26 Facts About Steve Preston

Steve Preston formerly served as the 14th United States secretary of housing and urban development from 2008 to 2009 and the 22nd Administrator of the US Small Business Administration from 2006 until his appointment as HUD Secretary.

Steve Preston grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin and attended Parker High School.

Steve Preston's mother grew up in Germany during and after World War II and his father was born in an Appalachian coal-mining camp.

Steve Preston joined Lehman Brothers in 1985, ultimately serving as a Senior Vice President in the Investment Banking Department.

In 1993, Steve Preston moved to First Data Corporation where he was Senior Vice President and Treasurer.

Steve Preston managed capital structure strategies, financial risk management, and investor relations during a period of rapid growth.

Steve Preston moved to The ServiceMaster Company in 1997, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for seven years before heading the company's Strategic Services effort.

Steve Preston was nominated to be the 22nd Administrator of the US Small Business Administration on April 25,2006.

Small business advocates questioned the nomination since Steve Preston had never started or worked for a small business.

Steve Preston was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on June 29,2006.

Steve Preston took over SBA at a time when the agency was under fire for its disaster loan operation's response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.

Steve Preston pledged to improve processing and disbursement of SBA disaster loans to storm victims at his confirmation hearing.

Steve Preston worked to bring transparency to the process by closing loopholes, tightening the small business contract definition, and developing a new scorecard for federal contracting agencies.

Steve Preston drove many other operational reforms throughout the agency, including changing the loan guaranty program to make it more effective and easier to use.

Steve Preston argued too many homeowners who should be getting help were still falling through the cracks, and urged financial institutions to "be bold" in their actions to assist troubled homeowners.

Steve Preston warned the private sector that Congress and state attorneys general would continue to intervene if private financial institutions didn't act strongly enough, specifically citing a congressional plan to allow bankruptcy judges to modify mortgages.

Steve Preston initiated reforms to enable the FHA to handle its increasing volume of loans; broke ground on two public housing developments in New Orleans that had been on hold due to lack of funding; and finalized regulations that had been stalled since 2002 to help consumers find lower costs mortgages and avoid harmful loan offers.

Steve Preston was named President and CEO of Oakleaf Waste Management in August 2009.

Steve Preston discussed the company's new approach when he co-hosted CNBC's morning show "Squawk Box" on December 22,2011.

Steve Preston has created a blog to update customers on the benefits of the program, and the company's sustainability efforts in general.

Steve Preston left Waste Management in the summer of 2012 to join the presidential transition team for Republican nominee Mitt Romney where he served as a top adviser for the candidate's transition team.

Steve Preston was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Toronto-based Livingston International in August 2013.

Steve Preston is North America's number one business focused on customs brokerage and trade compliance, with operations in Europe and Asia.

Steve Preston's experience "building sustainable platforms for growth" and his "ability to heighten employee engagement and drive a customer service culture" were key attributes for his appointment cited by Livingston International Chairman of the Board John Clancey.

In January 2019 Steve Preston began serving as the president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International.

Steve Preston has been active with causes that address community improvement, including through past and current volunteer board engagements with the Partnership for Public Service, the Northwestern University Board of Visitors, Sunshine Enterprises, and the Wheaton College Board of Trustees.