Trump Names Skokie Consultant U.S. Treasurer

SKOKIE, IL — Crisp, fresh cash will soon be minted with the signature of Skokie's Jovita Carranza, who was nominated to become the 44th Treasurer of the United States by President Donald Trump Friday.

Carranza is the founder and CEO of the Skokie-based consultancy JCR Group, which works with corporations and government agencies on business development, management, operations and logistics.

In 2006, George W. Bush appointed her to be deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. She was confirmed unanimously and managed about 80 field offices nationwide.

Prior to that, she worked at the United Parcel Service, beginning as a part-time, night-shift box handler in 1970's Los Angeles.

She worked her way up through the company, eventually becoming UPS's president of Latin American and Caribbean operations.

Last year, Carranza was a member of the Trump campaign's National Hispanic Advisory Council. After the election, she was being considered for nomination as U.S. Trade Representative, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Carranza has lectured at Johns Hopkins University in Washington and received a number of awards, including Woman of the Year from Hispanic Business Magazine in 2004 and the Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award in 2015.

She has served on various nonprofit boards, including the United Way, the National Center for Family Literacy and the corporate advisory council of the American Cancer Society.

On top of having her signature on money, the treasurer's duties involve overseeing the U.S. Mint, Fort Knox and coordinating with the Federal Reserve. The treasurer also serves as a top adviser to the Treasury Secretary, according to the department's website.

Carranza replaces Rosie Rios, who resigned in July 2016 after nearly eight years in the role. Rios successfully lobbied to put the image of a woman on U.S. currency.

Top photo | Donald Trump meets with Jovita Carranza Aug. 20, 2016 | Gerald Herbert | Associated Press