As Associate Director for the NW Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (NorthwestTAAC) I am responsible for marketing and outreach to manufacturing and agriculture companies that have been negatively impacted by imports and qualify them for a government grant provided by the US Department of Commerce. This program is meant to help remedy the impact that U.S. manufacturing companies suffer in the face of cheaper overseas products entering our market. I previously worked in the office of US Senator Larry Craig since 2003, first as a Legislative Correspondent, then as the National Security and Trade Policy Advisor. In that capacity, I was responsible for advising the Senator on matters of National and Homeland Security, Military, Foreign Policy, Intelligence, Trade and Education issues before the Congress and the nation.In June 2009 I received a MA in National Security and Strategic Studies at the US Naval War College. The College focuses on developing military officers and public servants in government policy into national security and military experts. Prior to working in the Senate, I attended the University of Idaho where I received BA degrees in International Studies, emphasis in International Business; and Spanish. During my Junior year, I did a study abroad at the Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain where I took business and economics courses taught in Spanish.In the Fall of 2001, I took an internship with the Idaho-Mexico Trade Office where I worked with the Office Director to promote Idaho products within Mexico and Latin America. That opportunity allowed me to not only participate in International Trade and Marketing, but also build on the Spanish language skills I had learned in Spain.