Sodexho USA Names Veteran Congressional Staffer Frances Nam as Vice President for Government Affairs.

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Sodexho USA, the nation's leading provider of food and facilities management services, announced today that former congressional staffer Frances Nam has been named vice president for government affairs.

In this role, Nam will support the company's public policy initiatives, working with members of the US Congress and within the executive branch of the federal government, as well as with state legislatures and other groups and organizations on issues related to Sodexho. She will also play a significant role in managing the activities of the company's political action committee.

"Frances Nam's professional career has been characterized by a rare ability to work harmoniously, effectively and in bi-partisan fashion with a variety of officials, constituents and organizations in both the public and private sectors," said Reginald E. Gilliam, Jr. Sodexho USA's senior vice president for government affairs. "The practice of good politics is not only the advocacy of issues, it involves diplomacy, conciliation, teamwork and the ability to build effective coalitions. Frances is a highly skilled practitioner of these arts and we are very pleased to have her join our team."

As a congressional staffer in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, Nam developed legislative expertise on judicial matters, appropriations, health and consumer issues, immigration reform and other areas, most recently serving as senior policy advisor for Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA). She played a key role in drafting legislation which has been successfully enacted into law on issues related to the international HIV/AIDS crisis.

Nam began her career as a senior account executive at the international public affairs firm Hill & Knowlton, managing several of the firm's largest corporate and public sector client accounts, including several large cities, governmental units and Fortune 500 companies.

She later served as legislative assistant to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) before joining the US Department of Justice as senior policy analyst within the agency's Community Relations Service, serving under Attorneys General Janet Reno and John Ashcroft. The Community Relations Service serves as the Justice Department's "peacemaker" for disputes arising from conflicts based on race, color or national origin. Nam worked as an advisor on conciliation and mediation efforts, including the Justice Department's efforts in the post 9/11 period to address bias incidents against Muslims and Sikhs in the US.

Nam earned her undergraduate degree at SUNY Stony Brook and received her law degree at American University's Washington College of Law.

Sodexho USA (http://www.sodexhousa.com/) is the leading provider of food and facilities management in the United States, with $5.5 billion in annual sales and 110,000 employees. Sodexho USA offers innovative outsourcing solutions in food service, housekeeping, grounds keeping, plant operations and maintenance, asset management, and laundry services to more than 6,000 corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, military and remote sites in North America. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD, Sodexho USA is signatory to the Global Sullivan Principles for Corporate Social Responsibility and proudly serves as the official food service provider for the US Marine Corps.

CONTACT: Leslie Aun of Sodexho USA, [phone], or [e-mail]

Web site: http://www.sodexhousa.com/