WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the appointment of several members of the leadership and management team of Administrator Karen G. Mills, who was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate on April 3.

"Small businesses are one of the key drivers of economic recovery, and the SBA has a vital role to play in helping them have access to the capital and resources they need to survive and prosper in these tough economic times," Mills said. "I am thrilled to be working alongside a team of talented and dedicated public servants, who are committed to the mission of the SBA and to ensuring that this agency is the partner small businesses need at this critical time."

Recently appointed members of the team include:

Meaghan Burdick is SBA's White House liaison. Burdick was director of direct marketing for the Obama campaign, responsible for leading the daily operations and strategy for the campaign's grassroots fundraising efforts, and later for the Presidential Inauguration Committee. Prior to working on the Obama campaign she spent many years working on grassroots marketing and online services at various Democratic committees and organizations.

Christopher Chan will serve as special assistant to the Administrator and scheduler. Chan is a former intern on Capitol Hill for Rep. Barney Frank, for the State Street Corporation, for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and in Britain for the Co-operative Party. He worked as a scheduler for the CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee 2008.

Darryl K. Hairston will serve as associate administrator of the Office of Management and Administration. Hairston has been and remains a career SBA employee since 1978 and was serving as acting SBA administrator prior to Ms. Mills' confirmation. Hairston held several senior level positions in SBA including: district director of SBA's Washington, D.C. District Office; deputy associate administrator for Investment; deputy associate deputy administrator for Government Contracting and Business Development; and more recently, acting associate administrator of Management and Administration.

Subash S. Iyer is special assistant to the Administrator. Iyer was a business analyst for McKinsey & Company, N.Y., where he worked with Fortune 500 clients to define strategies and improve operations.

Joseph G. Jordan is associate administrator of Government Contracting and Business Development. Prior to joining SBA, Jordan was an engagement manager with McKinsey & Company, a major consulting firm, where he specialized in developing purchasing and supply management strategies for businesses. He also was in the company's public sector practice advising state governments on purchasing practices. Before entering the financial world, Jordan was an associate producer on the MSNBC news program "Hardball with Chris Matthews."

Ginger E. Lew is the counselor to the Administrator and liaison to the National Economic Council. Lew served as COO and deputy administrator of the SBA during the Clinton Administration and was general counsel at the Department of Commerce. Lew also has had a distinguished career in law, finance and international business. She was CEO of Three Oaks Investments LLC, a private fund also specializing in management and investment consulting services to growth and emerging companies. Before that, Lew was COO, CEO and general partner with Telecommunications Development Fund, a venture capital fund making investments in early stage communications companies.

Sara D. Lipscomb is SBA's general counsel. Lipscomb was a legal consultant to middle-market corporations and private equity firms fostering best practices in the legal, regulatory and risk management arenas. Earlier, she was senior vice president and general counsel of the Audax Group, an alternative asset investment firm, and she was counsel to the chair, and assistant general counsel at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. She held a similar position before that at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Ana M. Ma is the Administrator's chief of staff. Ma has served as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva. She also served in the U.S. Department of Labor as a legislative assistant, as special assistant to the assistant secretary in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, and as deputy chief of staff in the Employment and Training Administration. Ma is from Tucson and graduated from the University of Arizona in 1991. She also performed post-graduate work there and is a member of the University of Arizona National Student Life Board.

Toby J.G. McGrath is associate administrator for the Office of Field Operations. Before he led President Obama's state campaign effort in Maine, McGrath held a number of staff positions in the statehouse in Augusta, including caucus director for the House Democratic Campaign Committee and chief of staff in the Office of the House Majority Leader and the Office of the Speaker of the House.

Kimberly A. Peyser is the confidential assistant to the Administrator. Peyser worked for the Democratic National Convention Committee in 2008, and last fall for President Obama's Campaign for Change in Virginia.

Penny K. Pickett is senior adviser to the Administrator, and acting associate administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development. A former adviser to the deputy administrator of SBA in the Clinton administration, Pickett has worked as business director for the Telecommunications Development Fund and, since 2004, as president of the Washington, D.C., Technology Council.

Jonathan L. Swain is assistant administrator for Communications and Public Liaison. Prior to working as President Obama's campaign communications director in Indiana, Swain served as press secretary to U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh and press secretary to Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan. He was also communications director for the consumer advocacy service Angie's List and communications director for the Alliance for American Manufacturing.

Eric R. Zarnikow is associate administrator for capital access. Previously, Zarnikow held the same position in the Bush Administration, responsible for the management and oversight of SBA's principal lending, international trade, surety bond and venture capital programs. He has more than 25 years of private sector business experience. Since 1994, he has held a number of executive positions at The ServiceMaster Company, including senior vice president, chief risk officer and treasurer.

Release Number: 09-22

U.S. Small Business Administration

Jonathan Swain, 202-205-6882

http://www.sba.gov/news

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

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