12/20/2007 - Pat Hodge Announces Retirement after 42 Years at DOT

Ms. Pat Hodge, Woman-Owed and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Representative, United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), will retire on January 3, 2008 from the USDOT after over 42 years of loyal service. "I have truly enjoyed working with the small businesses, especially the veterans and the woman-owned. I have served as the USDOT veteran and woman-owned representative for many years and have loved it... I will miss working with the businesses and the OSDBU community".

Ms. Hodge would like to invite the small business community to join her at her retirement celebration on January 25, 2008. Please read the invitation below for more details.

12/19/2007 - Frank Gisondi to Retire from Federal Service

Frank Gisondi, Business and Procurement Specialist, Department of the Interior, will retire from Federal service, effective January 3, 2008. In his email to the OSDBU community, Mr. Gisondi stated, "Yes, it's true I will be ending a phase of my working life -- the Federal government part -- at the start of 2008. And I am grateful for the pleasure and privilege of working with each and every one of you over the years. What made the work special is that you are all superb professionals, very talented and dedicated to enhancing the small business community and making America a better place for everyone. I'll miss the face-to-face contacts most, and the work of being a 'small business specialist' will always have a special place in my heart. Happy holidays, best wishes, and a peaceful future for us all! Take care!"

Mr. Gisondi was born in Monterey, CA, on the former Ft. Ord army base and graduated from LeMoyne College, Syracuse, NY. He began his Federal service in September 1973 as a procurement agent in Columbus, OH. He joined the DOI OSDBU staff in 1988 and worked in that position for nearly 20 years.

Mr. Gisondi is looking forward to spending the beginning of his retirement on home improvement projects. He and his family will reside in their current residence in McLean, VA.

12/17/2007 - Mauricio P. Vera Selected as New SADBU Director for US AID

Mauricio P. Vera has been selected as Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. He will begin serving in this position in January of 2008.

Since January of 2001, Mr. Vera has served as Manager of the Small Business Program in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of Small Business and Civil Rights. Under his leadership, the NRC became one of only three Federal agencies to be given the Gold Star Award by the Small Business Administration for its exemplary performance and commitment to contracting with small businesses in Fiscal Year (FY) 2005. In FY 2006 and 2007, NRC achieved significant increases in its total contract awards to each of the small business categories. In 2007, the NRC awarded Mr. Vera the distinguished Meritorious Service Award in recognition of his accomplishments in the Small Business Program.