![[e-mail]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/presentation/v2/images/header/email-15x10.gif){kind=small}
Subscribe
![[e-mail]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/presentation/v1/images/icon_email-story.gif){kind=icon}
Get News Alerts to your Email & Cell Phone
RALEIGH, N.C. — A Wayne County native has been named the director of the U.S. Agriculture Department's office designed to provide assistance to small businesses and those owned by minorities and women.
Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman on Thursday selected James E. House as director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilitization.
House most recently served as president of the Eckenberge Group, a suburban Washington firm that help with marketing for small businesses, federal contractors and historically black colleges.
House also served as president of the National Association of African-American Business Owners.
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/share/2012/02/08/10701014/4f3258681a195-44x75.jpg){kind=small}
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/news/local/2012/02/10/10712172/thumbnail-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/out_and_about/2012/02/04/10712136/pics_agunn53833-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/lifestyles/travel/2012/02/09/10710709/10710709-1328829176-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wralsportsfan.com/asset/basketball/2012/02/09/10705803/10705803-1328766083-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/lifestyles/travel/2012/02/08/10704761/10704761-1328743348-100x75.jpg)
WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.
This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.