John "Jack" Bienko serves as Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of Manufacturing and Global Trade at the U.S. Small Business Administration, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. He leads national programs that help small businesses grow, compete, and reach new markets, and he has held a series of senior leadership positions across the agency.

Bienko has built and led major programs that expand entrepreneurship, including national business coaching, online learning, executive training, and cybersecurity initiatives for small firms. A central focus of his work is public-private partnership. He has worked with many of America's leading corporations to align private-sector resources, expertise, and markets with the nation's entrepreneurs, creating pathways that help small companies scale and compete.

His work also extends to high-growth startups and the investors who back them. He has engaged venture capital and early-stage ecosystems to connect founders with capital, mentorship, and market opportunities, helping emerging companies move from promising ideas to sustainable businesses with international reach.

Bienko has served on multiple White House and interagency commissions and advisory groups, shaping federal policy on small business, manufacturing, and global trade. He is the author of Small Business at 250, Modern Manufacturing, Agribusiness Adaptations, and Social Entrepreneurs, among other publications on entrepreneurship, civil service, and innovation.

He is a frequent speaker on small business, manufacturing, and trade. His platforms include the United Nations, CNN, C-SPAN, USA Today, NASDAQ, NYSE, and SXSW. His honors include the Eisenhower Fellowship, the Presidential Management Fellowship, FedScoop 100 honoree, and the Cyber Defender Award.

Bienko serves as a Board Member and advisor to educational, investment, and community development organizations across the globe.

The views expressed are the author's own and do not represent the views of the U.S. Small Business Administration.