A Conversation with Congresswoman McCollum

 Join the Saint Paul Area and Midway Chambers for a conversation with Congresswoman Betty McCollum and Small Business Administration District Director Brian McDonald.  Hear what new ideas are being considered and resources are being provided at the federal level to assist businesses.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum

Since 2001, Betty McCollum has represented Minnesota’s Fourth District in the United States House of Representatives. The 4th district includes Minnesota's capital city, St. Paul, as well as all of Ramsey County and most of Washington County. Congresswoman McCollum currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee where she is the Chair on the Interior-Environment Subcommittee and the Vice Chair of the Defense Subcommittee.

Prior to Congress, Congresswoman McCollum served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1993 to 2000 and was elected Assistant Leader three times by her DFL colleagues. From 1987 to 1992, was on the North St. Paul City Council. In addition to elected office, Congresswoman McCollum's career has included teaching high school social science, as well as twenty-five years in retail sales and management. She is a graduate of the College of St. Catherine, and the mother of two adult children.
 

Brian McDonald is the district director of the Minnesota District Office of the Small Business Administration. In this role, he manages the strategic efforts and daily operations of SBA’s small business support throughout the state. McDonald has served as SBA’s Minnesota deputy district director since 2017. 

Prior to moving to Minnesota, McDonald spent five years with SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development in Washington, D.C. In addition to his experience with the SBA, McDonald served on the President's Management Council as a Policy Analyst at Health and Human Services, served in the U.S. Department of Treasury’s CDFI Fund, and has private banking experience. Originally from Rochester, N.Y., Brian received his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University and a master’s degree from Georgetown. He currently resides in Minneapolis with his wife Beth, daughter Teagan and son Joseph.