Office of Gulf Coast Rebuilding Opens Regional Office

Release Date: 02/08/06 00:00:00

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: DJ Nordquist, (202) 357-8150
February 8, 2006

Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding Donald Powell announced today that his office will establish a regional presence in the Gulf starting February 13th. This announcement was made as part of his address to a group of Louisiana bankers and businessmen at a luncheon hosted by the Louisiana Bankers Association in Baton Rouge.

The regional office, co-located with the Joint Field Office in Baton Rouge, will be headed by Donna Gambrell, a community relations specialist with 15 years experience in the field. Ms. Gambrell and her team will be regularly traveling throughout the region, with other offices to be set up on the coasts of both Mississippi and Louisiana. Ms. Gambrell most recently served as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)’s Deputy Director of the Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection, where she oversaw the agency's consumer protection programs.

The office’s focus will be on spearheading partnerships between financial institutions, government agencies, and community-based organizations to promote community and economic development in areas—including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods—devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

“I couldn’t be happier to get Donna back on my team,” said Federal Coordinator Powell. “She has incredible expertise in community relations and I know she will be a tremendous asset to the overall recovery and rebuilding effort in the Gulf, being my eyes and ears in the region on a daily basis.”

Ms. Gambrell will serve as the regional director and will work closely with the Federal Coordinator and his Gulf Coast staff in directing and overseeing regional activities for the office. Acting as the day-to-day contact on the ground, Ms. Gambrell will help establish and maintain effective relationships with local groups, state and local officials, private and public institutions, businesses, civic and citizen groups and many other key players in the long-term goals in rebuilding the Gulf Coast. She will work to ensure that the rebuilding efforts in the region are on schedule and meet the expectations of these private and public entities.

“I’m both excited and honored to be working on this important mission -- rebuilding the Gulf Coast,” said Gambrell on her new position. “I treasure the spirit of this region and am eager to help serve as a liaison between those whose lives were upended by the storms and decision-makers in Washington who are working to ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively and wisely."

Ms. Gambrell began her career with the FDIC in April 1991, as a Community Affairs Officer in the agency’s New York Region. She has served in various roles in consumer protection areas with increasing responsibilities at the corporation, and in June 2002 was named Deputy Director. Throughout her career at the FDIC she has brought banker and community groups together to help them devise better ways to serve consumers. Prior to joining the FDIC, Ms. Gambrell worked at the Resolution Trust Corporation (1989-1991), the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (1987-1989), and the General Accounting Office (1979-1987).

Ms. Gambrell received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Towson State University, Baltimore, Maryland, and a Master of Science Degree from New York University. In 2004, she received a National Public Service Award for her innovative work over the years in formulating public-private partnerships.

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