Overview

Jovita Carranza (born June 29, 1949) is an American businesswoman and public official known for senior roles in both government and the private sector. She served as the 26th Administrator of the Small Business Administration and as the 44th Treasurer of the United States. Her career spans operational leadership in logistics and consulting as well as executive and policy work in federal agencies.

Private-sector career

Carranza built much of her professional reputation in the logistics and delivery industry. She was a long-time executive at United Parcel Service, where she rose to become Vice President of Air Operations at the company’s major hub in Louisville, Kentucky. After leaving UPS she founded and led the JCR Group, a consulting firm that advised companies on operations, logistics, profit-and-loss management and systems optimization. Her private-sector experience emphasized large-scale operations, efficiency, and workforce management.

Public service and federal roles

Carranza began her federal service earlier in the 21st century when she was appointed Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration during the administration of President George W. Bush. More recently she was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as Administrator of the Small Business Administration, replacing Linda McMahon, and was confirmed and sworn in January 2020. Prior to that confirmation she had served as the Treasurer of the United States from 2017 to 2020. She succeeded and followed several other officials in those roles, and her nomination replaced Linda McMahon as SBA head.

Roles, responsibilities and actions

As Treasurer, Carranza’s duties included oversight related to the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the signature that appears on U.S. currency alongside the Secretary of the Treasury. As Administrator of the Small Business Administration she led an agency charged with lending, counseling and contracting assistance for small businesses nationwide. Her tenure as SBA head coincided with the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic economic response, when the agency administered emergency lending programs designed to help small employers withstand the economic disruption.

Positions and timeline

  • Vice President of Air Operations, United Parcel Service (UPS) – private sector logistics leadership.
  • President & CEO, JCR Group – consulting in operations and business development.
  • Deputy Administrator, Small Business Administration (2006–2009) under George W. Bush.
  • Treasurer of the United States (2017–2020) – signature authority and oversight roles at the Treasury.
  • Administrator, Small Business Administration (Jan 15, 2020–Jan 20, 2021) – led SBA during initial COVID-19 response.

Significance and notable facts

Carranza's career illustrates a common path between private-sector operational leadership and public administration. Her experience managing large logistics operations informed her approach to agency management, particularly in scaling programs and coordinating complex distributions of funds and services. During her confirmation and service she received attention for bringing business management perspectives to federal programs that serve small enterprises. For further official background and summaries of the agencies she led, see the agency pages linked above: the Small Business Administration and the office of the Treasurer of the United States.