Kubayanda Named PRC Vice Chairman; Fisher, Poling Sworn In

Washington, DC – In a unanimous decision, the Postal Regulatory Commission voted to designate Commissioner Michael M. Kubayanda Vice Chairman of the PRC for the remainder of the 2019 calendar year and the full 2020 calendar year.

Vice Chairman Kubayanda is one of three Commissioners recently nominated to the Commission by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate.

Prior to joining the Commission, Michael Kubayanda served as a board member and privacy officer for a digital health startup offering cloud solutions for medical practices in the United States and emerging markets. He previously worked with the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Postal Service as Director, Government Relations, where he worked with OIG officials to support the OIG’s work on data analytics.

While serving in the OIG’s research group, he oversaw research on technical issues and wrote reports addressing postal economics and price regulation, intellectual property, and public-private partnerships, while serving as an advisor to colleagues on issues such as privacy, knowledge management, and innovation. Prior to his work with the OIG, he served on the staff of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Mr. Kubayanda holds degrees from Georgetown University, Northwestern University, and the Ohio State University. He also studied at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ann C. Fisher and Ashley E. Poling Sworn in as Commissioners of the Postal Regulatory Commission

Ann C. Fisher (R) and Ashley E. Poling (D) were confirmed by the Senate and begin their first term as commissioners of the Postal Regulatory Commission. President Donald J. Trump nominated Fisher and Poling for terms that extend through 2024.

Ms. Fisher and Ms. Poling assume their roles at a critical time, as the Commission is currently involved in a major review of the system for setting Market Dominant rates.

Ms. Fisher began her tenure at the Commission in 2007 as chief of staff for then-Chairman Dan Blair. Over the past 11 years, she has served as the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations. Prior to joining the Commission, Fisher spent more than a decade on Capitol Hill in various roles including Deputy Staff Director to former Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Fisher was the principle Senate Republican staff member working to modernize postal laws in the form of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006. She also served as an economist on the Senate Small Business Committee under former Chairman Larry Pressler (R-SD), and as a Government Relations Manager at the U.S. Postal Service headquarters in Washington DC.

Ms. Fisher holds an M.A. degree in economics from the University of South Dakota and a B.S. degree in mathematics from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She resides in Washington, DC, with her husband and two daughters.

Prior to joining the Commission, Ms. Poling served as the Director of Governmental Affairs and Senior Counsel to Ranking Member Gary C. Peters (D-MI) on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee where she advised Senator Peters on policy issues, negotiated with stakeholders to advance bipartisan legislation, and implemented strategies to advance Senator Peters’ governmental affairs priorities.

Ms. Poling also served as Senior Policy Counsel to Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and as Counsel to Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) on their respective Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittees, where she focused on postal reform and federal workforce issues.

Ms. Poling holds a J.D. degree from Elon University School of Law and an English degree from The College of William & Mary. She is a native of North Carolina.