Howard Burris

Mr. Burris brings over 30 years of private sector and government experience in project financing and management. Presently, he is Managing Partner of H Street International, providing advice to private clients interested in export trade and overseas project development financing. Recently, Mr. Burris served as Director, Strategic Initiatives for the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. From 2006-2009 he was CFO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a government agency promoting private investment with direct loans, investment funds, and political risk insurance. Previously, he was Deputy CFO for the CPA mission in Iraq in 2004. He worked at the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) from 2004-2006 as Director of the Defense Reconstruction Support Office advising on reconstruction issues. He began his overseas career in 1976 as a junior manager at a Dow Chemical joint venture in Iran. Then in 1980, starting with limited capital and one tract of land in Texas, he developed and sold over 2,400 acres of raw land as homesites. Mr. Burris also invested extensively in oil and gas working interests. From 1990-1994 he worked in loan restructuring for commercial lenders with troubled land loans, notably those with Endangered Species Act issues. After 1994 he worked increasingly as a CEO and CFO for publicly traded and private operating companies in debtor in possession workout situations. Mr. Burris earned his BA from Princeton University and MBA from The University of Texas.