U.S. Secretary of Labor, Elaine L. Chao,
will head the official delegation from the United States
representing President George W. Bush at the Uruguayan presidential
inauguration to take place tuesday, March 1st.
The U.S. delegation includes Marilyn Ware,
chairman emerita of the American Water Works Company, and
Martin J. Silverstein, Ambassador of the United States of
America in Uruguay.
U.S. Ambassador Martin J. Silverstein,
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao |
Elaine L. Chao is the nation's 24th
Secretary of Labor, representing a new generation of American
leadership. Since her confirmation by the United States
Senate on January 29, 2001, she has been dedicated to carrying
out the Department of Labor's mission of inspiring and protecting
the hardworking people of America. She is respected as an
effective and articulate champion of the nation's contemporary
workforce, acting quickly to focus the Labor Department
on the modern realities of workers' lives.
When President George W. Bush nominated
Elaine L. Chao, the first Asian-American woman appointed
to a President's cabinet in U.S. history, he described her
as an individual with “strong executive talent, compassion,
and commitment to helping people build better lives.”
Secretary Chao's compassionate nature stems from her own
background as an immigrant to this country at the age of
eight. Her family's experience transitioning to a new country,
supported by one another and the kindness of friends and
neighbors, taught her that encouragement is the key to fostering
independence, and that Americans are naturally compassionate
people. This inspired her to dedicate most of her professional
life to ensuring that people have the opportunity to pursue
lives of dignity and financial independence.
As Director of the Peace Corps, she was one of the first
Americans to personally embrace the people of the former
communist bloc into the family of democratic nations, establishing
Peace Corps programs in the Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania,
Estonia and the newly independent states of the former Soviet
Union. Later, as President and Chief Executive Officer of
United Way of America, she restored public trust and confidence
after the organization was tarnished by mismanagement and
financial abuse, thus preserving the nation's largest institution
of private charitable giving.
The experience she gained at the United Way helping communities
address their local needs prepared her to mobilize the Department
of Labor to promote pathways to economic freedom for individuals
and families working to achieve the American Dream. She
describes her vision for America's workforce as “one
in which everyone can participate… where jobs and
opportunities are available for those leaving welfare, job
training is accessible for those left behind, disability
never bars a qualified person from the workplace, and where
parents have an easier time balancing the responsibilities
of work and home.”
Secretary Chao's previous government career includes serving
as the Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation,
Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, and Deputy
Maritime Administrator in the U.S. Department of Transportation.
She brings a wealth of business experience to the post,
having worked as Vice President of Syndications at BankAmerica
Capital Markets Group and a banker with Citicorp. Prior
to her nomination as Secretary, she expanded her study of
policy as a Distinguished Fellow at The Heritage Foundation,
a Washington-based public policy research and educational
institute. She was selected as a White House Fellow in 1983.
Secretary Chao received her M.B.A. from the Harvard Business
School and her undergraduate degree in economics from Mount
Holyoke College. She also studied at M.I.T., Dartmouth College,
and Columbia University. Active in many volunteer activities,
Secretary Chao has received numerous awards for her professional
accomplishments and community service. She is the recipient
of 24 honorary doctoral degrees from colleges and universities
around the world.
Secretary Chao is married to the Assistant Majority Leader
of the United States Senate, Senator Mitch McConnell of
Kentucky.
Marilyn Ware |
Marilyn
Ware is the Chief Executive Officer of the Ware Family Office,
which designs and initiates business ventures to benefit
an extended family group. In 2003, she retired as Chairman
of the Board of American Water Works Company (NYSE), following
15 years of service and upon the sale of the company to
RWE, AG of Germany. During her chairmanship the market cap
rose from $512 million to $4.6 billion. She remains involved
as a member of the Economic Advisory Board of RWE and a
member of the International Advisory Council of Thames Water,
Plc., RWE's global water subsidiary based in London.
Ms. Ware is a member of the Board of Directors of CIGNA
Corporation
and chairs the Corporate Governance Committee. She is also
a member of
the Board of Directors of IKON Office Solutions, both Fortune
500
companies.
During 2002, Ms. Ware accepted an appointment by President
George W.
Bush to serve as a member of the National Infrastructure
Advisory
Council. Ms. Ware is a member of the Board of Trustees and
the Executive
Committee of The American Enterprise Institute for Public
Policy Research
in Washington, D.C. She also serves on the Board of Penn
Medicine and
its Executive Committee (University of Pennsylvania School
of Medicine
and Health System in Philadelphia, PA). In 2003, she joined
the Abramson
Institute Board, an integral component of the Abramson Cancer
Center of
the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a trustee of
Eisenhower
Fellowships in Philadelphia, a member of the Pew Oceans
Commission and the
National Council of the Conservation Fund.
A former newspaper publisher and a contributing author,
Ms. Ware is
also a political activist with an interest in numerous stewardship
issues. She is the parent of three adult children.
