SBA deputy administrator encourages veterans to seek SBA help to start a business

SYRACUSE — During her recent stop in Syracuse, Althea (Allie) Coetzee Leslie, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s deputy administrator, encouraged veterans looking to start a business to contact her agency for help. 

“My message to veterans is, if you are interested in starting a business, please contact your local Small Business Administration (SBA) office because they have resources that you likely don’t know are available to you,” says Coetzee Leslie. She spoke with CNYBJ on Thursday Nov. 2 at the SBA Syracuse district office at 224 Harrison St. in Syracuse.

Coetzee Leslie visited Syracuse as part of National Veterans Small Business Week, held from Oct. 30 through Nov. 3.

“We are commemorating events all over the country, and the reason why I chose Syracuse was because Syracuse University is the leader in veterans’ programs nationwide,” says Coetzee Leslie.

About Coetzee Leslie

Coetzee Leslie, a native of Richmond, Virginia, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985. She subsequently earned her master of business administration in law from National University in San Diego, where she was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award.

Coetzee Leslie transitioned into the Navy Reserve in 1993. In her civilian capacity, she has worked in both the public and private sectors in municipal and state government, retail distribution, medical-device manufacturing, and the U.S. Department of Defense. 

She has also worked as a small-business owner. 

She was most recently recalled to active duty in 2011 and until her SBA confirmation, served as the chief of staff to the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics (AT&L). 

In this role, she facilitated the undersecretary’s leadership of AT&L across the offices of five assistant secretaries of defense, eleven directorates, and several defense agencies.  

SYRACUSE — During her recent stop in Syracuse, Althea (Allie) Coetzee Leslie, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s deputy administrator, encouraged veterans looking to start a business to contact her agency for help. 

“My message to veterans is, if you are interested in starting a business, please contact your local Small Business Administration (SBA) office because they have resources that you likely don’t know are available to you,” says Coetzee Leslie. She spoke with CNYBJ on Thursday Nov. 2 at the SBA Syracuse district office at 224 Harrison St. in Syracuse.

Coetzee Leslie visited Syracuse as part of National Veterans Small Business Week, held from Oct. 30 through Nov. 3.

“We are commemorating events all over the country, and the reason why I chose Syracuse was because Syracuse University is the leader in veterans’ programs nationwide,” says Coetzee Leslie.

About Coetzee Leslie

Coetzee Leslie, a native of Richmond, Virginia, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985. She subsequently earned her master of business administration in law from National University in San Diego, where she was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award.

Coetzee Leslie transitioned into the Navy Reserve in 1993. In her civilian capacity, she has worked in both the public and private sectors in municipal and state government, retail distribution, medical-device manufacturing, and the U.S. Department of Defense. 

She has also worked as a small-business owner. 

She was most recently recalled to active duty in 2011 and until her SBA confirmation, served as the chief of staff to the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics (AT&L). 

In this role, she facilitated the undersecretary’s leadership of AT&L across the offices of five assistant secretaries of defense, eleven directorates, and several defense agencies.