Administrator Edward "Ted" James was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Regional Administrator for Region 6 South Central Region in December of 2021. In this position, Ted will oversee the administration of SBA products and services in ten district offices; with one each located in Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arkansas and six located in Texas.

Ted’s passion for leadership is driven by a deeply held desire to impact the lives of others while transforming the community he simply calls “his village.” The Baton Rouge native was taught at an early age the value of service, the strength of community, the importance of a quality education, and the principles of social justice.

Ted has received several honors and awards for his work and service. Most notably, he is the recipient of the Baton Rouge Business Report’s “Forty Under 40” award and the National Chapter of the NAACP’s “Top 40 Power Players under 40” award. He was also named to the National Bar Association’s 2013 Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under 40.

Ted earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Southern University A & M College and went on to obtain his Juris Doctorate with honors from the Southern University Law Center where he also served as the President of the Student Bar Association. He is a member of Beacon Light Baptist Church and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He is the proud father of his daughter, Harper Ryan James.