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Overview

Reta Jo advises clients on international trade, export finance, and government strategy, drawing on senior leadership roles across the U.S. government and as former chairman, president, and CEO of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM). She helps U.S. and international companies expand into new markets, execute complex cross-border partnerships, and navigate today’s geopolitical and highly regulated business environment.

With more than 30 years of experience spanning law, business, finance, and public policy, Reta Jo brings an integrated legal and strategic perspective to client matters. She advises U.S. and international clients on securing export credit financing through EXIM and other global export credit agencies (ECAs), navigating geopolitical and regulatory risk, and building alliances with government, multilateral, and private-sector stakeholders. Her strong relationships across federal, state, and local governments, as well as global institutions, help clients to advance opportunities and execute high-value transactions, particularly in emerging and strategic markets.

Reta Jo has substantial experience in Africa, the Caribbean, and other high-growth regions, where she has supported transformative deals in energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and critical minerals. She also advises foreign companies and investors entering the U.S. market. Her experience subnational diplomacy and cross-border economic collaboration helps clients identify opportunities at the national, regional, and local levels, and she regularly structures bipartisan initiatives and public-private partnerships.

Clients value Reta Jo’s integrated approach, which combines legal insight, proven collaborative skills, policy experience, geopolitical strategy, and deep government and commercial relationships to help navigate and unlock financing and execution for complex international projects.

She was drawn to Husch Blackwell’s depth in domestic and international markets and works closely with colleagues across practices to deliver comprehensive, multidisciplinary solutions for clients’ most sophisticated global matters.

Industries

Service

Recognition

  • University of Georgia, School of Public and International Affairs, Lifetime Achievement Award (Inaugural), 2026
  • Private Company Directors to Watch, 2026
  • U.S. Department of State
    • Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award, 2013
    • Reta Jo Lewis Local Diplomat Program (named in her honor), 2024
  • Ellis Island Medal of Honor, 2024
  • U.S. Nuclear Industry Council, Nuclear Trailblazer Award, 2023
  • Emory Distinguished Law Alumni Award, 2022
  • Women’s Bar Association, D.C. Star of the Bar Award, 2022
  • National Urban League, Women of Power Award, 2022
  • Women’s Foreign Policy Group, African-American Women Trailblazers in Foreign Policy

Education

  • J.D., Emory University School of Law
  • M.S.A.J., American University
  • B.A., University of Georgia

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Georgia

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Rare Earths Americas (REA), Non-Executive Director; Chair, Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee2025-present
  • U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, Lifetime Member
  • World Economic Forum, Co-chair, Global Future Council on Advanced Manufacturing and Value Chains, 2025-present
  • Foreign Policy for America, Advisory Board Member
  • Leadership Council for Women in National Security, Steering Committee Member
  • NYSE Board Services, Board Candidate, 2025-present
  • American Leadership Initiative, Advisory Board Member
  • Nielson Corporation, Former African American Advisory Council Member
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Former Board Member
Experience

Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)

  • Oversaw $135 billion in financing authority, facilitating U.S. exports through loan guarantees, working capital, and insurance.
  • Authorized more than $22 billion in financial products across 177 countries, supporting $40 billion in U.S. export sales and more than 150,000 American jobs.
  • Led strategic investments in critical minerals, clean energy, infrastructure, digital technology, nuclear, and 5G to strengthen U.S. competitiveness, in support of U.S. exporters facing competition from the People's Republic of China (PRC).
  • Executed more than 25 international co-financing agreements with foreign export credit agencies and signed over seven memoranda of understanding (MOU), deepening economic ties with G7, Quad nations, MENA, ASEAN, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • Launched Make More in America (MMIA) to boost U.S. export capacity, and Supply Chain Resiliency Initiative (SCRI) to strengthen critical mineral and rare earth supply chains for U.S. industries.
  • Spearheaded Africa engagement strategy, increasing authorizations from $109 million in FY2022 to $3.6 billion by FY2024, unlocking transformative deals in energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing.

German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF)

  • Led GMF's engagement with U.S. congressional members and relevant committees, advocating for policies that support transatlantic relations and GMF's global initiatives focused on transatlantic economic and geopolitical priorities while cultivating bipartisan support for key international initiatives.
  • Led state and local diplomacy efforts, with a focus on enhancing U.S.-Europe subnational partnerships.

U.S. Department of State, Obama Administration

  • Served as U.S. State Department's first chief diplomat charged with leading subnational diplomacy engagement efforts, focused on fostering strategic partnerships between U.S. local leaders and their foreign counterparts to promote international economic collaborations.
  • Negotiated and led high-impact agreements to solidify subnational cooperation and engagement efforts with BRICS nations and strategic countries in Africa, Asia, the Western Hemisphere, and European Union (EU), advancing U.S. economic and diplomatic priorities.
  • Represented and led the engagement of state and local leaders at four United Nations Climate Change Conferences.

The White House, Executive Office of the President

  • Served as special assistant for political affairs to President Bill Clinton.
  • Served as principal staff director for the White House Task Force on the 1996 Atlanta Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 1994 Olympics and Paralympic Games.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

  • Served as vice president and counselor to the president and built strategic alliances among small businesses.
Outside the Office

Reta Jo enjoys international travel, golf, and mentoring emerging leaders in national and economic security and foreign affairs. She values time with her family, particularly her siblings, during summer beach vacations.

Community Leadership
  • Blue Star Families, National Advisory Board Member