Commerce and Infrastructure Archives

Kellie Adesina

Kellie Adesina is a Vice President with BGR Group’s Commerce and Infrastructure practice. With extensive experience in both the public and private sector, including on Capitol Hill and in the Obama administration, Kellie works with clients on a wide range of food and agriculture and policy issues.

Kellie previously served as Director of Federal Government Affairs at Kraft Heinz, where she helped manage advocacy efforts in food and agricultural spaces. She served in a similar role at Bayer where she focused on crop science issues like gene editing, biotech, and pesticides.

On Capitol Hill, Kellie served as Chief Counsel on the House Agriculture Committee for Chairman Collin C. Peterson (D-MN). In this role, she was integral to drafting key portions of the 2018 Farm Bill, which passed with bipartisan support.

Prior to her service with the Agriculture Committee, Kellie was Senior Counselor in the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Kellie also served as Legislative Director to Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) and Legislative Counsel to Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA). She began her career on Capitol Hill working for Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), her home state Senator.

Kellie is a founder of Black Professionals in Food and Agriculture (BPFA), chair of the Board of Directors for the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), and a member of the Board of Directors for CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, Board of Directors for the Farm Foundation, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

John Brinkman

John Brinkman is a Government Affairs Coordinator in BGR Group’s Commerce and Infrastructure Practice. In this role, John supports client engagement and policy strategy through legislative tracking, in-depth research, and the development of timely policy briefings across a range of issues, including artificial intelligence, technology, transportation, and manufacturing.

John joined BGR in 2025 as a Legislative Clerk, where he monitored congressional hearings and floor activity, drafted client-ready policy memoranda and briefings, and conducted research for domestic and international clients. He played a key role in supporting the Commerce team’s policy analysis and client service efforts before stepping into his current role as a Government Affairs Coordinator.

Prior to joining BGR, John served as Student Body President at the University of Florida, where he represented more than 60,000 students and served as a voting member of the University’s Board of Trustees. He also served as President and Chairman of the Florida Student Association, acting as the sole student representative to the Florida Board of Governors and contributing to policy decisions affecting over 450,000 students statewide.

John P. Keast

John P. Keast serves as a Senior Advisor with BGR Group. With more than 30 years of Washington, D.C., experience in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, private industry, and the non-profit think tank sector, John provides clients with a deep understanding of policy, politics, process, and people to create and implement results driven strategies. He has focused on critical issues including defense, commerce, industrial base development, telecommunications, and transportation policies for more than three decades.

John is the founder of Keast Strategic Solutions, LLC, which provides clients with a unique blend of strategic and tactical counsel in dealing with Congress as well as federal departments and agencies.

He previously served three years as the Republican Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Armed Services after having served four years as the staff director on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Working with the Chairman and Senators on the committees, he formulated strategies and agendas to execute Congressional oversight, policy hearings, presidential appointed confirmation processes, legislative markups, and investigations. In those roles, he led teams of professional staff and counsels to execute policy initiatives within the committee’s jurisdiction.

Prior to his service on the Commerce Committee, John served 13 years as a partner, Principal and Director at Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc. From 1995 to 2006, he served as then-Rep. Roger Wicker’s chief of staff in the U.S. House of Representatives. His experience prior to Capitol Hill includes working at a non-profit think tank specializing in state and local policy, and as a staff member for the Virginia House of Delegates.

Sean Cooksey

Sean Cooksey, a former senior official in the Trump administration and on Capitol Hill, works as a Managing Director with BGR Group’s Commerce and Infrastructure Practice. He brings a wealth of executive branch, legislative, and private sector experience to his work with clients on issues ranging from congressional oversight and investigations, competition and antitrust matters, intellectual property and technology policy, and litigation support.

Prior to joining the BGR team, Sean was Counsel to Vice President JD Vance. In this role, he served as the Vice President’s chief legal adviser and a senior policy staffer within the White House. As part of the Trump-Vance administration, he regularly advised the Vice President and senior White House staff on constitutional law, domestic policy, ethics, and executive and judicial nominations.

Previously, Sean was a member of the Federal Election Commission, after being nominated by President Trump in 2020. Sean served on the FEC for four years and was elected Chairman for the 2024 presidential election year, overseeing an agency of 300 staff to administer federal campaign-finance law.

Sean began his political career in the United States Senate, where he served as General Counsel for Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Deputy Chief Counsel for Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). During his tenure in both offices, Sean worked on the Senate’s Committee on the Judiciary on some of the Senate’s most high-stakes matters, including major legislation and two Supreme Court confirmations.

Prior to his Senate service, Sean worked at an international law firm in Washington, D.C., where his practice focused on appeals and constitutional law. He also served as a law clerk for Judge Jerry E. Smith of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Houston, Texas.

Sean has appeared on television, on radio, and in print in outlets such as The Ingraham Angle, Varney & Co., Morning Edition, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Axios, and Politico. He speaks regularly at major conferences, including the Republican National Lawyers Association and the National Association of Business PACs.

Kathryn Reed

Kathryn Reed is a Vice President with BGR’s Financial Services and Tax and Commerce Practices. A seasoned tax and fiscal policy expert, she brings nearly a decade of Capitol Hill experience shaping federal tax, budget, and economic policy at the highest levels of Congress, with deep expertise in drafting, negotiating, and advancing complex tax legislation.

Kathryn most recently served as Tax Policy Advisor to Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) on the House Committee on Ways and Means, where she guided development and strategy for major Republican tax priorities, including the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act of 2025 and the bipartisan Smith-Wyden Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act (TRAFWA). In this role, she advised the Chairman, Members of the Committee, and senior staff on tax policy that supports businesses and families, encourages economic development, and promotes on- and near-shoring of critical supply chains. She worked closely with the Joint Committee on Taxation, House Legislative Counsel, and Senate Finance Committee to navigate the political landscape and deliver legislative victories.

Prior to her tenure as Tax Policy Advisor, Kathryn served as a key staff member to Congressman Jason Smith in both his personal office and in his capacity as Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee where she provided analysis on revenue estimates, economic impacts, and political implications of major policy proposals.

Earlier in her career, Kathryn worked under Chairman Kevin Brady on the House Committee on Ways and Means, contributing to the successful passage and implementation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in 2017.

Kathryn is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College and holds a dual degree in Economics and Government.

Lauren German

Lauren German is a Policy Analyst with BGR’s Commerce and Infrastructure Practice. In this role, Lauren helps support the Commerce and Infrastructure team with policy briefings, research, and legislative tracking.

Lauren has a background in grassroots organizing and congressional affairs. She previously worked as a Legislative Intern for Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (D-MI) and Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI). Her experience also includes serving as a Digital Organizer and Phone Canvasser for the Washington Community Action Network and as an Engagement Coordinator for the United Way of Kind County. Additionally, Lauren is a former small business owner of Golden Vibe Gifts.

Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and a minor in Philosophy from the University of Southern California, Santa Barbara.

Collin G. Janich

Collin G. Janich is a Vice President at BGR Group, where he supports one of the firm’s Founding Partners on business development initiatives and is active on energy policy. In this role, he works with the firm’s leadership and clients on a range of policy and advocacy matters. He brings over a decade of experience advancing energy, infrastructure, and technology priorities across sectors and regions.

Before joining BGR, Collin served as Senior Advisor for Global Issues and Advocacy at ExxonMobil, where he contributed to geopolitical and regulatory risk assessments and helped shape the company’s global engagement on low-carbon technologies and energy security policies.

Previously, Collin led U.S. policy communications at Hitachi, Ltd., representing more than 70 group companies across grid automation, mobility electrification, and emerging technologies. He directed U.S. advocacy efforts surrounding Hitachi’s role as Principal Partner of COP26, helping elevate the company’s profile in global energy transition policy discussions. Collin also established and co-led Hitachi’s first geopolitical and regulatory risk function, partnering with executives to assess exposure across energy, mobility, and emerging technologies.

Earlier in his career, Collin was a lobbyist for the Associated General Contractors of America, directing federal engagement on trade and investment issues. During the 2015–2016 election cycle, he managed the association’s Political Action Committee.

Collin began his career in Shanghai, China, working in business development across Asia before clerking for BGR Group, where he tracked financial services and energy policy for corporate and government clients.

He has advised the World Economic Forum, U.S. federal agencies, and technology start-ups.

Collin holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge and an M.A. in International Business and Policy from Georgetown University.

Peter Lewis

Peter Lewis is a Vice President with BGR’s Commerce and Infrastructure Practice. With extensive private sector and Capitol Hill experience, Peter helps clients navigate complex policy issues and legislative strategies. He supports clients on a range of policy issues ranging from telecommunications to broadband deployment and spectrum regulation.

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.

Syd Terry

Syd Terry serves as a Principal with BGR’s Commerce and Infrastructure Practice. He helps clients navigate issues ranging from telecommunications, consumer protections, auto safety, and competition policy both on Capitol Hill and in the administration, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). He previously served as the Chief of Staff for Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) where he led all legislative, policy, communications, and constituent services strategies for Rep. Schakowsky including her work as a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and as a Member on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and House Budget Committee. He first joined Rep. Schakowsky’s office in 2019 and led her policy work on the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce. In that role he coordinated policy relating to interstate and foreign commerce, including all trade matters within the jurisdiction of the full committee; consumer protection; regulation of commercial practices; and consumer product safety. Syd also served as the Legislative Director for Rep. Schakowsky, advising the Congresswoman on all legislative areas, including energy, and assisted in the development of policy positions and legislative initiatives.

Syd started his Capitol Hill career with Senators Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Carl Levin (D-MI). He worked on the campaigns of Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and then Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), who was elected to the House in 2012 and later served as Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus. Syd joined Pocan’s Congressional office where he served as a Senior Legislative Assistant. In this capacity, he served as the primary labor, energy, and environmental policy staffer for a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

A native of Denver, Colorado, Syd earned his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and did his graduate coursework at the U.S. Army War College. He currently resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Larkin Parker, and their Scottish Terrier, Sargent Pepper.

Steven Pfrang

Steven Pfrang is a Principal with BGR’s Commerce and Financial Services Practices. Steve assists clients with their advocacy campaigns by leveraging his nearly 20 years of experience in Washington, D.C., working in the public and private sector. He is well known for his ability to combine his knowledge of tax, trade and health care policy issues with his detailed understanding of the political environment to drive policy results through the legislative process.

Most recently Steve served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL), a senior Member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence as well as the House Select Committee on China. In his position, Steve was responsible for managing the Congressman’s congressional operations, including all legislative and communications activities. As the Congressman’s primary advisor, Steve also managed the Member’s entire political operation, including the Congressman’s National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) activities.

Prior to his time with Congressman LaHood, Steve served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to a member of the Ways & Means Committee and as a Senior Legislative Assistant to a member of the House Energy & Commerce and the Financial Services Committees.

Steve previously worked on the government affairs staff of a Fortune 100 company where he was responsible for advocacy to advance the company’s retirement policy priorities before the House, Senate and Executive Branch.

Originally from Wisconsin, Steve is an avid Packers fan and active outdoorsman. Steve received his Bachelor’s degree from St. Norbert College and his MBA from Lakeland College.