Michael Strautmanis
Deputy Assistant to the President and Counselor for Strategic Engagement to the Senior Advisor
Michael Strautmanis is the Deputy Assistant to the President and Counselor for Strategic Engagement to the Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. In this role, Michael is responsible for coordinating communication and engagement strategies. In addition, he will serve as a senior advisor to the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. Formerly, Michael was the Chief of Staff to the Senior Advisor for the offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Rebecca M. Blank
Acting Secretary of Commerce and Deputy Secretary of Commerce
Rebecca M. Blank is currently the Acting Secretary of U.S. Department of Commerce and Deputy Secretary of Commerce. As Acting Secretary of Commerce, Dr. Blank is a key member of President Obama’s economic team working to implement the administration’s top economic priorities to increase economic growth and accelerate job creation.
Dr. Blank leads the Department’s efforts to strengthen U.S. competitiveness, helping make American businesses more innovative and successful at home and more competitive abroad, and to create good-paying jobs.
David A. Hinson
MBDA National Director
As National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a bureau within the United States Department of Commerce, Mr. Hinson oversees a national network of 40 MBDA Business Centers, including centers in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico and the first of its type Federal Procurement center located in Washington DC.
MBDA’s core mission is to expand the U.S. economy and create new jobs by promoting the growth and global competitiveness of large, medium and small businesses that are minority-owned.