CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum has named several staff members. Below, are mostly-verbatim synopses of their previous careers provided to Product Safety Forum by the agency:
Product Safety Forum is a free service of Product Safety Letter. Its mission is twofold: to promote frank and open airing of product safety issues and to provide advice and guidance from top experts in the field.
Do you have an idea or article you think would make a great piece for Product Safety Forum, including commentary or reaction to this one? Then email Publisher Sean Oberle to discuss it.
Senior VP, Community Development, Fannie Mae (2006-2007) – set strategic direction for national field network to deliver financial, philanthropic and intellectual capital to underserved state and local markets. Led Fannie Mae’s response to Hurricane Katrina through the development and implementation of a $4 billion, 2 year investment strategy that involved 1,500 volunteers to provide disaster and preparedness protocols.
Other positions at Fannie Mae: Senior VP for Human Resources (2004-2005), VP and Chief of Staff to the Chairman and CEO (1997-2000), Government Relations Manager (1993).
Office of Management and Budget, Special Assistant/Chief of Staff to the Director (1996-1997).
Matthew Howsare - Legal Advisory to the Chairman
Formerly served as associate at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, of Columbia, S.C. Practiced in the areas of general, commercial, appellate and consumer product litigation. Also developed an expertise in product and premises liability and class action defense.
Member of the S.C. Law Review, Moot Court Bar and The Order of Coif. He is from Irmo, S.C.
Maruta Budetti – Executive Director
23 years of Federal service, having managed numerous offices within the Department of Health and Human Services. Expertise in managing, evaluating and regulating federal public health programs and operations.
Served as Deputy Regional Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Chicago; Director of the Division of States and Local Initiatives within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation; Director of Intergovernmental Activities and Special Populations within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Public Health Service; and has held additional, senior positions in her career.
Chris Day - Director of the Office of Congressional Affairs
Knows CPSC well, as he has been the Legislative Counsel to Sen. Bill Nelson (Fla.) since 2007.
Drafted the independent third-party testing and mandatory toy safety standard provisions that were later made part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. From CPSIA to the Pool & Spa Safety Act to drywall, he has been involved in the most high profile issues that the agency has been focusing on.
Advised Sen. Nelson on all telecommunications, Internet, and consumer protection matter before the Senate Commerce Committee. Drafted Senate version of legislation to improve deployment of Emergency 911 access for Internet Protocol-based telephones, which was integrated into the “NET 911” Improvement Act of 2008.
Previous worked Counsel to the Government Affairs Department for Sprint Nextel Corporation and Nextel Communications Inc.
Scott Wolfson – Director of the Office of Information and Public Affairs
Employed at CPSC since 2000. First served as a Public Affairs Specialist and then became Deputy Director of Public Affairs in August 2005. Had served as Acting Director of Public Affairs since June 1, 2009.
Managed all day-to-day operations of the office, served as a national spokesperson, developed partnerships with key consumer advocacy organizations and federal agencies, and developed strategic and operational plans.
Previously served as a national spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons/US Department of Justice from 1996-2000.
E-Mail This Article
Printer-Friendly Version