Chanel Bankston-Carter

Mrs. Bankston-Carter is the Director, of Strategic Outreach and Communications for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, where she is responsible for an outreach program which ensures that Veteran-owned and other small businesses have requisite knowledge and access to programs and services to increase their participation in the federal marketplace and with commercial partners.

Mrs. Bankston-Carter is responsible for the development of small businesses informational tools, education and training, resource management, and execution of networking opportunities necessary to do business with VA. In addition, she facilitates events that offer small businesses direct access to procurement decision makers (PDM), contracting professionals, and commercial business partners to discuss capabilities; facilitate industry networking and partnerships; and gather market research for future procurements.

Mrs. Bankston-Carter is an Army Veteran. Her VA career began at the VA Veterans Benefits Administration in Waco, TX, where she was out-based at Fort Hood, Texas as a Counseling Psychologist, providing Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation counseling and employment services to Veterans. From there she moved to the Washington, D.C. Veterans Affairs Central Office and served as the Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Liaison for the Eastern United States. She has worked in various positions and programs at VA, to include: Office of the Secretary, Center for Women Veterans, Director of the Customer Service Center at VA Central Office and Program Manager for the Veterans Employment Service Office.

A native of Arkansas, Mrs. Bankston-Carter’s educational background began at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Human Development Family Studies degree with an emphasis on Juvenile Delinquency. She received her Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology from the University of Texas and is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Counseling Studies from the University of Washington. Mrs. Bankston-Carter is very active in her local community, military community and with Women Veterans. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.