Day 2 roundup from the BGR team at the DNC!
Category: Labriah Lee Holt
DNC Download Day 1
The BGR team is on the ground in Chicago for the DNC!
Kamala Harris on the Issues – State and Local Edition
BGR Group Celebrates Black History Month
For Keiffer Mitchell and Labriah Lee Holt, both Vice Presidents in BGR’s State and Local Advocacy Practice, Black History Month provides a sense of pride and inspiration. Keiffer and Labriah are well known and regarded as leaders in their communities and the field of advocacy. They both follow in the footsteps of civil rights pioneers who fostered hard fought and positive change that continue to impact Americans today.
Keiffer comes from a long line of civil rights pioneers. His grandfather, Clarence Mitchell Jr., was the head of the NAACP Washington Bureau during the civil rights era – he was essentially the lobbyist for the NAACP during the effort to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. His grandmother, Juanita Jackson Mitchell, was the first African American woman to practice law in the state of Maryland, beginning her practice in 1950. She became a civil rights lawyer who helped to desegregate the schools and parks in the state of Maryland.
“Black history is American history and part of the fabric of our country. It’s what makes our country the greatest country in the world. Those we consider historical figures were and are everyday Americans doing extraordinary things to help not just the Black community but the entire country.” Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr.
Labriah, and Atlanta native and Managing Director of BGR’s new Atlanta office, said she is particularly inspired by former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, Jr., who was first elected in 1974. As Atlanta’s first Black mayor, Jackson was a groundbreaking figure. He prioritized expanding the Atlanta airport in a way that made economic opportunity accessible to people across Atlanta and the entire Southeast. Labriah said Jackson’s legacy is a foundation on which Atlanta continues to thrive.
“The vision Mayor Jackson set out for Atlanta continues today. The work he did opened up doors for economic access and incorporating that vision of civil rights and inclusivity for all in America has had an impact far beyond Atlanta. As we open our Atlanta office, it is full circle to see BGR build on the legacy of growth and opportunity Mayor Jackson established here.” Labriah Lee Holt
Keiffer said the impact of Black History Month is not isolated to a single month. Instead, it is a part of the fabric of the community every day as unsung heroes among us make a difference in places ranging from community centers to schools to music studios. Labriah said that she carries Black history with her throughout the year. Through her work and community engagement, she shares triumphs as well as challenges to help everyone understand the importance of that history. Both Keiffer and Labriah agreed that Black history provides a legacy that can help all Americans learn and build and grow.
BGR Group Expands with New Atlanta Office
Will Serve Clients in Georgia and throughout the Southeast Region
Atlanta, GA, (January 25, 2024) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, today announced the opening of an office in Atlanta, Georgia. Building off the firm’s successful expansion in Austin, Texas in 2018, the Atlanta office will provide strategic representation and advocacy for clients in various industries at the local, state and national levels. The new office will physically expand the firm’s presence in the Southeast and enable the delivery of effective and innovative advocacy solutions to clients before state and local officials across the region and country.
BGR will be represented in Georgia by Thomasville, Georgia native William Crozer, a firm Principal and Co-Head of the firm’s bipartisan State and Local Advocacy Practice, and metro-Atlanta native Labriah Lee Holt, a Vice President and the newly named Managing Director of the Atlanta office. With the support of the entire firm’s bipartisan lobbying team, William and Labriah will focus on representing Georgia-based clients in Washington, D.C., as well as growing the firm’s bipartisan work in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, and throughout the Southeastern region.
Georgia is consistently ranked as a top state for business, and Atlanta has the nation’s third-largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies. “BGR ‘s history is rooted in the southeast and Atlanta is the epicenter for business and politics in the booming region. The best policies come from state and local decision-makers, and Georgia has some of the best public servants in the nation today,” former Governor and BGR Founder Haley Barbour said. “Having William and Labriah based in Atlanta will enable the firm to effectively service our clients with deep issue expertise and critical relationships and help drive synergies between the state and Washington.”
Before rejoining BGR in 2021, William served as a Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) beginning in 2018. IGA serves as the primary liaison between the White House and the more than 500,000 state, local, territorial, and tribal leaders from the 50 States, 5 major Territories, and the District of Columbia. He previously served in the Counsel’s Office for then-Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. Labriah most recently served as State Government Affairs Director for Microsoft, based in Atlanta, where she led engagement across the southeast region with state and local officeholders to advance policy. Before joining Microsoft, Labriah worked with federal, state, and local leaders throughout the country on some of the most pressing foreign policy issues as AIPAC’s National Director of Outreach. Labriah started her career as an Intellectual Property Attorney at Alston & Bird LLP in Atlanta. Labriah currently serves on the Business Council for the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) and is a Board Member of the CareerRise, a workforce intermediary in Atlanta.
William Crozer commented, “With world class infrastructure, a competitive economic development and tax environment, a dedicated workforce, and a leading education system, businesses from around the world are thriving in Georgia’s economy. While remaining focused on BGR’s national and regional engagement, I am excited to provide a more concentrated level of support for clients with the state’s bipartisan Congressional delegation, the Governor, and other state and local officials. Having a full-time presence in Georgia will help BGR position our clients to be part of Georgia’s continued success.”
Labriah Lee Holt offered, “I am honored to open a new BGR office in the city that helped raise me and that has remained at the forefront of economic development and innovation in the Southeast. Atlanta is not only a great place to do business, but also a vibrant hub of culture, creativity, and diversity. Atlantans know this vital culture influences everything from business, film production, sports teams, cutting edge technology, to the music industry. I have extensive experience working with governors, attorneys general, mayors across the region, and I look forward to helping our clients navigate the opportunities and challenges they face. I joined BGR to help its state and local team continue to expand, and I’m thrilled Atlanta will anchor the firm’s growth in the Southeast.”
BGR’s Atlanta office will be located at One Buckhead Plaza, 3060 Peachtree Road, Suite 1880, Atlanta, GA 30305.
About BGR Group
Founded in 1991, BGR Group is a premier government affairs and public relations firm with offices in Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas, London and now Atlanta, Georgia. 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.