White House Author

Samira B. Cook-Gaines serves as the Founding Director of the Washington, DC Women’s Business Center where she is responsible for providing women entrepreneurs with the knowledge to create stable business foundations and growth through training and technical assistance. Throughout her public service career, Mrs. Cook-Gaines has worked to enhance community economic development in several states and local governments including New Jersey, St. Louis, and San Francisco. She has also served the residents of the District of Columbia as a Community Infrastructure Planner where she assisted neighborhoods and Business Improvement Districts. In 2006, she was selected as the as the first Assistant Director of Training and Education for the newly established Department of Small and Local Business Development where she was responsible for creating a resource and training network for local businesses.