Barbara Shumar currently serves as a Grants Management Specialist for the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council). Created by the RESTORE Act of 2012 and comprised of the Governors of the five Gulf Coast States and Cabinet-level officials from six federal agencies, the RESTORE Council is responsible for restoring and protecting the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and economy of the Gulf Coast.
Shumar came to the RESTORE Council staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), where she served as a Financial Analyst. She was responsible for analyzing financial statements of foreign banks which participated in USDA credit guarantee programs for US farmers. Prior to working on USDA’s credit guarantee programs, she spent several years administering and monitoring grant programs focusing on marketing U.S. agricultural products, providing commodities to assist developing countries to strengthen and modernize their agricultural sectors, and providing financial resources and commodities to support education, child development, and food security in low income, food-deficient countries around the globe.
Shumar began her federal career with the USDA’s Office of Inspector General where she served as an auditor performing program and financial audits of USDA programs.
Shumar has a Bachelor of Science degree from York College of Pennsylvania in accounting.