[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 8, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





               HONORING DAVE LENTELL AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CYNTHIA AXNE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 8, 2022

  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dave Lentell as Iowan 
of the Week. Dave is the Lead Lender Relations Specialist at the Small 
Business Administration (SBA) Iowa District office. Dave lives in 
Waukee, and through his almost 29 years with the Iowa SBA he held 
countless conversations connecting with small business owners 
throughout Iowa and across the 3rd District. I'm glad to take this 
opportunity to recognize Dave for his dedicated public service for 
Iowa's small businesses over the course of his career.
  Dave first joined the Iowa SBA in 1993 for an internship while 
studying at Drake University. Quickly after starting his work, the 
Great Flood of 1993 happened, and Dave stepped up and took an outsized 
role in facilitating disaster relief information. Dave was offered 
full-time work after graduating college and has remained with the Iowa 
SBA since then. Over that period, Dave has helped other businesses and 
homeowners through periodic disaster events--while also offering 
technical support and advice to businesses seeking to breakthrough. 
Dave most appreciates the ability to connect with business owners and 
lenders to identify paths forward for Iowa's small business economy--
which includes over 273,000 small businesses.
  Since COVID-19 began, Dave has once again stepped up as he did in 
1993--but in this case, the pandemic affected every small business in 
Iowa. With SBA charged to administer disaster relief programs such as 
Economic Impact Disaster Loans (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection 
Program (PPP), Dave's engagement with the business and lending 
community increased. Through collaboration with businesses directly, 
and associated organizations and groups, Dave worked hard to ensure 
that information was distributed throughout the Iowa community and has 
earned the respect of his SBA colleagues, who nominated him to my 
office for recognition.
  While we all seek a general return to normalcy, Dave relates that 
business models have changed during the pandemic--and in many cases 
that change is here to stay. While the role of SBA may see changes in 
the future, Dave's service over the past 28 years has certainly been 
welcome help for our District. I am glad to honor Dave Lentell as Iowan 
of the Week.

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