Mayor Bill de Blasio Promotes Small Business Expert and Seasoned City Employee Gregg Bishop as Commissioner of Department of Small Business Services

November 30, 2015

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio today named Gregg Bishop Commissioner of Small Business Services, a promotion from his previous role as Deputy Commissioner of the agency's Business Development Division.

"Gregg hits the ground running. His resume speaks for itself. The work he has done to assist immigrants and women entrepreneurs proves no one is more qualified to support NYC's small business community and run the agency than he is," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“I am honored to accept the position of Commissioner of Small Business Services and continue the critical work of connecting business owners, jobseekers, and neighborhoods across the five boroughs with the tools and resources they need to thrive in New York City,” said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services.

As Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services, Bishop is charged with running the agency – which helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for New York City’s diverse communities by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building a fairer economy in neighborhoods across the five boroughs.

Bishop has served as Deputy Commissioner of SBS since early 2012, and started his career at SBS in 2008 under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He also has worked at leading media companies, such as Oxygen and VIBE.

As Deputy Commissioner of the Business Development Division, Bishop was responsible for NYC Business Solutions, Business Incentives, and Business Recovery – programs designed to make it easier for businesses to start, operate, and expand in New York City. He also managed the expansion of business services to immigrant and women entrepreneurs, the outer boroughs and collaborated with agencies such as EDC, DCA, HPD, and NYCHA to help build the capacity of entrepreneurs and operating businesses.
“Having worked side by side with Gregg during my time at SBS, I can say that there is no better choice to lead the agency,” said Maria Torres-Springer, NYCEDC President and former Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services. “Gregg has worked tirelessly to support our city’s small business community, and to increase equity and opportunity for all New Yorkers. I’m incredibly excited to continue our work together, and to see the tremendous things he will accomplish in the months and years ahead.”

“As Deputy Commissioner of the Business Development Division, Gregg Bishop has been tremendous to work with to improve programs for immigrant-, women- and minority-owned small businesses,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez. “He has consistently worked with my office to help improve the City’s assistance for businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Small businesses are the cornerstone of our economy and I’m confident as Commissioner, Gregg will ensure SBS supplies support local entrepreneurs need to grow and create good jobs in our communities.”

“I congratulate Gregg Bishop on his appointment as commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services, and I look forward to working with Mr. Bishop to address the issues facing our small business community and to ensure that the needs and priorities of the small business owners of my borough are part of the city’s overall economic agenda,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr. said, “Gregg Bishop is a consummate professional who is deeply committed to serving small businesses, both through established programs and by devising creative solutions to respond to developing challenges. I was privileged to work with him closely just last week on the launch event for Chamber on the Go, and observed the strong connections within his team firsthand. I applaud this appointment from within SBS with sincere enthusiasm and look forward to continuing to work with SBS under his seasoned leadership in the years to come.”

“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Mayor de Blasio in selecting a clearly qualified candidate to take the helm of the Small Business Services agency,” said Council Member Jumaane Williams. “On a professional level, my office has worked closely with Commissioner Bishop on numerous occasions to enhance services to small businesses in my district. Whether we were hosting informational workshops or had a specific business problem that needed to be addressed, he was a tremendous resource for our community in helping continue the development of growing small business corridors on Nostrand Avenue or Avenue D in my district. On a personal note, I have known Gregg since our days as undergrads at Brooklyn College. It is with immense pride that I have this opportunity to congratulate a fellow CUNY alum, as well as a fellow son of Grenadian immigrants, who understands how important public service is to our community. I am confident that he will continue to diligently work on behalf of all New Yorkers to ensure that small businesses, the essential fabric of our city’s economic engine, will continue to flourish.”

“Gregg Bishop is a phenomenal appointee to lead the City's Department of Small Business Services,” said Council Member Inez Dickens. “He is acutely aware and knowledgeable about the pitfalls and obstacles facing small businesses which have struggled to remain in existence throughout successive administrations. I strongly believe he is the best person suited for this position at this time. Where past commissioners were tasked with initiating the dictates of the administration, Gregg can express with clarity the needs of the small business community and what tools are at the City's disposal to put them in place. I have full faith and trust that now the City of New York will fulfill its obligation on true MBE and WBE legislation and contracting that will lead to economic growth for all communities.”

“We can think of no other candidate who is more suitable and qualified than Commissioner Bishop,” said Dr. Roy Hastick, President of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce. “His qualifications speak volumes in terms of his preparedness for this position. His record of service to the small business community, especially to Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises, has been clearly established. In the small business community, Commissioner Bishop is known as an advocate who understands the unique challenges and who responds by helping to find solutions to issues that are brought to his attention. He has demonstrated his commitment and makes himself available by attending community business meetings where he makes presentations on DSBS Services that are available for business growth. These meetings also afford him an opportunity to hear firsthand the concerns and the challenges that are expressed. On behalf of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), I wish him continued success in his new capacity as Commissioner of NYC Small Businesses Services."

Bishop has worked on a number of initiatives as Deputy Commissioner of SBS, including the launch of Compete to Win, a $3.2 million investment by the City of New York in capacity building programs to help minority and women businesses build capacity and compete for City contracts. The services include Bidding Technical Assistance, Bonding, the City’s first Construction Mentorship program, and NYC Teaming.

Previously, as the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Economic and Financial Opportunity, Bishop was responsible for overseeing various areas of the division, including the Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) program including certification, capacity building, and developing strategic initiatives that support the business needs of City buyers and prime contractors subject to M/WBE purchasing goals under New York City Local Law 129. He also managed the NYC Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for Small Businesses and worked with various community organizations to deliver capacity building services, including financing assistance to small businesses and M/WBE.

Prior to his appointment in DEFO, Bishop served as the Senior Manager of Workforce Development at NPower, where he was responsible for doubling the capacity of Technology Service Corps, a nationally recognized technology training program for young adults, ages 18 to 25. Prior to NPower, he served as the Director of Web Operations at Oxygen Media, where he helped guide the media company’s web consolidation strategy. Bishop also served as Vice President of Technology Operations at TheStreet.com, where he helped build and maintain the company's internal and external technology infrastructure. Bishop began his career at VIBE Magazine helping to establish the publications brand during the pioneering days of the web.

Born in Grenada and raised in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, Bishop received his Master’s in Integrated Marketing and Management Communication from The Florida State University, and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Business Administration from Florida A&M University, both in Tallahassee, FL. He has also studied International Management and Marketing in Tokyo, Japan and is a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program and the Coro Foundation’s Leadership New York. He is also an adjunct professor at Baruch College: School of Public Affairs and serves as Board president of Red Hook Initiative.