grant initiatives, growing the Small Business Week initiative, and advancing outreach to HUBZone-certified businesses.
Friel holds a bachelor’s degree with majors in marketing, management, and business administration from Fairmont State University and brings nearly 32 years of experience, combined in commercial banking, business development, and management. She is a lifelong West Virginian who resides in Bridgeport with her husband and two children and remains active in her community.
Register for this Thinking Outside the Lunchbox here 👉
https://www.ucwv.edu/event/fueling-small-business-success-inside-the-west-virginia-sba/
