Bio
Robert H. Nelson was appointed district director of SBA’s Massachusetts District Office on November 26, 2007. The district office is located in Boston with a branch office in Springfield, Massachusetts.
As district director, Mr. Nelson is responsible for the effective delivery of SBA’s financial and business development programs with a mission to counsel, assist and protect the interest of small business statewide in order to maintain and strengthen the economy. He has 23 years of federal service,16 of which have been with the SBA.
Nelson and the Massachusetts District Office staff work to help entrepreneurs to start, grow and build their businesses through access to capital, government contracting and technical assistance. On the financial side, Mr. Nelson is responsible for increasing delivery of the popular 7(a) and 504 loan programs which help small businesses obtain debt capital. During his tenure as district director, Massachusetts has seen tremendous increases in the use of SBA loan programs statewide. Massachusetts consistently ranks as one of the most productive district offices in terms of access to capital for small businesses. Nelson is also responsible for SBA oversight of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center’s (MSBDC) statewide network, the seven Massachusetts chapters of SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business and the Massachusetts Women’s Business Center – the Center for Women & Enterprise.
Before joining the SBA, Bob spent a number of years with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). He also has a number of years of banking experience having been a commercial lender for several New England area banks. He was a Vice President at Shawmut Bank, R.I.
In 2011, Mr. Nelson successfully completed the Excellence in Government Fellows program offered through the Partnership for Public Service. During his SBA career, he has also served in the following capacities: Acting Deputy Associate Administrator of Capital Access – Washington, DC; Acting New England Regional Administrator; Boston, MA and Acting District Director – Lubbock, TX. Mr. Nelson holds a BA degree in Economics from Hobart College in Geneva, New York.