Sally Jewell

Big news out today in the world of politics with President Barack Obama announcing that he’s chosen former REI Chief Executive Sally Jewell as Interior secretary. In the role, Jewell will oversee the country’s national parks as well as drilling operations on public land.

At outdoor retailer REI, Jewell was praised for expanding the company’s online retail operations. The cooperative, with 11,000 employees and 4.7 million members, has long been honored as one of the best companies to work for in the U.S.

Obama is expected to announce the nomination Wednesday. Jewell received a degree from the University of Washington in mechanical engineering, before going on to work in the oil and banking industries. She joined the REI board in 1996, later taking on the role of COO in 2000.

More on the nomination from Reuters, which notes that Jewell is the the first woman tapped to join Obama’s second-term cabinet.

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