From brewing beer to the Biden administration: Md. business owner heads to SBA

Julie Verratti, one of many co-owners of Silver Spring, Maryland-based Denizens Brewing Firm, is joining President Joe Biden’s administration.

Verratti has been employed by the Small Enterprise Administration to function the affiliate administrator of subject operations.

WTOP’s information associate Maryland Issues reported on Verratti’s new post Friday.

Verratti, who has been in enterprise with two different companions at Denizens for seven years, is aware of working a enterprise. She additionally is aware of the SBA, having labored there earlier than launching breweries and taprooms in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland.

Verratti stated she is aware of small enterprise house owners see authorities as the reason for, not the answer to, a lot of their issues. She grew to have that feeling herself whereas working Denizens.

“However I additionally assume that authorities, when run effectively, and run in the best manner, can really deliver numerous optimistic impression to folks,” Verratti stated. “And that’s what I’m hoping to do on this place.”

The submit means she’ll oversee 68 places of work, and that can imply touring sooner or later this 12 months.

“The company, I feel, is actually taking security protocols very severely,” so being on the highway should await now, Verratti stated.

Whereas working on the SBA, Verratti can have a much less distinguished position in Denizens, which she co-owns with Emily Bruno and Jeff Ramirez. She’s ready to see simply how far she’ll need to go earlier than stepping away from the brewing firm.

“However clearly, I’m keen to do what it takes to make it possible for all the things is above board,” Verratti stated.

Having labored in an business that’s practically cratered throughout the pandemic, Verratti stated she’ll deliver enterprise know-how and empathy.

“The kind of enterprise that I co-own and function form of straddles the worlds of producing and hospitality and retail and wholesale and logistics and agriculture,” she stated. That degree of expertise gives her with the flexibility of seeing issues and doable options from many angles.

There are a variety of packages that may assist small companies, together with these that target entry to capital, coaching and authorities contracting.

“Authorities ought to be accessible,” Verratti stated, including that she pledges to verify “we’re answering inquiries and being as accessible as doable to answering questions that folk have.”

“My position is to make it possible for the SBA is getting data within the palms of small companies house owners in order that they will use it as they see match for their very own companies,” Verratti stated.