Bridget Gonzales is Chief of the Office of Legislative, Education & Intergovernmental Affairs for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). She brings over 20 years of professional experience to MBDA with an expertise in public affairs, public policy, and public administration. Before coming to MBDA, Bridget was a Vice President with Edelman Public Relations, the world’s largest independent public relations firm. Prior to that, she was Assistant Vice President for Issue Dynamics, Inc., a consumer and public affairs firm in Washington, DC, where she led the firm’s Strategic Alliances Group.
Ms. Gonzales was instrumental in planning and executing public affairs and consumer education campaigns for Fortune 500 clients such as Verizon Communications, BellSouth, SBC Communications, Corning, Novartis, and others. This included preparation of press releases, op-eds, speeches and consumer education materials as well as coordination of issue briefings, congressional advocacy activities, workshops and media relations. Critical to her success was the effective working relationships she established with high profile national organizations such as League of United Latin American Citizens, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, NAACP, National Grange, Gray Panthers and others.
Mr. Ronald Marin serves as the MBDA Financial Management Officer, where he leads the Office of Financial Management, Performance, and Program Evaluation. Mr. Marin joined MBDA in April of 2004 and he reports to the Associate Director for Management.
Candace Jackson was appointed in 2012 to serve as Special Advisor to the National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) within the United States Department of Commerce. In this capacity, Ms. Jackson provides advice to the National Director on advancing MBDA’s operations and programs through its nationwide network of 40 Minority Business Centers. Ms. Jackson also manages MBDA’s corporate relations from the National Director’s Office, assists on matters of domestic and global affairs, represents MBDA in various interagency collaborations, and engages in business and community outreach. She helps to develop policy initiatives and strategic partnerships aimed at creating and retaining jobs and supporting the growth of minority-owned businesses through greater access to contracts, capital, and new markets.
Holden Hoofnagle is the Chief of the Office of Business Development for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Holden came to MBDA from the private sector where he was the COO and CFO of Global Securities Information, an organization with 150 employees and $22m in annual revenue. He managed all departments of the organization and helped lead the company through the due diligence and sale process.
Ms. Josephine Arnold serves as the Chief Counsel for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) within the United States Department of Commerce. The Chief Counsel for the MBDA provides legal and policy advice to the MBDA National Director, and to the Agency’s headquarters and five regional offices, covering all aspects of MBDA's operations and programs. MBDA functions as a primary operating bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce and is authorized by Executive Order 11625. MBDA’s mission is to foster the establishment, growth and global competitiveness of the nation’s minority business enterprises (MBEs).
Senior Advisor on Native American Affairs
On September 27, 1999, Ms. McCloud became the first career Senior Executive Service manager to serve at MBDA in over 10 years. In her position as Associate Director for Management, Ms. McCloud serves as the principal advisor to the MBDA Director and Deputy Director on management policy and practices and as liaison and coordinator of the various administrative functions of the Agency. The programs and activities under her control have a major impact on the overall operations of the Agency and its mission of fostering the growth and development of the Nation's minority-owned businesses. 
