Van Freeman, Senior Advisor to the National Director – U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency

Van Freeman, Senior Advisor to the National Director

U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency

Currently, Van serves as the Senior Advisor to the National Director at Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), where he assists senior management with Agency operation; handles access to capital, access to markets, and innovation through the 44 business centers across the country; as well as facilitatingthe Agency’s strategic partnerships and spearheading Congressional and local government outreach.President Obama appointed Van Freemanto serve as a Deputy Director in the Office of the Secretary at U.S. Department of Commerce in 2013, before transitioning in to his new role withthe MBDA.

Van began his career at General Motors (GM) as a Manufacturing Engineer, eventuallymoving up to Production Supervisor at GM’s parts distribution center in Pontiac, MI.  Leveraging his business and analytical background, Van landed a position UBS Investment Bank in London, UK, as a Business Analyst in the Office of the Global General Counsel.  After time well spent in London, he joined the President Obama’s Campaign staff in Cleveland, OH, for the 2008 and 2012 election cycles, which was a critical launching point for his path into the Administration.

Van holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Morehouse College and Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center.  He currently resides in Washington, DC.