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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Chris Kelly Joins BGR Group as Vice President

CHRIS KELLY JOINS BGR GROUP AS VICE PRESIDENT IN HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES PRACTICE

Washington, D.C. (January 10, 2025) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premiere bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, announced today that Chris Kelly will join its Health and Life Science Practice as a Vice President later this month. Chris will join BGR from the office of Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN) where he has led the Senator’s health policy portfolio since 2022, most recently as Health Policy Director. He will work with health care clients in both the Nashville and Washington regions.

“We are excited to welcome Chris to BGR Group,” BGR Group Chairman and CEO Bob Wood said. “Given his broad health care portfolio and experience with Senator Blackburn and the burgeoning health care sector based in Tennessee, Chris will be a tremendous asset to our health care practice and the entire BGR team.”

“Chris Kelly has been an exceptional member of our team, demonstrating leadership and a deep understanding of health policy,” Senator Blackburn said. “His ability to work effectively with Tennessee’s diverse healthcare stakeholders has been instrumental in advancing our goals and ensuring collaboration across the board. I am deeply appreciative of Chris’ contributions and know that his future endeavors will be met with the same success and excellence he brought to our team.”

Chris, a Nashville native, brings significant expertise in health policy and a profound connection to one of the nation’s most vibrant healthcare ecosystems. With a long-standing legacy of innovation and leadership, Nashville has cemented its status as a global epicenter for health care entrepreneurship and management. The region boasts a thriving network of over 900 healthcare companies, ranging from groundbreaking startups to industry-leading giants, all working to revolutionize patient care.

In his role as Health Policy Director for Senator Blackburn, Chris has managed the Senator’s health portfolio and advised her policy and oversight efforts on the Senate Finance Committee. During his time with the Senator, he has successfully advanced key legislative priorities including reforming pharmacy benefit managers, combating the opioid crisis, expanding access to mental health services, and driving innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Chris has also helped spearhead bipartisan initiatives on Medicare Payment Reform and worked to develop policy solutions that strengthen financial stability for healthcare providers, improve patient outcomes, and enhance access to quality care. Chris also served as Senator Blackburn’s lead staff for the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and worked on her successful 2018 Senate campaign.
 
Prior to joining Senator Blackburn’s team, Chris was an associate at Baker Group Strategies, where he advised multiple federal, state, and local campaigns. Chris graduated magna cum laude from Middle Tennessee State University, earning a degree in Political Science with a minor in History and Political and Civic Engagement.

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Julia Canady King Joins BGR Group as Director for Washington and Florida

Washington, D.C. (January 8, 2025) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premiere bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, announced today that Julia Canady King has joined the firm as a Director for Washington and Florida. Julia brings experience in federal and state government policy management and public affairs. Her expertise spans state and local budget policy, coalition management, and congressional relations.

Before joining BGR, Julia served as Federal Affairs Coordinator for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s Office of Federal Relations & Intergovernmental Affairs. In this role, she advised on federal policy issues, developed legislative initiatives, and facilitated hurricane response and recovery efforts. Her experience as a liaison between federal and state governments uniquely positions her to help BGR clients navigate challenges across both levels of government.

“We are excited to welcome Julia to the BGR team,” BGR Group Chairman and CEO Bob Wood said. “Her understanding of state and federal policymaking will help our clients achieve their legislative and regulatory goals.”

Julia previously served as Government Affairs Manager for the Outdoor Hospitality Industry, representing priorities at both the state and federal levels. She worked with state associations on legislative priorities, coordinated federal outreach strategies, and led grassroots campaigns on key issues such as seasonal labor and tax policies. Julia is a native Floridian and holds degrees from the University of Florida and the Florida State University College of Law.

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Matt Hoffmann Rejoins BGR Group as Co-Head of Financial Services Practice Group

Senior Republican Financial services expert will focus on blockchain technology, banking, capital markets, and digital assets.

Washington, D.C. (December 6, 2024) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premiere bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, announced today that Matt Hoffmann is returning to the firm as a Principal and Co-Head of its Financial Services practice. Most recently, Matt served as Director of Regulatory and Government Affairs for Digital Asset, a blockchain technology company. He has also served in several high-profile positions on Capitol Hill including as the Republican Staff Director for the House Financial Services Committee and as a senior advisor in the Office of the Speaker of the House. In his role with BGR’s Financial Services practice, Matt will focus on issues including banking, capital markets, digital assets, regulation of the crypto industry, and renewal of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Investment Act (TCJA).

“We are thrilled to welcome Matt back to the BGR team,” BGR Group Chairman and CEO Bob Wood said. “Matt is an outstanding colleague and true expert when it comes to financial services, budget, and fiscal policy. He will be a tremendous asset to our firm and our clients as we navigate upcoming tax and financial services policy debates.”

Matt is a Capitol Hill veteran who has served in key roles on both the House and Senate side. As the Staff Director for the House Financial Services Committee, he was the chief advisor to Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and helped manage committee business including its response to the 2023 banking crisis, advancement of capital market reforms, and creation of the first-ever Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion Subcommittee. Matt was also instrumental in the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21), and other legislation including the Expanding Access to Capital Act, and the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act. During his previous stint at BGR Group, Matt worked across practice groups, including with the Health and Life Sciences and Financial Services practice groups, where he provided policy analysis and strategic counsel to clients. Prior to that, Matt served as Policy Director at the Senate Finance Committee and as a senior advisor to former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) during his service on the House Budget and Ways and Means Committees, and eventually in the Speaker’s office.

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Nick Iarossi Joins BGR Group as Managing Director

Washington, D.C. (November 18, 2024) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, announced today that Nick Iarossi will join the firm as a Managing Director. Nick is a founding member and co-owner of top Florida-based lobbying firm Capital City Consulting, which, along with BGR Group, is part of the national public affairs firm Advocus Partners. He will remain primarily active with Capital City Consulting focused on Florida-related government affairs and help expand collaboration across all Advocus companies in his new role at BGR.

“Nick is an outstanding political talent who has helped build one of the most successful government affairs firms in Florida history,” BGR Group Chairman and CEO Bob Wood said. “We have gotten to know Nick and his colleagues through Advocus and are thrilled to have him formalize a role with us at BGR Group. This is a continuation of an already successful partnership. We are excited to have Nick as part of the team.”

“BGR Group represents the gold standard in Washington, just as Capital City does throughout Florida,” Iarossi said. “I have had the privilege of collaborating with the BGR Group team via Advocus and have been consistently impressed by their commitment to excellence and delivering results for clients. As the second Trump administration begins to take shape, joining BGR will allow me to provide clients new opportunities on a national level in Washington. I look forward to finding ways to expand collaborations between BGR Group, Capital City, and all our Advocus Partners.”

“Joining BGR as Washington transitions to the new administration is a natural progression for Nick and further enhances the value proposition Advocus Partners brings to clients’ government and public affairs efforts, both at the state and national levels,” Advocus President and co-owner of Capital City Consulting Ron LaFace said.

As a founding member of Capital City Consulting, Nick has worked on local, state, and federal government policy issues for over 20 years. He was recognized by Influence Magazine as one of the top 100 Most Influential People in Florida, a member of The News Service of Florida’s Power 100, and the most influential lobbyist in the State of Florida according to The Florida Standard. 

Nick is considered the best in his field representing a diverse client base in sectors such as: financial services, insurance, environmental, gaming, retail, education, information technology, and procurement. Throughout his career, Nick successfully lobbied for countless pieces of legislation on behalf of his clients and secured billions of dollars in legislative appropriations. Furthermore, Nick is often relied on by clients to assist on various public affairs efforts such as crisis management, message development, ballot initiatives and political branding.

Nick is active politically and a prolific fundraiser who has served in leadership positions on several national and state campaigns. Most recently, Nick raised money for the Trump 47 Campaign and supporting committees. Prior to that, Nick served as the National Finance Co-Chair for the DeSantis for President Campaign. In 2016, he served on the Marco Rubio for President National Finance Committee.   Additionally, Nick served as the Inaugural Co-Chair and Inaugural Finance Chair for both of Governor Ron DeSantis’ inaugurations for Governor, and on both Inaugural Committees of Governor Rick Scott. 

In 2023, along with BGR Group and other nationally leading public affairs firms, Nick and his Capital City Consulting partners helped found Advocus Partners, a bipartisan, national, public affairs firm that provides comprehensive and integrated government advocacy and advisory services for every level of government in all regions of the country.

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Japan Tops 2024 BGR Impact Index, a Data-Based Ranking of Foreign Countries’ Influence in the U.S.

Japan is the top-ranked country in the 2024 BGR Impact Index, a ranking of the world’s countries based how well-known and well-regarded they are in the U.S. The BGR Impact Index is produced by BGR Analytics, part of the BGR Group, a top-performing lobbying and communications firm in Washington D.C., and is based on analysis of traditional, news and social media data.

Emma Vaughn Joins BGR Group

BGR Welcomes Emma Vaughn as Vice President of Public Relations

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 7, 2024) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, today announced that Emma Vaughn will be joining BGR Public Relations as a Vice President.

“We are thrilled to have Emma join the BGR Public Relations team,” BGR Public Relations President Jeff Birnbaum said. “Emma’s decade of experience in strategic communications and public policy in Washington, D.C., and around the country positions her well to serve our clients and help drive successful outcomes for them.”

Emma most recently served as the Deputy Communications Director of the Republican National Committee (RNC). In that role, she oversaw the committee’s communications strategy, working closely with RNC members, the National Republican Congressional Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, elected officials, candidates, and journalists on the national and regional levels. Emma was previously the RNC’s National Press Secretary and chief spokesperson. In this role, she supported efforts to elect a Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Prior to her time at RNC headquarters, Emma worked in Florida as the Communications Director and the lead on-the-record spokesperson for Trump Victory, the joint operation between the presidential campaign and the RNC. She also served in several communications roles for members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio and New York. During her time as a Communications Director, she managed public relations outreach and organized and executed major public announcements and events.

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Leading Government and Public Affairs Firms Join Together to Establish Advocus Partners

Bipartisan Team with a National Footprint Provides Comprehensive Advocacy Offering

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 21, 2024) – Eight of the nation’s top government and public affairs companies have joined together to form Advocus Partners, a comprehensive advocacy company with a nationwide footprint. Advocus provides a full suite of advocacy disciplines from lobbying and strategic communications to polling and grassroots mobilization. Advocus is well-positioned to develop and execute large-scale public policy initiatives and advocacy campaigns at the federal, state, local, and international levels.

Advocus member companies include BGR Group, California-based Capitol Advocacy, Florida-based Capital City Consulting, The Herald Group, Ohio-based Hicks Partners, Hilltop Public Solutions, Stateside Associates, and The Tarrance Group. They operate independently and collaborate to serve clients.

Advocus was formed to bring together top lobbying and public affairs firms from across the country to provide comprehensive and customized solutions to clients’ advocacy needs. Organized as a holding company, Advocus Partners is bipartisan and geographically diverse and offers every tool of government advocacy.

“Advocus Partners represents the best of the best in consulting and advocacy from across the country,” Capitol Advocacy Managing Partner John Latimer said. “With 19 offices covering the most important markets in the country,  the companies of Advocus are uniquely positioned to offer integrated and comprehensive advocacy solutions for our clients. Our collective history of successful advocacy efforts and campaign operations give clients the confidence that we can address any challenge they face.”

“Our firm is proud to be part of Advocus Partners,” BGR Group Chairman and CEO Bob Wood said. “Advocus’ bipartisan team excels at providing public affairs support, policy analysis, and strategies designed to achieve results. We’ve already seen how our Advocus team members and clients have benefited from this expanded collaboration and offering.”

“Advocus Partners is designed to provide clients with every component of advocacy campaigns regardless of scale or location,” said Craig Pattee, Managing Director of Advocus Partners. “We have the team, the tools, and the experience to execute both broad and targeted advocacy. Our partners are already working together to serve clients’ needs and achieve success.”

Advocus offerings include Corporate Advisory Services, Federal Government Services, State & Local Government Services, Strategic Communications, Coalition Development, Grasstops & Grassroots Mobilization, Polling & Research, Government Markets & Procurement, International Relations, Crisis & Litigation Support, Public Affairs Campaigns, and Digital Advocacy & Paid Media.

For more information on Advocus please visit advocuspartners.com.

CONTACT: Doug McGinn, The Herald Group (dmcginn@theheraldgroup.com)

Top States for Asian Investment Insights

New Index from BGR Analytics Draws Data from 136 Categories

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 6, 2024BGR Analytics — the data practice of BGR Group, Washington’s leading government affairs and public relations firm — has launched the 2024 BGR Best States for Asian Investment Index, which ranks all 50 states based on their desirability for Asia-outbound investment in the U.S.

Utah is the best state for Asian investment, followed in order by North Carolina, Colorado, Texas and Wisconsin, according to the new Index, which draws data from 136 categories, organized into 10 Data Category Groups.

The BGR Best States for Asian Investment Index is the most recent product created by BGR Analytics. It joins the BGR Impact Index, the BGR Energy Security Index and the BGR Investment Security Index.

Asian investment in the U.S., which has been on the rise over the past decade, has accelerated in the wake of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act.

Combined with the 50-state advocacy and policy analysis firepower of BGR Group, the BGR Best States for Asian Investment Index will be an indispensable tool for Asian governments and companies that wish to establish and expand their U.S. manufacturing and operations footprint.

“When governments and corporations are poised to make billion-dollar investments in the U.S., they need the best, most comprehensive data, combined with on-the-ground support and relationships,” said BGR Group CEO Bob Wood. “This new Index, coupled with the best-in-class state advocacy practices of BGR Group, will further differentiate us from our competitors.”

Utah: Best State for Asian Investment

Utah achieved the top spot among all 50 states by ranking in the Top 15 in eight of the 10 Data Category Groups: Economic Profile (Roman numeral I in the chart below), Business Climate (II), Demographics & Asian Assimilation (III), Manufacturing Advantage (IV), Connectivity & Infrastructure (V), Innovation & Knowledge Management (VI), Strength of Workforce (VII), Competitive Pay (VIII) and Public Health and Safety (X). Cost of Living (IX) is the remaining Data Category Group.

Utah has strong demographics in terms of population growth, labor force participation and high level of educational attainment. It also enjoys one of the lowest income inequality and unemployment rates and has high quality-of-life appeal.

Its inflation of economic input was modest, meaning the input cost for state economy remained low. Combined with Utah’s diverse industries, the state had one of highest COVID-rebound (2019-2022) economies.

In recent years the state also demonstrated solid growth in the manufacturing sector in particular. For example, between 2018 and 2022, manufacturing GDP growth averaged an annual 9.3%, compared to manufacturing stalwart states such as North Carolina’s 3.1% and Indiana’s 4.8%.

Utah also boasts a good public health and safety record and has the best aggregate household financial health (lowest mortgage, student loan, auto and credit card delinquency rates), all of which contributes to an optimistic outlook.

Utah is already the home of more than 20 Japanese businesses, and the state government has led trade delegations to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

The only Index Data Category Group where Utah performs below the middle of the pack percentile is Cost of Living. Utah ranks 35 among all 50 states in cost of living. The strong economy and rapid population growth have driven up housing demand, raising prices. That, combined with high interest rates and the overall desirability of quality-of-life, have contributed to Utah’s relatively high cost of living.

North Carolina, Colorado, Texas, Wisconsin

Each of the other Top 5 states has seen significant investment from Asia, thanks to their overall desirability, as seen in the Index rankings. Vietnamese automaker VinFast broke ground in North Carolina last year for an electric-vehicle manufacturing plant. Japan’s Sumitomo Corp. is investing in a carbon-capture venture in Colorado. South Korean chip giant Samsung is building a new semiconductor fabrication plant in Texas. Japan is a large investor in Wisconsin, with manufacturing facilities for construction equipment, medical technology and food firms.

Methodology and Sourcing:

The BGR Best States for Asian Investment Index serves as an aggregate, one-stop roadmap for U.S. stateside inbound investment interest. A total index score was calculated for each state. The total score was the summation of scores from the 10 Data Category Groups which, in turn, comprise the 136 individual indicators. Each indicator was normalized and scored from 0 to 100.

Data for the Index was collected from open sources and created by BGR Group using proprietary methodology. Data sources include: U.S. Census, Bureau of Economic Analysis, County Business Pattern, the State Business Incentives national database, George Mason University, the Equable Institute, National Right To Work, the Tax Foundation, the New York Federal Reserve, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Department of the Interior, the National Science Foundation, the Carnegie Foundation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Zillow, ADP, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, PitchBook, the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the International Trade Administration, the Social Security Administration, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice, the Kaiser Family Foundation and BGR proprietary research.

CONTACT

Frank Ahrens

BGR PR Principal, Head of BGR Analytics

fahrens@bgrpr.com

202.661.6313

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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. BGR specializes in four key areas: bipartisan government affairs, strategic communications, business advisory services and analytics. BGR brings together some of the most accomplished policy experts, public opinion influencers and issue advocates from across the political spectrum.

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BGR Group Names Dan Greenwood Head of Defense and Critical Technologies Practice

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 5, 2024) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, today named Col. Dan Greenwood (USMC, Ret.), as Head of BGR’s Defense and Critical Technologies Practice.

“Dan’s extensive military career gives him a unique perspective on the needs and dynamics of the defense industry,” BGR President Erskine Wells said. “Since joining BGR, he has helped lead and build our Defense Practice with outstanding client service and innovative thinking. We are proud to officially name him Practice Head.”

“It’s been a tremendous privilege to help build BGR’s Defense Practice and I am honored to be named Practice Head,” Greenwood said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and our clients to continue delivering successful outcomes and advocating for an industry that supports our men and women in uniform.”

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Greenwood’s 29-year active-duty military career included several pivotal national security policy positions focused on Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Prior to joining BGR in 2022, he served as Deputy Assistant to the President and the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs in the West Wing. He also previously served the Senior Director for Legislative Affairs at the National Security Council and as the Marine Corps’ Head of Congressional Affairs in the House of Representatives.

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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. 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.