Stabenow: Senate confirms Mensah and Holladay at USDA
November 20, 2014 | 10:10 PM
The Senate today confirmed Lisa Mensah as the Agriculture undersecretary for rural development and Jon Holladay as the USDA chief financial officer, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. announced late in the day.
“I’m proud that my colleagues in the Senate gave their support to confirm Jon Holladay as U.S. Department of Agriculture CFO and Lisa Mensah as the USDA undersecretary for rural development,” Stabenow’s statement said.
“Mr. Holladay has a long-standing history of serving the USDA and the many farmers, ranchers and small businesses across the country who rely on it. It’s only fitting that he’s confirmed for his new role the same week as Ms. Mensah, whose experience working to strengthen rural economies will undoubtedly match the USDA’s efforts to create sustainable growth for generations to come,” Stabenow said.
“The USDA will benefit greatly from the experience and expertise of these two people, and with their help the agency will continue to support countless citizens and groups across the country.”
Lisa Mensah
President Barack Obama nominated Mensah on May 8.
She has been the executive director of the Initiative on Financial Security at the Aspen Institute since December 2002.
Earlier, she worked at the Ford Foundation in a variety of roles, including deputy director of the Economic Development Unit from 1996 to 2002, deputy director of the Rural Poverty and Resources Program from 1991 to 1996, and program officer from 1989 to 1991.
She is board chair of the National Academy of Social Insurance, a board member of the Doorways to Dreams (D2D) Fund, in Allston, Mass., and of HOPE Enterprise Corporation, in Jackson, Miss.
From 1986 to 1989, she was a Citibank North America account officer in the corporate finance analysis division and assistant manager in the Europe/Middle East/Africa banking group.
She was an economics teacher and assistant to the directors of the Governor’s School of New Jersey on public issues from 1985 to 1986.
Mensah received a bachelor of arts degree from Harvard University and an master of arts degree from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at The Johns Hopkins University.
She will occupy the position held by Dallas Tonsager in the first Obama administration.
Jon Holladay
Obama nominated Holladay for the chief financial officer post on May 16, 2013.
Halladay has served as deputy chief financial officer since 2008.
Before his current position, he served as USDA’s associate chief financial officer for financial policy and planning from 2004 to 2006. From 1999 to 2003, he served as a supervisory program analyst in the Office of the CFO, and from June to December 2003, was detailed to USDA’s National Finance Center as the acting deputy director.
Holladay served as a supervisory system accountant in the Office of the CFO from 1997 to 1999, as a staff accountant from 1995 to 1997, and as a member of the Chief Financial Officer’s Financial Statement’s Task Force from 1992 to 1995.
Holladay received a bachelor of science degree in accounting from George Mason University School of Business.
▪ USDA — Rural Development
▪ USDA — Office of the Chief Financial Officer
“I’m proud that my colleagues in the Senate gave their support to confirm Jon Holladay as U.S. Department of Agriculture CFO and Lisa Mensah as the USDA undersecretary for rural development,” Stabenow’s statement said.
“Mr. Holladay has a long-standing history of serving the USDA and the many farmers, ranchers and small businesses across the country who rely on it. It’s only fitting that he’s confirmed for his new role the same week as Ms. Mensah, whose experience working to strengthen rural economies will undoubtedly match the USDA’s efforts to create sustainable growth for generations to come,” Stabenow said.
“The USDA will benefit greatly from the experience and expertise of these two people, and with their help the agency will continue to support countless citizens and groups across the country.”
President Barack Obama nominated Mensah on May 8.
She has been the executive director of the Initiative on Financial Security at the Aspen Institute since December 2002.
Earlier, she worked at the Ford Foundation in a variety of roles, including deputy director of the Economic Development Unit from 1996 to 2002, deputy director of the Rural Poverty and Resources Program from 1991 to 1996, and program officer from 1989 to 1991.
She is board chair of the National Academy of Social Insurance, a board member of the Doorways to Dreams (D2D) Fund, in Allston, Mass., and of HOPE Enterprise Corporation, in Jackson, Miss.
From 1986 to 1989, she was a Citibank North America account officer in the corporate finance analysis division and assistant manager in the Europe/Middle East/Africa banking group.
She was an economics teacher and assistant to the directors of the Governor’s School of New Jersey on public issues from 1985 to 1986.
Mensah received a bachelor of arts degree from Harvard University and an master of arts degree from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at The Johns Hopkins University.
She will occupy the position held by Dallas Tonsager in the first Obama administration.
Obama nominated Holladay for the chief financial officer post on May 16, 2013.
Halladay has served as deputy chief financial officer since 2008.
Before his current position, he served as USDA’s associate chief financial officer for financial policy and planning from 2004 to 2006. From 1999 to 2003, he served as a supervisory program analyst in the Office of the CFO, and from June to December 2003, was detailed to USDA’s National Finance Center as the acting deputy director.
Holladay served as a supervisory system accountant in the Office of the CFO from 1997 to 1999, as a staff accountant from 1995 to 1997, and as a member of the Chief Financial Officer’s Financial Statement’s Task Force from 1992 to 1995.
Holladay received a bachelor of science degree in accounting from George Mason University School of Business.
▪ USDA — Rural Development
▪ USDA — Office of the Chief Financial Officer
