BGR Group is proud to be named a 2024 Top Lobbying and Standout Firm by Bloomberg Government! This recognition is thanks to the hard work of our outstanding team and the confidence and collaboration of our clients! We thank you for the trust you have place in us and remain committed to providing the highest quality service and insights as we navigate challenges together!
Author: Anna Sullivan
BGR Announces Three Promotions
Congratulations are in order! Today, BGR is proud to announce the promotions of Ellen Brown, Ansley Haulbrook, and Anna Reese Couhig.
Ellen will serve as a Director with the State and Local Advocacy Practice, Ansley will serve as a Policy Analyst with the Financial Services and Tax Practice, and Anna Reese will serve as a Policy Analyst with the Appropriations and State and Local Advocacy Practices!
Thank you to Ellen, Ansley, and Anna Reese for their hard work and dedication!
BGR Budget Update
Congress is rapidly advancing toward finalizing a joint budget resolution, a pivotal step in advancing President Trump’s broader domestic policy goals, including extending current tax rates and achieving additional tax reforms, debt ceiling adjustments, and significant spending modifications.
BGR Tariff Update: President Trump Announces Tariffs on “Liberation Day”
Read BGR’s full summary and analysis of President Trump’s tariff announcement delivered earlier today on “Liberation Day.”
BGR Group Announces Passing of Founding Partner Lanny Griffith
Washington, D.C. (March 27, 2025) – BGR Group today announced that Lanny Griffith, a Founding Partner of the firm, has passed away after a brief battle with cancer. Lanny helped guide BGR Group from its earliest days by maintaining a consistent focus on the firm’s clients and their needs. A devoted husband to Susan and father to his daughter Sally Hamilton and late son David, Lanny was also deeply involved in the redevelopment of his hometown, Corinth, Mississippi, and an active and proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi. He was also a dedicated member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia.
“Lanny was a genuine friend, a great tactician, and a true leader,” BGR Group Founding Partner Haley Barbour said. “His love for his family and the state of Mississippi are unmatched. Lanny was always working and finding ways to give back to the people and places that meant the most to him. He never forgot where he came from — and we will never forget him.”
“BGR is what it is today because of Lanny’s hard work and vision,” BGR Group Chairman and CEO Bob Wood said. “He was a leader in our firm and our community. He was always focused on helping others and being a good colleague, neighbor, and friend. Lanny and Susan are among the most generous people I have ever known. He will forever be remembered as an advocate and a leader and be dearly missed by his family and many friends.”
During his time in government and the private sector, Lanny helped assemble industry coalitions and successfully battled some of strongest and best-funded advocacy operations in Washington. Lanny joined BGR Group in 1993 after serving in several roles in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. On Jan. 20, 1989, Lanny was sworn in as Special Assistant to the President in the East Room of the White House, serving as President Bush’s liaison to governors and other statewide elected officials. At the White House, he was a principal architect of President Bush’s 1989 Education Summit in Charlottesville, Va., and was involved in the development of the National Goals for Education.
In 1991, President Bush nominated Lanny to be Assistant Secretary of Education, and he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in February 1992. In this role, Lanny directed Secretary Lamar Alexander’s successful effort to build a national consensus around educational standards and testing. He also managed the launch of the G.I. Bill for Children and coordinated the administration’s role on the National Education Goals Panel.
Lanny also represented the U.S. on the Education Committee of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. He also served as Co-Chairman of the Advisory Council on Dependent Education, which serves as the school board for all dependent schools worldwide under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Lanny’s political career dated back to the early 1980s, when he worked for the Republican National Committee, managing then-candidate Haley Barbour’s U.S. Senate race in 1982. He also served as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Republican Party for three years. In 1988, he served as Southern Political Director for Vice President Bush’s presidential campaign. In this role, Lanny directed 10 states in the Super Tuesday primaries and 11 states in the general election. All 21 state efforts were victorious.
Lanny’s work for the Bush family continued with his role as national chairman of the Bush-Cheney 2000 Entertainment Task Force and entertainment coordinator for the 2001 Bush Inaugural. He later served as a Ranger as well as a member of the Bush 2004 National Finance Committee. In 1998, he was one of three transition directors for Florida Governor-elect Jeb Bush.
Lanny helped found the Trust for the National Mall and served on its Board of Directors for many years. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and most recently served as Chairman of the Westminster Presbyterian Foundation.
Lanny received his undergraduate degree in accounting and JD from the University of Mississippi where he remained actively involved for many years. In 2023, a scholarship was established to support Ole Miss students from his hometown of Corinth, Mississippi. An avid student of American history, Lanny completed several renovations in the historic district of Corinth and continued to support the community there.
A funeral service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria on Friday, April 4th at 10:30 a.m.
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BGR Group Welcomes Peter Lewis as Vice President
Former DISH and Top Senate Aide to Join Commerce and Infrastructure Practice
Washington, D.C. (March 4, 2025) – BGR Group, a premier bipartisan government affairs and strategic advisory firm, announced today that Peter Lewis has joined the firm as a Vice President in the Commerce and Infrastructure Practice. Peter has a background in the telecommunications policy and extensive private sector and legislative experience.
BGR Group President, Erskine Wells, said, “Peter is a well-respected and extremely knowledgeable policy expert and will be a tremendous asset to the BGR team. We are proud to welcome him to the firm.”
Prior to joining BGR, Peter served as Vice President of Government Affairs for DISH/EchoStar. While at DISH, Peter worked on a wide range of issues, including spectrum management, wireless infrastructure and technologies, Open-RAN development and deployment, broadband access, satellite TV, over-the top TV streaming, and video competition.
Peter began his career on Capitol Hill. He worked in the office of Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) where he managed the Senator’s telecommunications portfolio. During his time on Capitol Hill, Peter worked on broadband access, media issues, and regulations impacting the Universal Service Fund.
BGR Group Establishes Nashville Office, Blake Harris to Lead
Firms join forces on education, health care, economic development and financial services.
Washington, D.C. (February 18, 2025) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, has formally expanded into Tennessee with a new Nashville office focused on education, health care, economic development, and financial services to be led by Managing Director Blake Harris of BHA Strategy, a former aide to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. This Nashville partnership will join existing BGR offices in Austin, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia in providing BGR clients integrated advocacy services at the federal, state and local levels.
“Blake Harris and the BHA Strategy team have been working closely with BGR Group for the last year to bolster our federal practice and provide expertise in state-level advocacy, corporate intelligence, and economic development,” said Bob Wood, Chairman and CEO of BGR Group. “We welcome Blake as a Managing Director and look forward to working together on new initiatives that encompass the BHA team’s background, particularly in K-12 and higher education as well as health care and financial services.”
“BGR Group is recognized as a battle-tested firm no matter how much the political and operational landscape changes,” said CEO of BHA Strategy Blake Harris. “We look forward to bringing our technology portfolio and deep knowledge of state governments, school districts, and their respective funding priorities to help clients navigate significant shifts at the federal level and how to seamlessly adjust.”
BHA Strategy will also launch a new education practice, marking a significant expansion into business consulting and strategic impact, distinct from its existing government and public affairs practice. Meghan McLeroy, BHA’s Senior Vice President of Education, will lead the initiative, bringing 12 years of cabinet-level experience from the Tennessee Department of Education, where she shaped K-12 policy, literacy reform, and large-scale education initiatives. This new practice group will focus on helping education companies, institutions, and stakeholders navigate market positioning, growth strategy, and product implementation, and comes on the heels of BHA Strategy’s role in expanding universal school choice in Tennessee.
“We have decades of bipartisan experience working with governors, attorneys general, as well as mayors and, increasingly, we are seeing the most impactful changes occur at the state and local levels,” said BGR Principal and head of the State and Local Advocacy Practice Loren Monroe. “Tennessee has the right combination of effective governance and booming economic development which is why we see significant opportunities to grow in Nashville.”
In addition to BGR Group’s Tennessee-based operation, Chris Kelly recently joined BGR’s Health and Life Science Practice as a Vice President from the office of Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN) where he led the Senator’s health policy portfolio since 2022. He works with health care clients in both the Nashville and Washington regions. With a long-standing legacy of innovation and leadership, Nashville has cemented its status as a global epicenter for health care entrepreneurship and management.
About BGR Group (www.bgrdc.com)
Founded in 1991, BGR Group is a premier government affairs and public relations firm with offices in Washington, D.C., London, Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia and Nashville. Consistently ranked a Bloomberg Government “Standout” Firm, BGR specializes in three key areas: bipartisan government affairs, strategic communications, and business advisory services. BGR brings together some of the most accomplished policy experts, public opinion influencers, and issue advocates from across the political spectrum.
About BHA Strategy (BHA Strategy)
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, BHA Strategy is a full-service, strategic consulting firm providing expertise in government affairs, public relations, and corporate intelligence. With deep roots in both political campaigns and public service, BHA’s team applies winning campaign strategies and senior advisor expertise to the biggest challenges facing startups, corporations, and causes. BHA retains a political skill set that includes public opinion research, digital marketing, and media production/placement. The firm’s core focus is multi-state government affairs, strategic communication, and reputation management.
Discover BGR Advisory Services
Discover strategic insight with BGR Advisory Services. Our experts bring decades of experience – from intelligence and political strategy to commercial and law enforcement engagements – to help you navigate challenges and mitigate risks.
Watch our video below to learn more!
BGR Group Expands Appropriations Practice with Addition of Hill Veteran Don Andres
Washington, D.C. (February 5, 2025) – BGR Group, a premier bipartisan government affairs and strategic advisory firm, today announced that Don Andres is joining as a Vice President in its Appropriations practice. After working for multiple members and committees in the House of Representatives for over more than a decade, Don brings deep expertise and knowledge of Capitol Hill and the appropriations process.
“Don’s deep experience with the appropriations process and his strong knowledge of Capitol Hill dynamics make him a terrific asset to our team and our clients,” said Bill Viney, Head of BGR’s Appropriations practice. “Don has is highly respected on both sides of the aisle for his hard work and knowledge of the process. We are thrilled to expand our Appropriations work with Don as part of the team.”
Don most recently served as Chief of Staff for senior appropriator Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA). With over 14 years of Congressional and campaign experience, Don has held key roles on the House Appropriations and Transportation & Infrastructure Committees and has built strong relationships across the Quad-Caucus and leadership offices. His extensive knowledge of the appropriations and budget process will provide BGR clients with critical strategic insights.
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Steve Benjamin Returns to BGR Group as Co-Chair of Advisory Board
Washington, D.C. (February 3, 2025) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premiere bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, announced today that Steve Benjamin has rejoined its Advisory Board as a Co-Chair. A former Senior Advisor to President Biden and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, Steve brings decades of experience in government, public engagement, and municipal leadership to BGR Group’s Advisory Board and client offering.
“We couldn’t be happier to have Steve back with us,” said Ed Rogers, Founding Partner and Co-Chair of BGR’s Advisory Board. “Steve is a remarkably credentialed and distinguished leader who has an incredible ability to connect with people and find solutions to tough challenges. Throughout his career, he has proven himself to be one of America’s foremost public servants. His leadership and perspective will be an asset to everyone he works with.”
Prior to his most recent role in the Biden-Harris administration, Steve served as Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, from 2010 to 2021. During his time as mayor, he also served in several leadership roles including as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, President of the African American Mayors Association, and Executive Chairman of Municipal Bonds for America.
“I’m honored to return to BGR Group and contribute to the important work they do,” said Benjamin. “BGR Group has always stood out for its commitment to finding innovative solutions and delivering results. I’m thrilled to rejoin the team and bring my experience to support their impactful work.”
“Steve’s career speaks for itself,” said Bob Wood, Chairman and CEO of BGR Group. “From his tenure as mayor to his leadership on the national stage with organizations like the U.S. Conference of Mayors and in the White House, Steve has consistently provided vision and achieved impact. We’re thrilled to have someone of his caliber and expertise on our team once again.”
In addition to his time in public service, Benjamin has been a Senior Fellow at the Milken Institute, a Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow at Harvard University, and the President & CEO of The Benjamin Firm, LLC.
For more information about BGR Group, please visit www.bgrdc.com.
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