In case you missed it! Watch BGR Group’s International and Trade experts Lester Munson, Amb. Doug Lute, and Kirsten Madison share their perspective on the evolving situation in Venezuela.
Category: International and Trade
Daniel F. Runde Joins BGR Group as Senior Advisor
Washington, D.C. (June 12, 2025) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s, premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, announced that Daniel F. Runde has joined the firm as a Senior Advisor. In his role, Dan will work across the firm to advise clients on a variety of challenges in Washington and beyond. His background includes extensive experience at entities including the State Department, the Development Finance Corporation, the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank, the World Bank and the regional Multilateral Development Banks. He also brings depth of knowledge regarding Latin America, Africa, Central Asia and Ukraine.
“Dan brings deep national security and foreign policy expertise to our firm,” BGR Chairman and CEO Bob Wood said. “He is a trusted advisor to government and businesses given his extensive experience at critical agencies including the Export Import Bank, State Department, and World Bank extremely well. His expertise will be a tremendous asset to our clients and the firm.”
Prior to joining BGR Group, Dan was a senior vice president, director of the Project on Prosperity and Development (PPD), and held the William A. Schreyer Chair in Global Analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a leading global think tank. He remains a Senior Advisor at CSIS. He also served as the acting director for the CSIS Americas Program from 2020-2022. His work has been oriented around U.S. leadership in building a more democratic and prosperous world. He was as an architect of the BUILD Act, contributed to the reauthorization of the U.S. EXIM Bank in 2018, and was an architect of Prosper Africa, a U.S. government initiative to deepen the United States’ commercial and development engagement in Africa.
Dan has also held leadership roles at the State Department and the World Bank Group. Earlier in his career, he worked in commercial banking at Citibank in Argentina and in investment banking at Alex. Brown & Sons.
Dan holds the Officer’s Cross in the Order of Isabel la Católica, a Spanish civil order. He is a Commander in the Order of Rio Branco, a Brazilian civil order and has been officially recognized by the governments of Colombia and Ecuador for deepening ties with those countries. Fluent in Spanish, he graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College and holds a master’s in public policy from Harvard University.
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 Welcomes Bassam Barabandi as Senior Advisor
Washington, D.C. (March 31, 2025) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier lobbying and public affairs firm, today announced that Bassam Barabandi is joining the firm as a Senior Advisor. Barabandi has extensive experience in Middle Eastern affairs and over two decades of expertise in public diplomacy, policy analysis, and strategic advising. His career includes working with high-level government entities and international organizations, specializing in navigating complex political environments and fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholders.
“Bassam’s background and experience make him an excellent addition to the BGR team,” BGR President Erskine Wells said. “He will offer our clients a unique perspective on events and issues with global impact.”
Mr. Barabandi is the Co-Founder of People Demand Change Inc. Born in Damascus, Syria, with familial ties to Deir Azzour Province, he worked in the Syrian diplomatic civil service for 14 years before leaving the Syrian Embassy in Washington, DC, in 2013 to co-found PDC.
His diplomatic career included roles such as First Secretary at the Syrian Embassy in Washington, D.C., head of political affairs at the Syrian Embassy in Beijing, China, and a post at the Syrian Government’s UN mission in New York City. He also liaised with organizations such as the World Bank, the U.S. Treasury Department, and the U.S. Congress.
Since the Syrian revolution in 2011, Mr. Barabandi has been a strong advocate for Syrian citizens, ensuring unhindered access to consular services regardless of political affiliation. He has collaborated with members of Congress, media outlets, and the U.S. Government to expose and sanction Assad regime officials, companies, and businessmen implicated in human rights violations by freezing their assets. Additionally, he has provided regular updates on the situation in Syria—especially regarding foreign fighters and Iranian interference—offering comprehensive analysis and strategic recommendations to decision-makers in the United States and Europe.
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BGR Group Welcomes Chamber’s Scott Eisner to Bipartisan International Practice
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 18, 2023) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premiere lobbying and public affairs firm, is welcoming Scott Eisner, a highly accomplished executive with over two decades of experience at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as a Senior Vice President with the International and Trade Practice on November 1st. With his extensive global business knowledge, deep legislative and executive branch ties, and trade policy expertise, Scott is a powerful addition to the firm’s already robust bipartisan team.
“BGR is well known and well regarded for its international work and Scott will be a tremendous asset to the team,” BGR International Practice Co-Head Lester Munson said. “Scott’s in-depth knowledge of international market dynamics and his proven track record of strategic advocacy places BGR Group at the forefront of delivering impactful, tailored solutions to our clients worldwide, particularly in Africa. We are thrilled to have him on board.”
Scott joins BGR from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce where he served as a Senior Vice President and most recently, President of the U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC), the business community’s leading advocacy group aimed at strengthening U.S.-Africa trade relations. In this role, he directed the strategic activities of the Chamber’s USAfBC as it engaged with senior-level U.S. government officials, international business leaders, and African governments. He is also a former member of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Trade Advisory Committee on Africa. Previously, Eisner was head of operations for the Chamber’s International Affairs Division and vice president, African Affairs. Before that, he was deputy chief of staff at the Chamber, where he oversaw the Executive Office and was the senior staffer to the Chamber’s president and CEO. He began his career at the Chamber as director of programs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, formerly known as the National Chamber Foundation.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Eisner had a diverse career across multiple sectors, including time in politics working on Sen. John McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign and his reelection to the Senate in 2004. He worked for the International Republican Institute in Malawi, Africa, where he trained political parties on communications and campaign tactics. He was also director of business development for the Kronk Boxing Gym, home to numerous world champions, including Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns and Lennox Lewis.
In 2019, Eisner was selected to be a Presidential Leadership Scholar, a program that brings together bold and principled leaders who are committed to facing critical challenges, both at home and around the world, and who are interested in exploring lessons learned during the administrations of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Scott currently serves on the advisory board for City Year South Africa, Africa Leadership Academy USA, the Woodrow Wilson Center Africa Program Advisory Council, and The George Washington University – Elliott School of International Affairs.
Eisner graduated with a degree in political science from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and two daughters.
Key Takeaways from House TikTok Hearing
By Alex Bedwell
March 24, 2023
The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing focused on TikTok this week. The company’s CEO Shuo Chew testified and received difficult questions from members on both sides of the aisle. Here are some key takeaways from the hearing.
Will TikTok Be Banned?
During the hearing on Thursday, members of the committee expressed their firm belief that TikTok could be exploited by the Chinese Communist Party, leaving the future of the app in the U.S. uncertain. The Biden administration had already threatened a national ban, and the U.S. government had banned TikTok on government devices. The committee’s conviction was reinforced by a Wall Street Journal report, released just hours before the hearing, which stated that the Chinese government would not approve a TikTok sale. Lawmakers outside the committee are also not convinced, but a national ban would face significant legal and public opinion challenges. Previous attempts to ban TikTok were blocked in court due to free speech concerns, and millions of its users in the U.S. are unlikely to want to give up the fast-growing and popular apps.
Doubts regarding the feasibility of ‘Project Texas’
To address concerns about Chinese influence, TikTok has announced a new plan called Project Texas, which involves moving all data from U.S. users to servers located within the U.S. As part of the plan, the tech company Oracle would have access to TikTok’s source code and act as a third-party monitor. TikTok aims to complete the project by the end of the year, but some lawmakers doubt this is possible due to the large amount of source code that needs to be reviewed. Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA), who is also a software engineer, expressed concern that Project Texas may not have the technical capability to provide the necessary assurances.
China’s Relationship with TikTok
At the hearing, lawmakers repeatedly questioned Chew about China’s alleged influence over TikTok, citing it as a potential national security concern. Both House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) referred to TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, as a “Beijing communist-based parent company.” Chew maintained that the Chinese government does not control ByteDance and that there is no evidence that the government has accessed or requested access to U.S. user data. He also stated that TikTok does not remove or promote content at the request of the Chinese government. However, some legislators pointed out that Chinese engineers may still have access to some U.S. data due to the company’s reliance on “global interoperability.” Despite these concerns, Chew denied that TikTok posed a national security threat, stating that many of the risks are theoretical and hypothetical.
Content Moderation
Lawmakers also addressed broader social media concerns during the hearing, focusing on TikTok’s ability to moderate harmful messaging, misinformation, and inappropriate content. Several legislators presented TikTok videos that promoted self-harm or suicide. Chew said that TikTok employs 40,000 moderators to monitor harmful content and utilizes an algorithm to identify controversial material. Additionally, the company plans to have “third-party validators” assess its algorithms and grant researchers access to study and monitor the content. However, Chew acknowledged that TikTok is not perfect in its moderation efforts, stating that the company works hard to improve its methods.
Kids’ Safety and Mental Health
Another frequent focus of the hearing was the safety of TikTok’s younger users, considering the app has exploded in popularity with this age group in recent years. According to the Pew Research Center, most teenagers in the United States use TikTok. Specifically, 67% of individuals aged 13 to 17 have used the app, and 16% of that age group use it “almost constantly.” Lawmakers cited reports that drug-related content has spread on the app, allowing teens to purchase dangerous substances easily online. Chew said such content violates TikTok policy and that they are removed when identified. Others cited self-harm and eating disorder content, which have been spreading on the platform. TikTok is also facing lawsuits over deadly “challenges” that have gone viral on the app.
BGR Group Announces Two Key Promotions
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 6, 2023) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, today announced that Lester Munson has been named Co-Head of the firm’s International and Trade Practice and Chelsea Mincheff has been promoted to General Counsel.
“Les and Chelsea have been outstanding colleagues and contributors to BGR’s success,” BGR President Erskine Wells said. “We are proud of their accomplishments and congratulate them on their well-deserved promotions.”
As Co-Head of the International and Trade Practice, Lester assists corporations, foreign governments, and advocacy groups advance their policy objectives. He also leads the firm’s foreign assistance practice, which provides advisory and government relations services to companies, advocacy groups, and non-governmental organizations. As a former senior United States Agency for International Development (USAID) official and veteran of multiple congressional committees, Lester provides clients with a unique set of skills and experience to advance their goals.
Lester joined BGR Group in November 2015 after a 26-year career on Capitol Hill and in the Executive Branch. He had most recently been Staff Director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he led policy, oversight, legislative, and communications efforts for a staff of 25 and negotiated committee priorities with the White House, the State Department and Congressional leadership.
Previously, Lester was Chief of Staff for Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois. At the time, Senator Kirk was a leading Republican voice in the Senate on Iran and other national security issues.
As General Counsel, Chelsea will handle the firm’s compliance with lobbying, ethics, and disclosure regulations. She joined BGR in 2020 after serving as Legislative Director for Congressman Tom Rice (R-S.C.), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. In that job, she helped set the Congressman’s legislative agenda, including for health care, Social Security, energy, transportation, infrastructure, and appropriations. She worked with agencies and state officials on major infrastructure projects and on relief in the wage of Hurricanes Dorian, Florence and Matthew.
From 2011 to 2017, Chelsea was Associate Attorney at the Mullikin Law Firm, LLC, a South Carolina-based government affairs firm. There, she analyzed congressional, state, and local legislation and developed strategies for the energy industry and large manufacturers.
Analysis: Democrats to Get 51-49 in the Senate – What Does It Mean?
With the Georgia Senate runoff results in, BGR Senior Vice President Fred Turner explores what the Democrats’ 51-49 seat Senate majority will mean in the 118th Congress.
READ: https://bgrdc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Democratic-Majority-51-49-What-Does-It-Mean.pdf
BGR Releases Quarterly Outlook for September 2022
As Congress returns for the last month of legislating before the midterm elections in November, BGR’s practice groups examine what lies ahead. The BGR Quarterly Outlook for September includes a look at midterm election trends, a polling snapshot, races to watch, and the upcoming agenda in Congress and the states.
