Industry veteran tapped to run SBA offices in Las Vegas, Reno

The federal agency that connects small businesses with loans has found a new Nevada director.

Joseph Amato will run the U.S. Small Business Administration’s offices in Las Vegas and Reno, according to a statement Monday.

Amato comes to the local SBA from lender First Bank Financial Centre, where he held the title of vice president of business development, according to his account on the LinkedIn social media network.

He will oversee the agency’s services statewide. He has 30 years of experience in small business development and commercial lending, according to the statement.

Amato joined Salt Lake City-based Celtic Bank in 2015 as vice president of business development in the bank’s SBA and commercial lending department.

He also worked as a senior business development officer for Wells Fargo’s SBA lending branch and graduated from Abilene Christian University, in Texas, in 1981, according to LinkedIn.

Contact Wade Tyler Millward at wmillward@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4602. Follow @wademillward on Twitter.