NEWS
09/29/2008 - OSDBU Council Elects Officers for Fiscal Year 2009
The Federal OSDBU Directors Interagency Council (“OSDBU Council”) has announced the elections of its officers for the Fiscal Year 2009, beginning October 1, 2008. Glenn Delgado, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Assistant Administrator (NASA), Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), will lead the organization as Chair; Mauricio Vera, OSDBU Director, Agency for International Development (USAID) will serve as Vice Chair and Valerie Hayes, OSDBU Director, U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will serve as Secretary. They succeed Jim House, USDA OSDBU Director and Kristi Wilson, U. S. Department of Education who served as Fiscal Year 2008 Chair and Vice Chair. LaJuene Desmukes, U. S. Department of Commerce OSDBU Director, served as Acting Secretary.
Prior to being selected in the NASA position, Delgado serves as the acting director of the Department of Navy’s OSDBU where he gained recognition developing and implementing Navy’s successful Mentor-Protégé Program. He also served as the director of Small Business for the Naval Air systems Command and has over 25 years of acquisition experience.
Mauricio Vera served as the former manager of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) OSDBU before being selected for the USAID position. Under his leadership, the NRC became one of only three Federal agencies to be awarded the Gold Star Award by the US Small Business Administration for exemplary performance and commitment to contracting with small businesses in Fiscal Year 2005. From 1993 – 2001, he established and managed the Smithsonian’s Supplier Diversity Program.
Valerie T. Hayes joined HUD in February, 2003. Before joining HUD, she served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Economic Opportunity, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, possessing over 25 years experience with investigating housing discrimination complaints under the Fair Housing Act.
The Federal OSDBU Directors Interagency Council is an informal organization of Federal small business program officials that meets monthly.
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05/30/2008 - Mark Oliver Named One of Six National 2008 Distinguished Public Service Recipients
Mark Oliver, Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization was named one of six national 2008 Distinguished Public Service recipients out of 1.8 million Federal government employees at a ceremony hosted by the National Image, Inc., in Las Vegas, NV, on April 16, 2008. The ceremony was a part of the National Image, Inc., 36th Annual Training Conference and Exposition.
The National Image was originally founded in 1972 to address the needs of Hispanic employees in the federal government. Later, the membership saw a need to expand their activities to serve the needs of Hispanics and other employable minorities outside the federal government. The National Image expanded its activities to increase its impact on employment, education and civil rights. Through the Office of the Chairman, National Image constantly works with officials at the highest national levels in both the public and private sectors. The Organization helps employers become aware of the needs of the diverse communities, but also of the pool of talent available to help the United States compete successfully in a global economy. National Image has proven its ability to grow and change with the needs of the community. It will continue to be a forward looking, proactive organization to help Hispanics and other communities meet the challenges of the future. Only if minorities are well-informed and well-prepared will we be able to achieve our highest potential to enrich ourselves and our communities and help the United States as a whole to prosper.
Mark believes in the mission of the National Image, and has worked on behalf of the organization for a number of years.
Currently, Mark is the Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization with the Department of the Interior. He is responsible for managing the small business program that promotes small business contracting opportunities. He has implemented changes within the Small Business Program to include more involvement from program managers in establishing Department-wide small business goals. He has demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the initiatives and requirements to direct progressive internal marketing tools for small businesses.
Overall, Mark has held a number of leadership positions within the Department. Prior to serving as the Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, he served as Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant for Business Management and Wildland Fire and the Director of the Office of Educational Partnerships among many other positions.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Southeastern University in Washington, DC.
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