Brian McGowan is California's deputy secretary for economicdevelopment and Commerce. He was appointed by Gov. ArnoldSchwarzenegger in December 2007, and began serving in January asthe secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing, ex-officiovoting member. Before his appointment, McGowan was the economicdevelopment agency administrator for San Bernardino County,economic development manager for Ontario for five years andeconomic development coordinator for Palm Springs for sixyears.

McGowan has also championed local international initiativesin government. He created the Palm Springs Foreign Trade Zone andled a series of trade missions to China for both Ontario and SanBernardino County. He also helped build trade ties with Mexico andassisted Bulgaria and Serbia in creating economic developmentprograms through the United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment.

McGowan discussed his newest role and fielded generalquestions on the state's economy with Real Estate SouthernCalifornia editor and West Coast Bureau Chief of GlobeSt.com DonJergler. (For the shorter magazine version of the interview, seethe September issue of Real Estate Southern California)