Office of Advocacy
    U.S. Small Business Administration

    NEWSRELEASE

    For Release: November 6, 2008
    Contact:     John McDowell, (202) 205-6941
     john.mcdowell@sba.gov
    SBA Number: 08-31 ADVO

    Shawne McGibbon Becomes Acting Chief Counsel

    Former Deputy Chief Counsel Steps Up To Top Slot

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Shawne Carter McGibbon takes the position of Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy. She replaces Thomas M. Sullivan who resigned on October 24 to pursue private sector employment at the law firm of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. McGibbon was previously the Deputy Chief Counsel for Advocacy.

    “I am honored to become the Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy,” said McGibbon. “With the current economic and financial situation, it is important that the voice of small business be heard loud and clear in Washington. I will make sure that the Office of Advocacy continues to bring the voice of small business into policy and regulatory discussions.”

    For the past six years, McGibbon was Deputy Chief Counsel for Advocacy. Previously, she was Director of Interagency Affairs, and served as Assistant Advocate for Food, Drug, and Health Policy. Before joining Advocacy, McGibbon worked on Capitol Hill and for the Maryland State Senate. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University and a Juris Doctor from the George Washington University National Law Center.

    McGibbon noted that she would continue Office of Advocacy initiatives, including:

    Ø Strong outreach to small businesses through Regional Advocates and industry roundtables.

    Ø Aggressive monitoring of federal agency compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, and Executive Order 13272.

    Ø Issuance of significant research reports analyzing small business economic issues

    Ø Solicitation of nominations of current regulations needing review and reform as part of the Regulatory Review and Reform (r3) initiative.

    The Office of Advocacy, the “small business watchdog” of the federal government, examines the role and status of small business in the economy and independently represents the views of small business to federal agencies, Congress, and the President. It is the source for small business statistics presented in user-friendly formats, and it funds research into small business issues.

    For more information, visit the Office of Advocacy web site at www.sba.gov/advo.

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    The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. The presidentially appointed Chief Counsel for Advocacy advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. For more information, visit www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.