SBA Selects Thousand Oaks Lender

Rita Mitchell, a vice president and regional sales manager at Wachovia Small Business Lending, has been selected as the “Nation’s 2006 SBA Financial Services Champion” by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Mitchell, who works out of Thousand Oaks, was selected for her “tenacity and untiring dedication to the cause of capital access for entrepreneurs of all walks of life, particularly the underserved,” SBA officials said in a press release. Mitchell has secured some $150 million in loans for small businesses during her career. She will be presented with the award at the kick off ceremonies of the 2006 Small Business Week activities to be held in Washington, D.C. on April 12 and April 13.