Speaker

Ms. Olafson currently serves as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Administrator at the United States Small Business Administration.  In her role, Meredith serves as the main liaison between the agency and the small employer community on implementation of the Affordable Care Act and has led the SBA’s effort to expand its outreach and education on health care matters.  Meredith also works on policy issues related to investment in rural and underserved communities and disaster assistance. 

Prior to this role, Meredith was as a Senior Policy Analyst in the agency’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development where she worked on special initiatives related to economic development and veteran’s entrepreneurship.  Meredith has also served in the Office of General Counsel as an Attorney Advisor on employment and labor law matters.  

Before joining the Administration, Meredith practiced law at Hunton & Williams LLP and Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, where she worked as an associate representing a diverse range of firms in employment litigation at the federal and state level.  She also provided advice and counsel on discrimination law, wage-hour matters, and non-compete law, conducted numerous management trainings on legal compliance, and developed and audited workplace policies.   Meredith holds a B.A. from Northwestern University and a J.D. from Georgetown University.