Inauguration Day: What Businesses Can Expect From The Obama Administration

Karen Mills' appointment to head the SBA is intriguing. Obama's swift choice indicates he's serious about working with "Main Street," but can a venture capitalist run the SBA?

Mills was a founding partner/managing director of Solera Capital, a New York-based venture capital firm. She's also a Harvard Business School graduate, president of private equity investment firm MMP Group, and, significantly, not a career politician. As marketing consultant Scott Testa says, "Venture capitalists by nature are risk takers, and it is an extremely competitive business. This administration may need to take some risks to help this very important component of the economy."

Though Mills' experience is more ambitious entrepreneur than stereotypical mom-and-pop shop, that may be just what the SBA needs to inject new ideas and resources -- and, in turn, boost the ailing economy.

Some things to look for on Mills' watch:

• How will she deal with a budget slashed by 27% since 2001?
• Will small businesses get more help and resources?
• How will green business factor?
• Will she expand SBA loan programs?

See More:

• Small Is The New Large: Presidential Edition
• Owners Of Smaller Businesses Face Tightening Credit
• Obama's Inauguration Speech Praises Tech, Ignores Small Business