Graduate, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University; certificate in Latin American Studies and course work, University of Costa Rica. Formerly, Director, Mercosur/Southern Cone, Office of the US Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President. Foreign Service Officer with the US Department of State, serving in Recife, Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre, Brazil, as well as Bogota, Colombia. Since 2000, has led Brazil/Southern Cone and trade practices at McLarty Associates.