Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Experienced federal government relations professional and entrepreneur based in Washington, DC. Specializations in defense, foreign policy, technology, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, immigration, and reproductive health. Passionate about electoral politics. American University alumnus with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Law, Economics, & Government; Women, Political Power, & Public Policy; and Advanced Leadership Studies.
• Performs both client service and client development functions as Plurus Strategies’ in-house expert on national security issues, including defense, foreign policy, cybersecurity, and immigration, and aims to bolster the firm’s expertise in technology and telecommunications • Directs ands and oversees the development and execution of strategies to achieve the national security and other policy objectives of Plurus Strategies clients, including the drafting of legislation, bill report language, Congressional testimony, hearing questions, regulatory comments, dear colleague letters, meeting requests, leave behind materials, and visibility campaign messaging • Leverages existing and new relationships with U.S. Government and foreign Embassy officials to provide intel relevant to Plurus Strategies clients to inform, shape, and recalibrate advocacy strategies • Represents Plurus Strategies at political fundraisers, Congressional briefings, and think tank events with the objective of deepening and expanding the firm’s network of U.S. Government contacts, independent academics and policy analysts, and in-house government relations professionals • Develops materials introducing new business prospects to Plurus Strategies’ unique business model, promoting lines of client service available in multiple industry sectors, and highlighting a track record of success across Plurus Strategies’ more than 60 years of experience in federal government relations • Publishes thought leadership materials, including alerts and blog posts on timely legislative and regulatory activity to educate current clients and create opportunities for growing new business development • Serves as an initial Founder and Director of Operations of Plurus Strategies’ Washington, DC office, coordinating closely with the Plurus Strategies President to oversee administration of the business, including client intake, billing, accounting, lobby disclosure filings, press communications, and staff management
• Designated as team lead for new business development on issues pertaining to defense, foreign policy, cybersecurity, immigration, and veterans affairs, and served as the main point of contact for collaborating with law firm colleagues and internal business teams to pitch ML Strategies capabilities • Educated both traditional and non-traditional defense clients and prospective clients on potential opportunities and risks in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) process, including on issues related to acquisition reform, energy and the environment, health care, and cybersecurity • Executed and promoted new client services focused on assisting U.S. companies in conducting business abroad, as well as foreign companies doing business in the U.S., through engagement with U.S. and foreign embassies, assistance in securing visas and export licenses, coordination with U.S. entities responsible for project advocacy and project finance, and monitoring policy developments related to sanctions compliance • Provided colleagues with senior support and mentoring on client service, including strategy development, understanding of legislative history, policy analysis, drafting of legislative and report language, regulatory comments, testimony, hearing questions, and Congressional letters, and launch of visibility campaigns • Represented ML Strategies and ML Strategies clients in meetings with senior U.S. Government officials, including Congressional and Executive Branch staff, as well as external national security organizations
· Served as in-house expert on national security, defense, and foreign policy issues, including those under the jurisdiction of the Department of State, USAID, Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Senate and House Armed Services Committees, and Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees · Scheduled and attended meetings with clients at the White House, Federal Agencies, Capitol Hill, foreign embassies, national security think tanks, and foreign policy organizations · Monitored and analyzed legislation and drafted legislative language, report language, testimony, hearing questions, floor colloquies, letters of support, and talking points for government officials in support of client interests · Assisted with client immigration casework related to passport, visa, and international travel issues, including at the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Justice · Provided client management and client service, developed national security, defense, and foreign policy marketing materials, and participated in new client development pitches and strategy sessions · Authored weekly update on political, economic, and social developments throughout Africa
• Scheduled and attended meetings with clients on Capitol Hill and at Federal Agencies • Provided additional client service support to senior principals for defense, foreign policy, energy, transportation, and health care clients • Scheduled office-wide coverage of all relevant Congressional hearings and other briefings of relevance to existing and/or prospective clients • Conducted interviews, participated in hiring decisions, and managed ML Strategies’ Internship Program
• Managed day-to-day operations of the Hillary for America Immigration Policy Working Group, consisting of more than 70 immigration activists, legal practitioners, and policy experts from across the U.S. • Facilitated the drafting of work product templates, context setting memos, decisional matrixes, and policy recommendations for senior campaign staff, with the goal of informing Secretary Clinton’s push for comprehensive immigration reform within the first 100 days of the new Administration • Supported political directors in ten key battleground states by overseeing the development of memos to help localize the campaign’s messaging on immigration policy and to assist in identifying local campaign surrogates to speak to Secretary Clinton’s vision on immigration reform • Assisted the policy team based at campaign headquarters, in addition to the Immigration Policy Working Group’s Coordinator and Senior Partners, in vetting new members of the Working Group and directed the logging of all political contacts in the campaign’s Salesforce database • Activated Immigration Policy Working Group members’ real-time messaging on social media, including Twitter, during presidential debates to help amplify Secretary Clinton’s policy proposals and to fact check Donald Trump • Coordinated dialogue with other Hillary for American Policy Working Groups on cross-cutting policy issues, including counterterrorism, border security and disaster preparedness, and political asylum and refugee issues
• Monitored all campaign contributions and in-kind contributions for the HRC political action committee and assisted in preparing Federal Election Commission reports • Prepared campaign manuals for the 2008 election cycle and tracked races of all endorsed candidates • Edited the political scorecard for all members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives • Volunteered at the National Dinner, Coming Out Day on Capitol Hill, and Election Night Out
• Drafted grant support letters and issue response letters for New York State constituents • Logged and responded to all scheduling requests and invitations received for the Senator and staff • Filed co-sponsorships for bills and amendments