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Terri Denison, Tasha Reid, Mark Gibson, Eugene Cornelius
Eugene Cornelius, Jr./U.S. Small Business Administration
Deputy Associate Administrator For Field Operations
Mr. Cornelius is the Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). He was appointed after serving as the Acting Regional Administrator for Region III that covers Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. As Deputy Associate Administrator, Mr. Cornelius is responsible for management and oversight of over 90 offices covering all 50 States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and U.S. Territories. Mr. Cornelius has served the SBA in numerous capacities prior to this appointment beginning in 1999 as the District Director for the Michigan District Office. After graduating from the Senior Executive Service (SES) Training Program in 2002, he served as the agency’s Chief Procurement Officer and as the Associate Administrator for 8(a) Business Development in SBA’s national headquarters. In 2004, he was appointed as SBA’s Louisiana District Director where he served as the Agency’s point of contact during the Katrina hurricane disaster and recovery. In 2008 he served as the Washington Metropolitan Area District Office Director overseeing the largest Government Contracting Portfolio in the country. Before joining SBA, Mr. Cornelius was the Director of Business Services for the Los Angeles Community College District in California, the largest community college system in the United States, the Senior Administrative Officer for the City of Redondo Beach, California, and the Risk Manager for the Compton Unified School District in Compton, California. Mr. Cornelius is a trained Federal Acquisition (Level 3) Senior Project Manager and is nationally certified as an Associate in Risk Management (ARM). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. In addition, he has professional designations in Economic Development and Urban Planning. A Chicago native, Mr. Cornelius is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Inc.
Tasha Reid/Visionary Construction Inc.
Since its founding in Georgia in March 2010, Visionary Management Services is working toward becoming the leading professional supplier of cost effective facility management solutions. Ms. Tasha Reid holds a Master Degree in Business Administration with extensive experience as a project manager. She has been active in the field of pro-development, project development, construction, and information technology for ten years. Ms. Reid has managed national construction projects for one of the top fortune 100 companies Ms. Reid greatest strengths are her perseverance, drive and leadership. She has successfully directed Visionary Management Services strategic planning, business development, resources, quality assurance and customer satisfaction. She thrives on challenges, particularly those that expand the company’s reach. She has also done several volunteer projects for her church, community and abroad. Ms. Reid destiny fulfilled philosophy is very simple “Inspire before you expire.” Since childhood, Tasha Reid always knew she was an entrepreneur. Her first business venture was selling candy bars to her fellow classmates. She was so successful that she was able to earn twice as much as she spent buying the candy from the store! She used her passion for selling, along with the discipline she gained from playing basketball, to earn a Master’s in Business Administration. Using her education, natural talents and innovative ideas, she was able to earn her first real estate license at 25 and begin a successful career in the housing market. Unfortunately, the 2008 housing crash impacted her business along with the financial stability of millions of Americans. While it was a difficult decision, Tasha eventually had to close her real estate business. In December of that year she relocated to Atlanta, GA, to help out a family member. It was then that she became a member of The Vision Church of Atlanta. According to Tasha, the lessons she learned from her church are what gave her the faith and determination to continue to strive toward success. While building her faith, Tasha was also building her skills. She began booking speaking engagements and mentoring others while hosting her own internet show. However, she was reluctant to start another business because she was afraid it would fail as her real estate business had. However, she took a leap of faith and founded Visionary Management Services. Visionary Management Services (VMS) is a company that offers facilities support through contracting services to businesses. Some of the services that are contracted include construction, janitorial service, and landscaping and facility maintenance. One of the highlights of the company is that it provides small business owners with contracted work that they otherwise would not have been able to obtain on their own. Since its founding in 2010, VMS has completed numerous public and private projects throughout the southeastern United States. Tasha first applied for the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development Program. However, she faced the risk of her application being denied because of limited past performance with her business. Taking the advice of an SBA official, she withdrew her application. But she didn’t stop there. Instead, she took a class provided by the SBA that focused on doing business with the government, which allowed her to gain the past performance she needed to submit a successful 8(a) application in 2013. Thanks to her faith and perseverance, she was accepted into the 8(a) program on October 31, 2013, and is currently a thriving participant. Currently, Tasha Reid is looking forward to being part of SBA’s Mentor-Protégé program. Through this program, she will be mentored by Artesian Contracting so that her business will be better equipped for future success. It is because of her unwavering determination and that she has come this far and it is her unyielding desire for success that will propel her and Visionary Management Services even further. That focused on doing business with the government, which allowed her to gain the past performance she needed to submit a successful 8(a) application in 2013. Thanks to her faith and perseverance, she was accepted into the 8(a) program on October 31, 2013, and is currently a thriving participant. Currently, Tasha Reid is looking forward to being part of SBA’s Mentor-Protégé program. Through this program, she will be mentored by US &S Inc. so that her business will be better equipped for future success. It is because of her unwavering determination and that she has come this far and it is her unyielding desire for success that will propel her and Visionary Management Services even further.
Terri Denison/U.S. SBA Georgia District Office
District Director
Responsible for overseeing the implementation and operation of the SBA’s financial, counseling/training and procurement/business development programs for small businesses throughout Georgia.
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Mark D. Gibson/SBA Georgia District Public Affairs
Public Information Specialist
U.S. SBA Georgia District Office Twitter
