Carol Silverstrom retires after 37 years with Arkansas SBA office

Carol J. Silverstrom, lead economic development specialist and public information officer, is retiring from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Arkansas District Office in Little Rock. Her last day with the agency is today (Jan. 3).

“I enjoyed working with everyone and will miss seeing and talking with you,” Silverstrom wrote in a Dec. 30 email to colleagues. “I’m retiring after 37 years with the agency and over 40 years with the federal government.” After she retires, she said she plans to take a woodworking course and volunteer as an advocate for those who reside in nursing homes. She will continue to live in Little Rock.

Throughout her career with the Small Business Administration, she’s worked in “almost every division in the agency,” from loan servicing and liquidation to doing some “cross training” and working as a public information officer for a number of years. She’s worked as lead economic development specialist for about a year. The plan is to take her position and hire a full-time public affairs position. Meanwhile, Karen Musick, has been named interim public information officer.

What Silverstrom said she’ll miss the most about working for the agency will be “getting involved with people and working with them.” While she said she will miss small business week this year, the deadline to submit nominations for awards is Jan. 10.

The agency’s Arkansas District Office, led by director Linda R. Nelson, has a main office in Little Rock and a field office in Fayetteville, according to the website. Annually, the agency has provided about $100 million in loans to small business, management training and consulting to entrepreneurs and helped small business owners seek contracts from the federal government and federal contractors.