NEWSRELEASE
For Release: July 19, 2004
Contact: John McDowell, (202) 205-6941
Connie Marshall Appointed Office Of Advocacy Region X Advocate
Will Work Closely With Small Business, Trade Associations,
Legislators,
And Local Governments
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Connie Marshall is the new Office of Advocacy Regional Advocate for the federal government’s Region X, covering Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. She will be the direct link between small business owners, state and local government agencies, state legislators, small business associations, and the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“Connie Marshall is a great addition to President Bush’s small business team,” said Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. “Small business owners in the Northwest and Alaska have an outstanding advocate in Ms. Marshall. Her experience as an elected official, educator, and entrepreneur will allow her to immediately contribute to the Office of Advocacy’s role as the federal office that stands between small business owners and unnecessary and overly burdensome government regulations.”
Marshall is a member of the Bellevue, WA, city council and currently serves as mayor. She served as chair of the Growth Management Policy Board of the Puget Sound Regional Council, which coordinates land use policies for a four-county region. Before her career in public service, she was a founder and partner for the Orca Medical Software Company, which created, produced, and sold medical software. She also was an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University Dental Hygiene School in Chicago.
“I am pleased to be part of the Office of Advocacy,” said Marshall. “I’m ready to bring the concerns of small businesses in Region X to Washington, D.C.”
Regional Advocates help identify new issues and concerns of small business owners. They also monitor the impact of federal and state policies on small business at the local level. They work closely with local government officials, state officials and legislators, and the Chief Counsel for Advocacy to develop programs and policies that reduce regulation and promote small business growth.
For more information contact Connie Marshall directly at (206) 553-5231, or visit the Office of Advocacy website at
www.sba.gov/advo.###
Created by Congress in 1976, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy directs the office. The Chief Counsel advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. Economic research, policy analyses, and small business outreach help identify issues of concern. Regional Advocates and an office in Washington, DC support the Chief Counsel’s efforts. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, visit http://www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.