Melanie R. Sabelhaus was sworn in April12, 2002 as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. President George W. Bush nominated her for the post and she was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate.

As SBA Deputy Administrator, Sabelhaus served as second in command to Administrator Hector V. Barreto in managing an agency with more than 80 offices across the country. She was responsible for overseeing policy development and program supervision for the SBA.

Created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to assist small business, the SBA is America's Small Business Resource, providing financial assistance, business education, training, counseling and procurement assistance programs to the nation's entrepreneurs. With a total loan portfolio of business and disaster recovery loans of about $50 billion, the SBA is America's largest single financial backer of small businesses. She retired from the SBA in June of 2005.

Sabelhaus has more than 25 years of successful business and corporate experience. She founded and served as chief executive officer of Exclusive Interim Properties (EIP) from 1986 to 1997. At its peak, EIP had offices in Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC and employed 75 people. The company generated $10 plus million annually with its 650 furnished units. EIP Merged with four other companies and did an IPO and went public as Bridgestreet Accommodations in 1997. Sabelhaus became vice president of Global Sales and served on the board of directors of the publicly held company until 1998. For 15 years prior to forming her own business, she served in a variety of management positions with the IBM Corporation.

Before joining the SBA, Sabelhaus devoted three years to community fund raising and women’s business issues. She has served on numerous boards of directors including the United Way of Central Maryland, the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Maryland, the YMCA of Central Maryland, the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and the Nantucket Historical Association. She is a member of the Women’s Leadership Board of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and Ohio University Foundation Board and Executive Advisory Board for Ohio University’s College of Business. Sabelhaus co-chaired the National Summit on Women in Philanthropy three times and she is Chairman Emetria of the National United Way Women’s Leadership Initiative. She was just confirmed to the National American Red Cross Board of Governors.

She is a recipient of the 2002 Outstanding Volunteer Fund-raiser Award presented by the Association of Fund-raising Professionals, the College of Notre Dame of Maryland’s Pro Urbe Award for her contributions to the community and as a successful small business entrepreneur, and the Ohio University’s School of Business award for Achievement in Business. In 2004 she was the recipient of the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Distinguished Women’s Award and she was named Euro-American Women’s Council Leadership Celebration American Honoree. She has received the Circle of Excellence Award from the Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 1996, 2002 and 2004.

She was appointed by Senator Elizabeth Dole to serve as the Chairman of the Women’s Majority Network for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Sabelhaus is married and resides in Owings Mills, Md., with her husband, Bob Sabelhaus. He is an executive with the financial investment firm of Legg Mason. They are the parents of two adult children. Sabelhaus attended Ohio University and earned a B.S. in journalism.