Marianne O’Brien Markowitz took on the post of acting administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration on Feb. 8.

She is serving in an interim capacity while Maria Contreras-Sweet, President Obama’s formal nominee for the position, is being vetted by Congress.

Since 2009, Markowitz had been regional administrator for SBA’s Midwest Region. Before her arrival at SBA, Markowitz was the chief financial officer for the president’s 2008 election campaign. In 2013, she was appointed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to serve on the city’s Small Business Advisory Council.

Markowitz’s academic credentials include a B.S. from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She grew up in Berkeley, a suburb of St. Louis.