How (The Hell) Did I Get Here? Guest: Jaime Wood

Jaime L. Wood joined the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in October 2014 and currently serves as the District Director for the South Dakota District Office. She is responsible for promoting small business resources across South Dakota including access to capital, counseling and training, government contracting, and disaster relief.

Previous to her SD assignment, Ms. Wood served as the Deputy District Director in the SBA North Dakota District Office. She also previously served at SBA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., as the Director for Policy and Engagement, in the Office of Veterans Business Development, where her focus included SBA veteran related programs for active duty, National Guard and Reserve, service disabled veterans, military spouses, and survivors. While at SBA Headquarters, Ms. Wood participated in an interagency detail with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand veteran small business ownership in agricultural and rural areas.

She began her U.S. Government civilian career in March 2006. Prior to joining SBA, she served with the U.S. Department of the Army in multiple military public affairs, strategic communication, and staff positions in U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, in Stuttgart, Germany. Her duties included several deployments to Africa and within Europe. She is a U.S. Army veteran having served as a military broadcast journalist.

Originally from Mobridge, SD, Ms. Wood is a Class of 2016 graduate of the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, where she earned a Master of Strategic Studies. She also holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Bowie State University, Bowie, Maryland.