04 May 2010
Former Clinton administration staffer Alejandra Castillo has been appointed to serve as National Deputy Director of the Minority Business Development Agency.
Her appointment drew praise this week from the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
"Ms. Castillo's appointment to Deputy Director is pivotal for Hispanics and all women and minorities who aspire to leave their mark on our society," the chamber's CEO and president, Javier Palomarez, said in a statement Monday. "In this role she will have a real impact on improving the opportunity landscape for America's minority entrepreneurs."
Prior to her appointment with MBDA, Castillo served as Special Advisor to the Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, overseeing business outreach and development of policy initiatives geared at trade promotion and enforcement of U.S. trade laws.
Such experience will prove invaluable to the MBDA through Castillo's integral role in developing and implementing the MBDA's Global Export Initiative for the minority business community -- part of President Obama's National Export Initiative.
Castillo previously served as the Interim Executive Director of the Hispanic National Bar Association, headquartered in Washington D.C. and as a key contributor to Latinos for a Fair Judiciary in support of the nomination and confirmation of Justice Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.
Castillo also served in the Clinton Administration as a Senior Policy Analyst to the Deputy Director at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, where she was responsible for developing and analyzing White House initiatives on drug control policies in areas of drug trafficking interdiction, anti money laundering, drug prevention and treatment programs.
Before her role with the White House, Ms. Castillo served as key staff for Democratic National Committee Chairman, Don Fowler, and later joined the Clinton Gore Re-election campaign as Deputy Director for Special Projects.
The MBDA serves minority entrepreneurs across America who are building and growing businesses. For the last 40 years, MBDA has promoted the growth and competitiveness of minority-owned firms.
