Small Biz Administration Names Heinz Alum Director of Native American Affairs

Release Date: Jun 02, 2009

The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced the appointment of Clara Pratte, a 2004 graduate of Carnegie Mellon's Heinz College, as national director for the agency’s Office of Native American Affairs.

“I am pleased to have Clara Pratte joining our team at the SBA in this vital post,” SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills said. “Clara’s background and experience will be an asset as we strengthen our efforts at the SBA to support the growth and development of small businesses and the economic opportunities they provide for Native Americans.”

As national director, Pratte will help to ensure that American Indians, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians seeking to create, develop and expand small businesses have full access to the necessary tools available through the SBA’s entrepreneurial development, lending and procurement programs.

Prior to joining the SBA, Pratte worked for the Navajo Nation as a policy analyst and legislative liaison focusing on economic and community development, housing, and education issues. Before that, she was with the U.S. Department of Commerce at the International Trade Administration as a trade specialist in the U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service. Pratte counseled small-to- medium sized U.S. companies on exporting. After serving with the U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service, she joined the Office of the Chief Information Officer, where she oversaw information technology projects for the U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service and the Import Administration.

Pratte is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation from Lupton, Ariz. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of Arizona’s Eller School of Business. She is a former Udall Foundation Congressional Fellow and a Presidential Management Fellow.

More About Clara Pratte:

Heinz Degree Program:

Master of Science in Public Policy and Management

How did your Heinz training help lead you to your current occupation and how does it support your work?

"Heinz gave me the analytical skills necessary to understand policies and regulations and the critical thinking abilities to understand policy repercussions. Additionally, the quantitative curriculum has allowed me to not only analyze and draft policies but to back up decisions with data analysis." 

What was the most valuable thing about your Heinz experience?

"Being part of a small group of students who were passionate about learning and working with faculty and staff who allowed me to have creative input was the most valuable experience."

Please share an interesting bit of information about your life (personal or professional) that your fellow alumni might not know:

"I love trivia and enjoy playing team trivia, trivia shows, video trivia and of course trivial pursuit."

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