http://www.usda.gov/2005/06/0531.xml Release No. 0531.05 Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623 JOHANNS WELCOMES ANDREW AND CHRISTOPHERSON TO USDA WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns welcomes James Andrew as Administrator of USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service and Charles Christopherson as USDA's Chief Financial Officer, both of whom assume their new duties this week. Andrew will administer Rural Development's electric, telecommunications and water programs. In 2005 those programs provided over $5.5 billion in investment to rural America. Christopherson will oversee the financial leadership of USDA, which has more than $128 billion in assets and $77 billion in total annual spending. "I am honored to welcome Jim Andrew and Chuck Christopherson to our senior management team," said Johanns. "They bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their respective positions and are strong leaders who will make tremendous contributions to USDA and the Bush Administration." Christopherson's duties involve accounting and reporting responsibilities for program funds totaling more than $90 billion, including nearly 37-percent of all non-tax debt owed to the U.S. Government. The National Finance Center processes the payroll for one-fifth of the federal workforce (550,000 individuals) and operates components of the over $100 billion Thrift Savings Plan for federal employees, which is the world's largest 401(k) retirement plan. Prior to coming to USDA, Christopherson served as President of CB Solutions, LLC, a Texas-based business consulting firm specializing in high technology accounts receivable collections. He earned a Bachelors of Science from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the University of Oregon. Andrew was nominated to serve as Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service by President Bush on August 25th and was confirmed unanimously by the Senate on November 10th. A former president of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Andrew served on the board from 1988 to 2004. As president, he led the association's effort to overhaul education and training programs for member co-ops. A graduate of the University of Alabama, he is a former small business owner and banker and helped to manage a family farm. Andrew began his involvement with rural cooperatives in 1968, when he became director of marketing for Georgia Electric Membership Corporation. Later he was elected to serve on his local electric cooperative board and remained a board member for 25 years. # USDA News oc.news@xxxxxxxx 202 720-4623 ---------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to webservices@xxxxxxxx and reference your email address.
