As the Deputy District Director for the Louisiana District Office Jo manages the district office staff. She is responsible for providing effective leadership, management and oversight to ensure optimization and deployment of SBA programs and services. She has extensive experience and expertise in providing business development, financial management, contracting, and procurement assistance to small businesses in Louisiana.

Mrs. Lawrence is frequently called upon for training initiatives across the country, and she has worked on several standard operating procedures (SOP) manuals in all areas of small business development. In August 2017, she successfully completed the Excellence in Government Fellows Leadership Program where she improved her leadership skills, increased her knowledge of pathways into the SES Program and increased her knowledge of the SES experience. Jo has more than 48 years of service with the Federal Government, all with SBA.