10/01/2009
Election Results of the FY 2010 Federal Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Directors Interagency Council Executive Committee

The Federal Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Directors Interagency Council (OSDBU Council) announces the election of its officers for the Fiscal Year 2010. The officers will serve as its Executive Committee began their term on October 1, 2009.

Mr. Mauricio Vera, OSDBU Director, Agency for International Development (USAID), was elected as the Chair and Mr. Mark Oliver, OSDBU Director, Department of the Interior, was elected as Vice Chair. This year, the OSDBU Council has decided to appoint a Federal employee who is not a Director as its Secretary. Ms. Teneshia Gaither Alston, from the Department of Human and Health Services, will serve as Secretary for the OSDBU Council.

Mr. Vera (Chair) 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.

Mr. Oliver (Vice Chair) is an executive with over twenty-five years of leadership experience in the areas of small business development, public relations, educational and community partnerships along with congressional and legislative relations. He served as the Executive Business Management Officer within the Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior. In that position, he executed responsibilities in the areas of budget, finance, small business, wildland fire, acquisition and property management.

Ms. Alston (Secretary) is the Senior Small Business Analyst for the U.S. Department of Human Health Services (HHS), OSDBU. She served as the Chairperson for the HHS/NIH Simplified Acquisition Committee and is a graduate of the HHS/NIH Management Intern Program. Ms. Alston has more than 17 years of combined experience as a manager for a simplified acquisitions office, a Grants Management Specialist and a Contracts Specialist at HHS. Overall, Ms. Alston has 25 years of Federal experience that includes the Department of Justice, the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Labor.

On behalf of the OSDBU Council, the FY 2010 Executive Committee will like to extend a sincere thanks to the FY 2009 Executive Committee Council for their ever-ending commitment to ensure that the Federal Small Business Programs had a vital voice during the beginning of our efforts to assist in the rebuilding our nation’s economy.