District Director at U.S. Small Business Administration
About
Chris Horton is a family man of faith and the oldest of three children. Chris enjoys hanging out with his kiddos, running, cooking, fishing, and going to the movies. Chris has served entrepreneurs as a career financial professional with expertise in business credit, commercial lending, business banking services, commercial real estate acquisitions, business financial planning, credit restoration and debt consolidation.Chris first sought out entrepreneurship in 2012 by starting his own financial practice with MassMutual Financial Group in Silicon Valley. Chris is the past Vice President of Membership and Sales with the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce. Chris’ forward thinking work ethic earned him the role of President & CEO with the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce. Chris is a member of the 2019 graduating Class from the Western Association of Chamber Executives Academy.In classic entrepreneurial spirit, Chris once again sought out entrepreneurship in 2017 as the founder of Silicon Valley Laissez Faire Organization and served as the Chairman, President & CEO pioneering economic and community development throughout the United States.Looking to take a bite out of COVID losses and rebuild a suffering segment of the economy, visionary founder Chris Horton launched The Inclusivity Project on February 16, 2021, with the Northern California SBDC Network, an initiative to reach and help Black/African American small business owners make a better life for oneself by leveling the playing field when it comes to systemic and institutional barriers. The NorCal SBDC – which is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the State of California – wanted The Inclusivity Project to shine a light on the needs of Black/African American entrepreneurs and provide a safety net that can help them preserve their existing business or start a new enterprise in Northern California.Chris’ Mission is economic prosperity, wealth creation/accumulation, and legacy building through awareness, access, education, and application.On May 22, 2023, Chris was sworn into the Oath of Office to an appointment as the San Francisco District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration. In this capacity Chris vows to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of the nation.