NEWS | Staffing Changes at Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy

NSBA commends the SBA Office of Advocacy for working to ensure it is fully staffed to better support small business.

Everett M. Woodel, Jr., Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy in the SBA Office of Advocacy

MAY 20, 2026 | NSBA congratulates Everett M. Woodel Jr. on his recent appointment as Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Mr. Woodel most recently served as SBA’s Great Lakes Regional Administrator, and his tenure the agency has also included a stint as Acting Administrator in 2025. NSBA is confident that Mr. Woodel’s familiarity with the agency and its mission makes him well suited to lead the Office of Advocacy. 

Woodel’s appointment follows the departure of former Chief Counsel Casey Mulligan, who has transitioned to Chief Economist and Regulatory Officer at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). NSBA was proud to support Dr. Mulligan’s nomination to the SBA Advocacy office and wishes him continued success in his new role at HHS.  

NSBA has had a strong relationship with the Office of Advocacy since its inception 50 years ago. In fact, NSBA’s Small Business Technology Council Executive Director Jere Glover served as Chief Counsel for Advocacy in the 1990s, and Milton Stewart, a former NSBA Board Chair, was the very first Chief Counsel in the 1970s. 

The Office of Advocacy is charged with analyzing the role of small businesses in the U.S. economy, pursuing policies that support small-business growth, and ensuring that the needs and concerns of small firms are considered by the federal government. The responsibilities of the Office are far-reaching and vital.  

America’s small businesses rely heavily on the Office of Advocacy and NSBA is committed to ensuring the Office remains a strong, independent organization focused on protecting small businesses from onerous regulations today and for years to come.