News

Prior to joining Ex-Im Bank, Conlin served as Assistant Secretary for Trade Development from August 2001 to April 2004 at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

From 1994 to 1999, Conlin served New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman as the principal advisor for marketing and policy for travel and tourism. Earlier she was the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Tourism Marketing in the U.S. Tourism Administration, and before that held positions at the U.S. Information Agency and the U.S. Department of State.

Sworn-in for terms ending on January 20, 2009 were (from left) J. Joseph Grandmaison, member; Linda M. Conlin, first vice president and vice chair; and James H. Lambright, president and chairman.

A native of Massachusetts, Conlin began her career as a small business owner.

Grandmaison served from 1993 to 2001 in the Clinton Administration as director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA), and was a board member at Ex-Im Bank from December 2001 to July 2005.

Grandmaison's previous federal service also includes a presidential appointment from 1977 to 1981 as federal co-chairman of the New England Region Commission, a capacity in which he served with six New England governors.

Active in public affairs in his home state of New Hampshire, Grandmaison was the Democratic Party nominee for governor in 1990.

The three join former U.S. Senator Max Cleland on Ex-Im Bank's board of directors. Last week President Bush nominated Bijan R. Rafekian as the fifth member of the board, subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

Ex-Im Bank (www.exim.gov) this year marks its 72nd year of helping finance the sale of U.S. exports, primarily to emerging markets throughout the world, by providing loan guarantees, export credit insurance, and direct loans. In fiscal year 2005 Ex-Im Bank authorized nearly $14 billion in transactions supporting almost $17.9 billion in U.S. exports. More than $2.6 billion of the authorizations, or 2,617 transactions, directly supported U.S. small businesses as primary exporters.