SBA Announces Appointment of Marianne O’Brien Markowitz
As Regional Administrator for Region V

Release Date: August 10, 2009 - - Contact: Carol Wilkerson (312) 353-7327
Release Number: 09-53 - - Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the appointment of Marianne O’Brien Markowitz, as the regional administrator in Region V, to oversee the SBA’s programs and services in Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.

“Both the SBA and small businesses of Region V will benefit greatly from Marianne’s financial background,” said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills in welcoming Markowitz. “With her business experiences, as well as her commitment to serving the community, Marianne will be a tremendous asset and advocate for small businesses and entrepreneurs across the region, especially at this critical time when so many are facing tough challenges as a result of the recession.”

“I am honored to serve the Obama Administration as Regional Administrator of Region V,” said Markowitz. “I am deeply committed to helping Midwestern small businesses compete and succeed by helping them access the expansive services and programs offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The economic health of the country relies on small business' ability to create jobs in our communities and I feel very privileged to serve and support the small business community.”

The Region V office, headquartered in Chicago, oversees the SBA’s district offices in Minneapolis, MN; Chicago and Springfield, IL; Indianapolis, IN; Cleveland, Columbus and a satellite office in Cincinnati, OH; Detroit, MI; and Madison and Milwaukee, WI.

Markowitz recently served as the Chief Financial Officer for Obama for America and was previously a financial operations consultant for the campaign. She was an international treasury/financial operations consultant for Syngenta, Inc. from 2000 – 2002 and prior to that served as a treasury and risk manager for Express Scripts, Inc. for two years. Markowitz has an extensive history as a treasury and risk analyst for Midwestern based companies.

Markowitz received her B.S. in business administration from the University of Missouri and her MBA from DePaul University. She and her husband Jeffrey are the proud parents Maura, 7.

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