Maner is a veteran of the first Bush administration, having worked in the White House Office of Advance, and later, as a staff assistant in the White House Press Office. He continued to work with former President Bush after he left the White House, serving as Director of Press and Political Affairs in the former president's office in Houston. One of Maner’s most challenging assignments, however, came during his tenure as Special Assistant to the United Nations Envoy to Somalia in Mogadishu, Somalia, where he assisted with political and trade development.

Maner was in Somalia during the much-publicized battle between the forces of Mohammed Aideed and the U.S. Rangers depicted in the film Blackhawk Down, witnessing the action from a few miles away.

"It was a horrific experience," says Maner, "and an extraordinary time. But the experience in Somalia taught me something fundamental about the importance of trade to the economy and its importance to sustaining democracy. In Somalia, I witnessed first-hand the utter absence of trade and any infrastructure that might have supported trade-and the result was an economy in ruin and a nation in ruin. Just a few days ago, I had an opportunity to visit our port of entry at Long Beach, and to see the torrent of trade that flows through that U.S. port every hour of every day. That unending flow of trade translates into the greatest economy in the history of the world. I've seen the full spectrum."

Maner also served as Vice President of Development/Sales for ICG Commerce, an international supply chain services provider. Before that, Maner was a partner of Aligne Inc., a technology consulting firm specializing in information technology, e-commerce initiatives and supply chain. Maner also worked in international marketing/communications at the Chicago Board of Trade.

According to Commissioner Bonner, Maner's office-formerly the office of the Trade Ombudsman-will have an expanded role in managing U.S. Customs relations and development of initiatives with the trade.

"Andrew Maner joins Customs at a critical time for both the agency and the trade community," said Bonner. "As the Director of the Office of Trade Relations, Maner will play an important role in the formation of the new partnership between U.S. Customs and the trade industry against terrorism. Changing the office name better reflects the expanded role that this office will now have."

Maner will also serve as Customs Regulatory Fairness Representative and the agency liaison between the international trading community and senior Customs managers.

He will also be responsible for policy review and planning and apprising the Commissioner, Treasury officials, and Congress on the quality of service provided to the trade community.

Maner is a graduate of Purdue University and the J.L. Kellogg Graduaate School of Management at Northwestern University, where he earned an MBA. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, and is a member of the Chicago Economic Club. Maner resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Julie, and their son, Cole.