Advisory Services Archives

Labriah Lee Holt

Labriah Lee Holt joined BGR in October 2023. She serves as a Vice President with the State and Local Advocacy Practice and Director of the firm’s Atlanta office. Her role capitalizes on her vast experience in bipartisan advocacy and law, where she has established strong connections with Democratic policy makers nationwide. Labriah helps clients strategize policy campaigns that advance their objectives and advances the firm’s outreach to Democratic governors, mayors and attorneys general.

Prior to joining BGR, Labriah was State Government Affairs Director for Microsoft. In this capacity, she spearheaded initiatives across the southeast, engaging with state and local officials on key issues such as artificial intelligence, datacenter expansion, cybersecurity, privacy, education, and broadband access. Her adeptness in partner engagement also saw her play a pivotal role in fostering relationships with entities like the United States Conference of Mayors, Attorneys General Associations, and the African American Mayors Association’s Business Council.

Before her tenure at Microsoft, from 2013-2021, Labriah served as the Northeast Regional Director of Outreach, and subsequently a National Director of Political Outreach, for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Her efforts in these positions involved leading political coalition building and practice at the federal, state and local levels to propel bipartisan policy forward. Her dedication and policy advancement garnered recognition from the New York State Assembly and a Congressional Proclamation from Congressman Charles Rangel.

Labriah’s professional journey began at Alston & Bird LLP in Atlanta, GA, as a Senior Associate specializing in intellectual property. She provided counsel to Fortune 100 companies and nonprofit organizations on patents, trademarks, copyright, social media, and brand protection. She served on the boards for the Black Women’s Health Imperative and as Vice Chair for the Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project. She is a former member of the Anit-Defamation League’s Charles F. Wittenstein Advisory Committee, the Atlanta Citizen Review Board, and Gen 44 Atlanta Finance Committee for the DNC.

David J. Urban

David J. Urban is a Managing Director at BGR Group. He has more than three decades of experience in the military, law, business, politics and public service sectors. David provides strategic advice and counsel to BGR clients throughout the firm.

Prior to joining BGR, David served as Executive Vice President of North American Corporate Affairs for ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. In this senior role, he worked alongside the company’s top leadership, helping them navigate public policy and communications challenges, as well as advising on Environmental, Social, and Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility issues.

As President of the American Continental Group (ACG) he provided high stakes counsel to key clients including the CEO of Zoom during the early tumultuous days of the COVID-19 pandemic and the CEO of 7-Eleven to help the company adapt to a rapidly changing regulatory environment.

Before joining ACG, David served as Chief of Staff to the former U.S. Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania for five years. In this role, David was the Senator’s senior advisor on all legislative, political, media and administrative matters in Pennsylvania and Washington.

David was appointed by former President Donald Trump to serve as the 11th Chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission. He was also appointed by the President to the Board of Visitors (Trustees) for the United States Military Academy at West Point.

A graduate of West Point, David served as an artillery officer in the 101st Airborne Division where he was awarded the Bronze Star for his service during Operation Desert Storm. He earned a law degree from Temple University and a Master’s in Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed an ESG certification program through the Said School of Business at Oxford University and the Stratfor certification program in geopolitical analysis at the Florida Atlantic University. He served as an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz School of Government. An active member of the Pennsylvania Bar, David is admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Douglas Lute

Ambassador Douglas Lute (Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, Retired) is Chair of BGR’s International and Trade and Defense and Critical Technologies Practices and works with the Advisory Services team. Over his long, distinguished career in the U.S. military and as a senior White House advisor and diplomat, Ambassador Lute has built extensive relationships with national security, diplomatic and military leaders in America and around the world.

Ambassador Lute’s familiarity with American foreign policy and today’s policymakers gives him unique insight into Washington’s approach to international security and America’s relationships with its allies and partners.

He served six years in the White House during two administrations, first under President George W. Bush as Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan from 2007 to 2009. He was the senior-most White House official retained by President Obama, serving first as Coordinator for South Asia and then during the second Obama-Biden term as U.S. Ambassador to NATO.

Ambassador Lute graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and is a decorated military officer of 35 years. He was Director of Operations on the Joint Staff overseeing U.S. military operations worldwide. He also was Director of Operations at U.S. Central Command in the Middle East, had several tours as a NATO commander, and served in combat during Operation Desert Storm.

Ambassador Lute earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University in 1983 and then taught in the U.S. Military Academy’s Department of Social Sciences. He is a member of the board of the Atlantic Council, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a charter member of the Senior Military Advisory Group of the United States Institute of Peace, and a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy.

Bob Wood

Bob Wood is the Chairman and CEO of BGR Group. Since joining BGR, Bob has used his political campaign knowledge and policy skills to grow BGR’s health care, state, international, commerce, and financial services practices. Bob has led numerous campaigns for public policy efforts, using his state and federal experience to engage lawmakers and activate grassroots and community-based support.

Bob moved to Washington, D.C. to serve as Chief of Staff for Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). At HHS, Bob managed the daily operations of one of the largest departments in the federal government, with oversight of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration, Health Resources and Services Administration, and the National Institutes for Health. Bob previously served as Chief of Staff to Thompson while he was Governor of the state of Wisconsin.

While at HHS, Bob helped steer the passage and implementation of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act. This landmark legislation, which provides seniors and people living with disabilities with a prescription drug benefit, more choices, and better benefits under Medicare, has been touted as the most significant improvement to senior health care in nearly 40 years.

Bob honed his political campaign knowledge in the state of Wisconsin. During that time, he served as a key campaign organizer for the only Republican challenger to unseat an incumbent congressman, worked as Governor Tommy Thompson’s campaign manager, and led the state’s George W. Bush presidential campaign.

Erskine Wells

Erskine Wells is the President of BGR Group. He joined BGR in 2011 after serving on Capitol Hill for more than a decade. At BGR, Erskine represents clients with interests in defense, telecommunications, transportation, financial services, and appropriations before Congress, the administration, and state and local governments.

Erskine also has extensive experience leading coalitions in Washington. Working with Fortune 50 firm Caterpillar, he was instrumental in the successful launch of the Alliance for American Competitiveness and served as its Executive Director. Collaborating closely with Alliance members Honeywell, Dow, BNSF and UPS, Erskine led efforts to improve freight infrastructure throughout the United States by engaging policy makers at the local, state and federal levels. Through his efforts, the Alliance briefed the White House, Senate and House of Representatives on the role infrastructure plays in economic competitiveness.

Erskine works closely with clients ranging from wireless and hardware manufacturers to national security manufacturers and global shipping companies. Erskine is known as a substantive policy expert with connections throughout government, who quietly delivers results for his clients.

Prior to joining BGR, Erskine served in the office of Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) in various capacities, including deputy chief of staff and military legislative assistant. Earlier, Erskine managed appropriations accounts for then-Rep. Roger Wicker’s office in the House of Representatives. In these positions, Erskine advised the Senator and Congressman on national security, defense, foreign policy, transportation, financial services and telecommunications, working closely with Committee staff and Administration officials.

During his time on the Hill, Erskine collaborated with the intelligence community and Congressional committees to create and fund the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies at the University of Mississippi, which prepares students for careers in intelligence analysis.

A graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina, Erskine earned his master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College in Newport, R.I. He lives in Northern Virginia.

Maya Seiden

Maya Seiden joined BGR Group in 2014, where she advocates for foreign countries and individuals and advises U.S. and foreign companies on business-to-business activities. A veteran of the Clinton and Obama administrations, Maya has served in senior positions at the State Department, Energy Department and the White House. Outside of government, Maya held senior strategy, operations and communications positions in the non-profit and corporate sectors.

Most recently, Maya served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, overseeing budget and strategic planning for the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). She led Secretary Clinton’s effort to elevate the State Department’s influence in economics and business promotion.

During the Clinton administration, Maya was Special Assistant to then Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson and Special Assistant in White House Cabinet Affairs.

In the private sector, Maya served as Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at BlackRock, where she advised the firm’s Executive Committee and Chief Operating Officer on management, communications and operations; worked on major mergers and acquisitions; and developed the company’s first government relations and public policy strategy.

From 2003 to 2007, Maya managed operations at New York University overseeing the streamlining of operations and management, including the integration of long-term strategic planning and budgeting across the University and the expansion of the University to include international campuses. Previously, Maya advised companies on managing emerging issues and crises at Edelman Public Relations.

Maya received her bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University and her master’s degree in business administration from New York University. She is on the Advisory Board of RAND’s Center for Global Risk and Security.

Justin Rzepka

Justin Rzepka, a Principal with BGR Group, is a seasoned advocate and policy expert with over two decades of experience. His multifaceted career spans Capitol Hill, private sector leadership, and coalition management.

As Co-Head of the firm’s Commerce and Infrastructure Practice, Justin oversees a comprehensive policy portfolio that encompasses telecommunications, technology, artificial intelligence, content, media, transportation, infrastructure, and energy. His strategic approach delivers tangible results for clients, aligning their goals with effective strategies.

Justin’s advocacy extends to all levels of government. He engages with Congress, the Administration, and independent agencies, ensuring client access and influence. At BGR, he serves as the Executive Director of the CAR Coalition, championing affordable auto repair for consumers.

His risk mitigation expertise benefits Fortune 100 companies and trade associations across diverse sectors. Justin’s impact is evident in the permanent extension of a tax moratorium on internet access during his tenure at NCTA – The Internet & Television Association.

Before joining BGR, Justin honed his skills on Capitol Hill. His work spanned foreign policy, telecommunications, transportation, and taxation. Notably, he contributed to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s annual report. Justin’s commitment to effective policy and advocacy continues to shape the landscape of critical issues.

Justin, originally from Ohio, graduated from Regis University in Denver. An enthusiastic alpine skier, he now lives in Virginia with his family.

Ed Rogers

Ed Rogers has been involved in political campaigns, lobbying initiatives, commercial transactions and legal, media and market-access challenges in the U.S. and international markets since the mid-‘90s. He regularly assembles teams of lobbyists, lawyers, PR specialists, investment professionals and private investigators to solve problems, manage adversarial situations, win opportunities and achieve positive results for clients.

Ed leads BGR’s work as a trusted partner to U.S. and foreign law firms to enhance their clients’ legal strategy with outreach to governments, investigative support and communications tactics. Ed and BGR’s deep bench of experts can address the complex transnational business and political challenges that can involve multiple jurisdictions and require multiple fields of professional expertise to achieve the best results. Ed was the chairman of BGR from 2003 until 2018.

Prior to co-founding BGR Group in 1991, Ed served in the White House as Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff. Ed also served as Senior Deputy to Bush-Quayle Campaign Manager Lee Atwater from 1987 through the general election in 1988.

From 1985 through February of 1987, Ed worked in the Reagan White House in the Office of Political Affairs, where he served as Haley Barbour’s deputy as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the Office of Political Affairs. From 2011 until 2019 Ed was a Republican opinion writer for the Washington Post. During that time he published more than 500 columns analyzing American politics from a Republican point of view.

Ed is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a member of the International Council of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Ed received his JD from the University of Alabama, where he serves on the President’s Cabinet. He is a member of the Alabama and Washington, D.C., bars.

Joseph Lai

Joseph Lai is a Principal with BGR Group. He has deep experience in navigating the Washington D.C. policymaking process. After serving as a key advisor to three U.S. senators and as a senior member of the White House legislative affairs team, Joe joined BGR in 2019 to help clients communicate more effectively with policymakers and get results that count.

With a broad portfolio spanning international commerce and financial services to defense and critical technologies, Joe understands how political and regulatory risk in Washington can affect a company’s operations and strategic investments. As a trusted partner to his U.S. and multinational clients, he puts his knowledge and skills to work designing and executing integrated legislative, communications, and political strategies to mitigate those risks.

Joe served at the White House as Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs from 2017 to 2019. In that capacity, he led the White House’s outreach to the Senate on economic issues including international trade and financial services matters. Joe worked with Senate leaders to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and to confirm multiple appointees to the Cabinet, the Federal Reserve, and the Supreme Court.

Prior to joining the White House, Joe worked in the U.S. Senate for over a decade including serving as defense policy advisor and later legislative director to Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee. Joe also served as a policy advisor to Senators George Voinovich of Ohio and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska. In the private sector, Joe led international trade and defense policy coordination at the Aerospace Industries Association where he oversaw major international transactions for leading U.S. aerospace and defense companies.

A native of Burlingame, California, Joe received his Master of Arts from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley. Joe is a regent of the Fund for American Studies and a former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is fluent in Cantonese Chinese.

Todd Eardensohn

Todd Eardensohn serves as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Managing Director of BGR Group, overseeing all aspects of the firm’s financial operations and international business development. He joined BGR in 1998 after years of financial experience in the private sector and political arena.

In his role as CFO, Todd manages budgeting and financial reporting; strategic planning; treasury and cash management; and insurance, banking and lending relationships. Additionally, he analyzes the viability of potential financial opportunities as an ongoing investment strategy of the overall firm. He also administers the BGR PAC, the firm’s political action committee that supports political candidates and committees.

Todd’s financial experience includes time at KPMG serving as an auditor in the government and non-profit sector. His political acumen comes from a variety of experiences and roles, including serving as treasurer of Lamar Alexander’s 1996 presidential campaign, where he developed and implemented the campaign’s financial plan. He has also served as deputy treasurer of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and as assistant controller for the Bush-Quayle ‘92 campaign.

Additionally, Todd served as president of Capital Compliance Group, a firm that provided financial consulting services to various state and federal political committees and campaigns, including Dole for President, Engler for Governor, and the Republican Governors Association.

A Vermont native, Todd is a certified public accountant and a licensed real estate agent. He resides in the Washington, D.C. area.