Ana Harvey, director of the District’s Department of Small and Local Business Development, unexpectedly announced her resignation earlier this summer, apparently just prior to or during her August vacation.
On Aug. 11, Harvey tweeted: “Serving @SmallBizDC has been a great honor & privilege. Thanks @MayorBowser for the opportunity and to @councilofdc for your support.”
“It seems to have been a totally personal decision,” said Mekdy Alemayehu, the agency’s public information officer. “It was a shock to us all, really. We just know that she was totally enthusiastic and dedicated to the mission of the SMLD and she was a popular director.”
The position opening has been announced by the District’s Department of Human Resources and candidates are beginning to be interviewed. Tene Dolphin is currently serving as interim director.
Harvey’s resignation came just days after The Georgetowner published a profile of her on the paper’s new In Your Town page. Thought to be one of three Latino agency directors in the District, Harvey had been an enthusiastic guide to DC Main Streets Program, to which Georgetown has applied.