News

The Export Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) today held the first meeting of its 2002 Advisory Committee. Now in its 19th year, the Congressionally-mandated Advisory Committee helps Ex-Im Bank review policies and programs by providing input from various sectors of the economy. Six of last year's members remain on the committee and nine new members have joined. Edward A. Monto, director of MetroBank, Houston, TX, serves as chairman.

The Advisory Committee meets four times yearly to examine Ex-Im Bank's programs and make recommendations for enhancing service and value. This year the committee will focus on how Ex-Im Bank can become more innovative, user friendly and efficient for middle market exports. The other three meetings this year are scheduled for June, September and December.

The members of the 2002 Committee and the sectors they represent are as follows:

*CHAIR- EDWARD A. MONTO
Director
MetroBank
Houston, TX
Representing Finance

*CURT BRADBURY
Senior Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer
Stephens Inc.
Little Rock, AR
Representing Finance

*DANIEL K.H. CHAO
Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Senior Vice President
Bechtel Enterprises, Bechtel Group, Inc.
San Francisco, CA
Representing Production

DEAN R. DORT, II
Vice President, International
Deere & Company
Washington, DC
Representing Agriculture

OWEN E. HERRNSTADT
Director, International Affairs
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Upper Marlboro, MD
Representing Labor

DAVID ICKERT
Vice President, Finance
Air Tractor
Olney, TX
Representing Production/Small Business

THE HONORABLE MIKE JOHANNS
Governor of Nebraska
Lincoln, NE
Representing State Government

*JACQUELINE A. KAIKO
Senior Vice President & Regional Manager
Int'l Banking Region, Middle Market Banking
JPMorgan Chase
New York, NY
Representing Finance

*THEA LEE
Assistant Director for International Economics
Public Policy Department
AFL-CIO
Washington, DC
Representing Labor

PETER O. LEHMAN, ESQ.
Director, Planning and Business Development
South Carolina State Ports Authority
Charleston, SC
Representing Commerce/State Government

*JEAN-PIERRE ROSSO
Chairman of the Board
Case New Holland Inc.
Lakeforest, IL
Representing Agriculture

*MARIA DE LOURDES SOBRINO
President and Chief Executive Officer
Lulu's Desserts
Vernon, CA
Representing Small Business

TERRENCE D. STRAUB
Vice President, Governmental Affairs
USX Corporation
Washington, DC
Representing Production

*DIANE M. WILLKENS
President, Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Development Finance International, Inc.
Bethesda, MD
Representing Services

*DAVID M. ROEBUCK
President, Founding Principal, Engineer
Armentrout Roebuck Matheny Consulting Group, P.C.
Athens, GA
Representing Small Business/Service

The committee members serving repeat terms are (Dort, Herrnstadt, Ickert, Johanns, Lehman, and Straub.) The rest are new members. (* indicates new members.)

Ex-Im Bank is an independent U.S. government agency that helps finance the sale of U.S. exports primarily to emerging markets throughout the world by providing loans, guarantees and insurance. In fiscal year 2001, Ex-Im Bank supported $12.5 billion of U.S. exports worldwide.