Tim Fitzgibbon is a Senior Advisor in the Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) at the U.S. Small Business Administration. In this role, he supports OII's Innovation programs, including the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, the SCALE program, and Regional Innovation Clusters (RICs), helping ensure these efforts remain mission-aligned with SBA's goals for entrepreneurship and economic growth. Tim’s 40+ year career has centered on banking and federally backed loan programs. Prior to joining the SBA, Tim was Senior Vice President at First National Bank (West Des Moines, Iowa), where he oversaw private education lending and SBA small business loans. He spent over a decade as Senior Vice President for the National Council of Higher Education Resources, where he was a national leader working with Congress, the U.S. Department of Education, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other stakeholders to improve the student aid experience for millions of students, parents and families. Prior to joining NCHER, Tim was Director of the Guaranteed Student Loan Program for the State of Iowa. Tim is a graduate of Iowa State University with degrees in business management and political science.