Vice-Chair

Bridget A. Gonzales
Branch Chief
Minority Business Development Agency
U.S. Department of Commerce

Bridget Gonzales brings over 20 years of professional experience to MBDA with an expertise in public affairs, public policy, and public administration. Based in Washington, DC, Bridget leads the Office of Legislative, Education and Intergovernmental Affairs and oversees key Agency activities including congressional and intergovernmental affairs, media and public relations, executive secretariat, and two annual conferences. Ms. Gonzales possesses outstanding communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills. She is energetic, dependable and results oriented with a customer service focus.

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.

As Legislative Director for a freshman Member of Congress from Michigan, Bridget had overarching responsibility on all legislative matters before the House of Representatives and the House Science Committee. She supervised a team of Legislative Assistants, crafted Member specific legislation and prepared congressional remark and legislative accomplishment reports. Representing the Member of Congress, Ms. Gonzales interfaced with constituents, trade/industry association representatives, universities, unions, state/federal agencies, and congressional committees. Her legislative portfolio included budget, taxes, telecommunications, small business, science, technology and education.

Ms. Gonzales’ first entry into federal service began as a budget analyst with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. While there, she had primary responsibility for facilitating the federal budgeting process for the Office of the Administrator, Office of International Affairs and the Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation. This included preparation of independent analyses, monitoring program, policy and legislative developments for resource implications, submitting formal recommendations to senior management, resolving data discrepancies or resource shortfalls, and preparing correspondence in response to inquiries from the public or Congress.

Bridget started her career with Girl Scouts of the USA and held various positions in Detroit, New York City and San Diego from 1982-1988. She has the distinction of being the youngest Latina to hold the position of Director of Membership for a major metropolitan council where she managed a staff of 15 people and increased membership by 4 percent.

Ms. Gonzales holds a Masters in Public Administration from Baruch College - City University of New York, a Bachelor of Social Work from Marygrove College in Detroit, and she completed course work in political science as a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan. She is an alumnus of the Hispanic Leadership Development Program – Detroit and the National Urban Fellows Program. Bridget has been active with MANA - A National Latina Organization since 1990 and currently serves as Vice Chair. She is also a founding member of the DC Chapter of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs. A former Girl Scout troop leader, Bridget continues to volunteer for youth activities at her church.

11/13/06