Reta Jo Lewis was appointed Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs in January 2010. Her office is responsible for serving the global needs of U.S. intergovernmental officials and the entities they represent. Ms. Lewis works to build and enhance relationships between state and local officials in the U.S. and their foreign counterparts around the world. She also promotes effective local governance and local capacity building efforts and serves as a point of entry for the global needs and goals of U.S. state and local officials. She reports directly to the Secretary of State.
Prior to her appointment, she recently was Of Counsel at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, LLP where she provided strategic corporate legal and consulting services to firm clients seeking to develop opportunities in emerging markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Ms. Lewis worked with multilateral organizations, firm entrepreneurs and business owners on a wide array of industries that included investments in infrastructure, financial and energy projects.
Special Representative Lewis brings extensive experience in the private sector and government. She served as the Vice President and Counselor to the President at the United States Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation, and served as a policy expert on domestic and international issues affecting small business. Ms. Lewis served in the Clinton White House from 1993-1995. As Special Assistant to the President for Political Affairs, she was the senior domestic political advisor for the Summit of the Americas held in Miami, Florida. In addition, she was the principal staff coordinator for the White House Task Forces on the 1996 Atlanta Olympic, Paralympics Games and the 1994 FIFA World Cup of Soccer.
Ms. Lewis also has served as a partner at an international law firm and as an attorney-advisor she represented the City and County of Denver and Mayor Wellington Webb on international issues. She served as the City’s principal liaison to the U.S. government of Denver’s hosting of the 1997 G-8 Summit and Summit of African Leaders that preceded the G-8.
Furthermore, Special Representative Lewis is involved in numerous community and civic activities. Ms. Lewis served as the Director of Business Outreach for the Obama-Biden Transition Project, and forged relationships between the incoming Administration, business leaders and national business associations. She also served as chair of the District of Columbia Commission for Women, where she launched the Commission’s economic and international committees, is a member of the International Women’s Forum, and numerous other organizations. While an associate at a prestigious law firm, she served as the national tour director for the Nelson Mandela eight city U.S.A tour, where she provided counsel and advice to ANC Leader Nelson Mandela and senior officials.
Ms. Lewis holds a B.A. from the University of Georgia, a M.S.A.J. from American University and a J.D. from Emory University School of Law. Ms. Lewis is a member in good standing of the District of Columbia and Georgia bars.
