Ms. Molinari is the Chairman & CEO of The Washington Group and President of Ketchum Public Affairs.

A Member of Congress from 1990 to 1997, Ms. Molinari quickly became “one of the most distinctive Members of the House” and “one of the most visible voices for her party” according to the authoritative Almanac of American Politics. As a result, after just four years in Washington, and just weeks after the election of the first GOP House majority in 40 years, Ms. Molinari was elected by her colleagues to the eight person Republican Majority Leadership, making her the highest ranking woman in the Congress.

Unanimously re-elected to the House Leadership in 1996, Ms. Molinari also enjoyed another distinction that year as she was selected by GOP Presidential candidate Senator Robert Dole as Keynote Speaker at the Republican National Convention in San Diego.

Ms. Molinari was an effective leader in the fight for crime victims, passing sweeping judicial reforms to toughen laws on repeat rapists and child molesters and to increase funding for the Violence Against Women Act. She also won passage of measures to enhance adoption, and promote breast cancer awareness and research funding.

As a member of the House Budget Committee, she was at the forefront of producing Congress’ first balanced budget in 29 years, Ms. Molinari chaired the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Railroad Subcommittee, which passed legislation to overhaul the nation’s Amtrak passenger rail service. As chair, she also implemented the transition of the Interstate Commerce Commission, to the Surface Transportation Board, and played a key role in fashioning the historic, five year, multi-billion dollar transportation-funding bill (TEA-21) adopted in 1997.

Prior to Congress, Ms. Molinari was twice elected to the New York City Council, where she was Minority Leader. In 1997, she left Congress to co-anchor CBS News Saturday Morning.

In addition to her broadcast experience, Ms. Molinari has addressed hundreds of audiences on politics, government and the media in nearly every state. She is represented by the Harry Walker Agency of New York City as a lecturer before business and trade organizations, universities and civic groups from coast-to-coast and was selected as one of the Top Five Speakers of 1998 by the members of Toastmasters International.

She is the co-author of the book Representative Mom: Balancing Budgets, Bill and Baby in the U.S. Congress (Doubleday, 1998). Ms. Molinari has also authored scores of articles published by national magazines and daily newspapers on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from the role of women in politics to national fiscal policy.

Ms. Molinari was selected as a Visiting Fellow at the prestigious Institute of Politics/ Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1998. She was chosen as Glamour magazine’s Woman of the year in 1996 and by Time magazine as one of forty of the nation’s most influential people under age forty in the nation in 1994. In 2003 Susan was recognized for her efforts to develop a framework to address the national housing crisis. As co-Chair of Millennial Housing Commission, the National Housing Conference named her “Housing Person of the Year.” She also served as a member of the Bush-Cheney Transition Advisory Committee

Ms. Molinari chairs the Century Council, a national, not-for-profit organization committed to reducing drunk driving and underage drinking. Ms. Molinari is a member of several boards including the Toyota North America Diversity Advisory Board, and the March of Dimes Advisory Board. She also serves on the bi-partisan Commission on Federal Election Reform. The Commission, co-chaired by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker III, will study the adequacy of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002.

Born and raised on Staten Island, Ms. Molinari is a third generation public servant. Her grandfather was the first Italian-American immigrant elected to the New York State Assembly and she was elected to Congress succeeding her father, Guy V. Molinari, who became the Borough President of Staten Island.

Ms. Molinari is married to former New York Congressman Bill Paxon, now a senior advisor at the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld.

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G. John O’Hanlon, is a co-founder of The Washington Group, and now serves as managing director.  Mr. O’Hanlon has more than 25 years of lobbying, political and business experience, including specific expertise with appropriations, education, environmental, health care, tax, trade and technology. 

He has played leadership roles in numerous political and philanthropic causes including; Finance Chairman for the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) Presidential Gala in 2003, Democratic Finance Chairman for the bi-partisan March of Dimes Gourmet Gala, Board member of the DNC’s Jefferson Trust, Trustee for the Kerry/DNC for President Campaign, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Speaker’s Cabinet and has been involved in numerous local and national campaigns.  Mr. O’Hanlon was named a Year 2000 Steward of the Everglades by national environmental organizations for his efforts to save the Florida Everglades. 

Mr. O’Hanlon is an honors graduate of Northeastern University in Boston where he graduated in 1981 with a concentration in human resource management.  In 1991, he received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center

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Kevin D. Allen serves as a senior vice president of The Washington Group. Mr. Allen is primarily responsible for international trade and investment issues, including matters involving telecommunications, information technologies and Internet-related business. Mr. Allen works extensively with companies and economic organizations in the Asia/Pacific region and represents various Asian interests in the United States.

Prior to joining The Washington Group, Mr. Allen served as International Advisor to the law firm of Raffaelli, Spees, Springer & Smith, where he focused on trade issues before the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government. Mr. Allen was also Vice President of Capital Management International, Inc. (CMI), an international trade and management-consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. At CMI, he assisted American companies in the formation of joint ventures and strategic partnerships in the Republic of Korea and Hong Kong.

In 1993, Mr. Allen represented the U.S. Government as Executive Director of the American Section at the Korea (Taejon) International Exposition. In this capacity, Mr. Allen coordinated the activities of the U.S. Government and U.S. private industry at the largest-ever international trade and investment exposition. He was also responsible for facilitating all official relations between the U.S. and Korean Governments and with international delegations from more than 120 participating nations.

From 1991-1993, Mr. Allen served in the Bush Administration as a Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade. In this position, he was responsible for assisting in the general operations of the agency, as well as the policy coordination of all trade-related legislation, congressional testimony and speeches for the International Trade Administration. Prior to government service, Mr. Allen worked in Seoul, Korea, for AEA International, Inc., an international consulting firm. Mr. Allen has been active in the political arena for many years, including work as Staff Assistant to the Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1984-85) and a member of the International Visitors Program staff for the 1984 and 1988 Republican National Conventions.

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Carlos E. Bonilla joined The Washington Group as Senior Vice President in March 2003. Prior to joining The Washington Group, Mr. Bonilla served as a Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy at The White House. There he was part of the tax policy team and held the labor and aviation portfolios at the National Economic Council. Mr. Bonilla came into the George W. Bush Administration in January 2001 and served for the first two years of the Administration. During his tenure at The White House, he worked extensively on the first two tax bills, aviation issues (including global alliances, the post 9/11 Air Transportation Stabilization Act, and the creation of two Presidential Emergency Boards), and pension issues (including the post-Enron reforms to 401(k) plans with significant work on issues affecting defined benefit plans). In the aftermath of 9/11, he was responsible for ensuring that trade flows across the borders and through the ports were maintained in light of enhanced security concerns. Other responsibilities included the inter-agency working group on West Coast ports during the 2003 labor dispute, leading up to a Taft-Hartley injunction.

Prior to joining the Administration, Mr. Bonilla was a Washington-based advisor to the Bush campaign and assisted the campaign with the formulation and refinement of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act.

Before joining The White House, he was the economist for the House Budget Committee under then-chairman John Kasich. Prior to that, he was chief economist for the Employment Policies Institute working on health care and employment issues. He was chief economist for the National Chamber Foundation at the US Chamber of Commerce and at the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation (IRET). In addition, he spent a year as a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation. All told, he has over 20 years experience in public policy matters.

Mr. Bonilla has an undergraduate degree from The American University and a Masters in Economics from Georgetown University.

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Mr. Boyd began his legal career in private practice in Greenville, South Carolina in 1987.  Later that year he was appointed to the South Carolina Legislative Council as a legislative drafting attorney.   

In November 1989, he joined the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, as Counsel to the Consumer Subcommittee.  Mr. Boyd became Senior Counsel to the Consumer Subcommittee in 1992, and Democratic Chief Counsel to the full Committee in 1999.

Throughout his thirteen-year tenure with the Commerce Committee, Mr. Boyd played an active role on a number of major issues and policies.  These included the liability of airlines and cities for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, antitrust review procedures for communications and technology industry mergers, Enron oversight, corporate average fuel economy standards (CAFÉ), 2000 Digital Signatures Act, authorizing contractual agreements over the Internet through the use of digital signatures, 1998 Tobacco Settlement, federal insurance oversight and a host of product and commercial liability bills. 

In 2003, he served as a Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., and conducted a seminar at the University of South Carolina on how Interest Groups Acquire and Effectuate Political Power.     

Mr. Boyd received his BA in 1983 and JD in 1986 from the University of South Carolina.  He also conducted graduate studies at the University of South Carolina in the areas of Public Policy and Public Administration and at American University in Washington, D.C.  on Race and Civil Rights (1999).  During the summer of 2000, he completed Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Senior Executive Management Program for Public Managers.  

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Missy Edwards joined The Washington Group as senior vice president in the beginning of 2001. Ms. Edwards brings to The Washington Group more than ten years of legislative and political experience with Republican Leaders of the United States Senate.

Prior to joining The Washington Group, Ms. Edwards served as the Director of Development for the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 1999 – 2000 election cycle. In this role, Ms. Edwards was responsible for the NRSC’s high-tech and business community outreach across the United States. Ms. Edwards worked directly with the members of the Senate Republican leadership, Committee Chairmen and Members to identify, contact and liaison with individuals and organizations throughout the country to discuss various policy initiatives.

Beginning in 1990, Ms. Edwards worked on the staff of Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) as a policy advisor in the areas of Health Care, Energy, Defense and Product Liability Reform. Ms. Edwards continued in her role as an advisor to Senator Cochran through 1995 representing the Senator on matters of jurisdiction to his committee assignments on the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee.

In 1997, Ms. Edwards was recruited by the American Medical Association to serve as their chief Senate GOP lobbyist. In this role, Ms. Edwards provided strategic input for policy initiatives and played a key role in the implementation of their legislative agenda. Ms. Edwards was largely responsible for AMA’s advocacy efforts directed to Republican Members of the Senate.

Her experience as a senior staff member in the United States Senate and a political operative for Republican Senate members combined with her issue advocacy background provide Ms. Edwards with all of the credentials and tools necessary to develop strategies and to successfully implement plans of action for clients of The Washington Group.

Ms. Edwards continues to be involved in various advisory roles and serves on the steering committees of Senate Republican members including the Dole for President Health Policy Team and the GOP Convention Official Proceedings Committee. Ms. Edwards received a B.S. degree in Political Science from the University of Mississippi in 1990.

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Kimberley J. Farmer serves as senior vice president of The Washington Group where she plays an integral role in client and issue management.  Ms. Farmer is involved in the firm’s business development, government affairs and maintains a special expertise in coalition building.  She has experience in several key issue areas including those related to international trade, asbestos reform, health, financial services, real estate, agriculture, communications, technology and transportation. She currently represents two major foreign governments before Congress.

Ms. Farmer started with The Washington Group acting in a dual capacity as director of research and as manager for the Coalition for the National Tobacco Settlement.  The Coalition worked to encourage Congress to pass into law the settlement the state Attorneys General reached with the tobacco industry several months earlier.  She then managed affairs for the REPAIR (RICO-ERISA Prosecuting Attorneys for Insurance Reform) Coalition with the purpose of promoting a sound Patients’ Bill of Rights on Capitol Hill. Ms. Farmer has also worked as a legislative assistant for The Evans Group, a small lobbying firm in Washington, DC.

Prior to Ms. Farmer’s work in government affairs, she earned a M.A. in International Politics from the School of International Service at American University.  Within a comprehensive program in foreign relations, she specialized in international conflict resolution and environmental policy. While in graduate school, Ms. Farmer worked in development at the World Resources Institute, a global environmental think tank. She earned her B.A. in International Politics with minors in Political Science and French from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University where she also was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society.  During university, she spent a semester abroad in Strasbourg, France where she was awarded an internship at the Council of Europe.  Ms. Farmer is a native of Massachusetts.

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S. Steven Karalekas was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Karalekas attended the U.S. Naval Academy (B.S., with honors, 1965); Indiana University Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1970), and Harvard University (M.P.A., cum laude, 1971). He has been admitted to practice law in Massachusetts (1970) and the District of Columbia (1974). Mr. Karalekas served as Law Clerk to Chief Justice Donald H. Hunter, Indiana Supreme Court, 1969-1970; Staff Assistant to the President, The White House, 1971-1973, where he as engaged in defense, foreign policy and legislative issues for President Richard M. Nixon; and Chief Assistant to Congressman Paul W. Cronin, Massachusetts, 1973-1974; until he joined the law firm of Wilkinson, Cragun & Barker, 1974-1977, where he had extensive government relations and lobbying experience. Mr. Karalekas is the founding partner of the law firm of Karalekas & McCahill that was formed in September of 1977 and its successor, Karalekas & Noone, formed in March of 1993. The firm provided legal, government and public relations and lobbying services to a broad range of U.S. and foreign clients. In October 2004, Karalekas & Noone merged with The Washington Group.

Mr. Karalekas is active in a number of civic and political endeavors. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Visitors of the Defense Information School, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana and as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation, Washington, D.C.

He was awarded the Department of Defense Outstanding Civilian Service Medal by then Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney and the Navy’s highest civilian recognition, the Secretary of the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Medal. His military awards include: the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Meritorious Service Medal, and Navy Commendation Medal. Mr. Karalekas served overseas in the U.S. Navy from 1965-1969. He is a licensed private pilot and holds the rank of Captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve (Ret.). Mr. Karalekas resides in Washington, D.C.

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Gerry Kavanaugh has been intimately involved in national, state and local politics for over 25 years.  He is the founder of several ventures, including DCS Congressional, an Internet communications and software development firm that provides Internet technology and services to congressional offices, state and local governments, political campaign, and advocacy groups.   He is also the founder and CEO of Kavanaugh Asset Management, an asset management consulting firm, specializing in providing marketing assistance to money managers, pension funds, and law firms.

Mr. Kavanaugh was a close advisor to the John Edwards for President Campaign, working in both Washington, DC and Iowa to manage all efforts with organized labor movements across the country. Prior to working for John Edwards, he was the Policy Director for the Democratic National Committee.  As the senior policy advisor for the DNC Chairman, he managed the daily messaging effort with both House and Senate leadership.  Mr. Kavanaugh also served as Senator Edward M. Kennedy's Chief of Staff, managing a staff of 75 and advising the Senator on all national and Massachusetts economic issues.  He worked with Senator Kennedy through both his 1994 and 2000 re-elections as well.

Mr. Kavanaugh also possesses a love and understanding of city government. Earning a master's degree in urban planning at the University of Pennsylvania, he worked as a city planner in Quincy and Salem, Massachusetts. He also served as the Chief of Staff for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the largest redevelopment authority in the country.

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Paul Lobo joined The Washington Group in May 2005 as a senior vice president and Chief Financial Officer. He is a government affairs and marketing professional with specific expertise in developing innovative public and private partnerships. He also serves as a policy expert on transportation, base redevelopment, port operations and security.  Mr. Lobo also serves as CFO managing the financial operations of The Washington Group.

Prior to joining The Washington Group, Mr. Lobo served as a representative of New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in Washington, DC. He played a key role in helping the newly elected mayor implement the City’s post-9/11 federal agenda while leading its federal transportation, environmental and economic development agenda before Congress and the Administration.
Mr. Lobo’s private sector experience includes five years at American Express, where he directed the Fortune 50 company’s Cardmember Services Group and created an innovative rewards program in partnership with Delta Air Lines. He also worked with NY Waterway where he developed marketing and government relation strategies for the country’s largest privately owned ferry service.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Lobo served on Capitol Hill as Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Susan Molinari who now serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Washington Group. He also worked as a professional staff member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Mr. Lobo’s political experience includes work on Rudy Giuliani’s first campaign for Mayor in 1989. He worked on the Host Committee for the 2004 Republican National Convention where he directed delegate and VIP events. Other political activities include work for the New York State Republican Party, Rudy Giuliani’s successful reelection campaign and management of a 1997 New York City-wide campaign. He has also served as an international elections monitor in El Salvador.

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Marissa Mitrovich joined The Washington Group in June of 2001.  She currently serves as a Vice President for the firm.  Ms. Mitrovich has experience working with a variety of issues including energy, transportation, and corporate social responsibility and awareness.  Ms. Mitrovich has also played a large role working with and managing coalition efforts for clients of The Washington Group.  In addition, Ms. Mitrovich works directly with the Chairman and CEO on the supervision of all clients for The Washington Group.

Prior to becoming a member of The Washington Group, Ms. Mitrovich worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, as an intern, where she participated in fundraising for the Democratic Party during the 2000 election cycle.  Ms. Mitrovich also spent three consecutive summers working for Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island, 1997-1999.  In 1996 she participated in an internship at the White House working in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Ms. Mitrovich has a Master’s Degree in Political Management from the George Washington University School of Political Management.  Her Master’s education was focused on political issues pertaining to the entertainment industry, specifically copyright issues and the changing business model of the industry directly related to IP issues and the Internet.  She also studied in depth the influence of celebrity involvement regarding legislative politics.  Ms. Mitrovich holds a B.A. in anthropology/sociology and a minor in political science from Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Georgia.  She also serves as the President of Alumnae for her graduating class of 2001 at Agnes Scott College. 

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James A. Noone specializes in government relations and issues before the U.S. Congress, with an emphasis on defense matters. He has also done substantial work involving the closure and redevelopment of military installations. Mr. Noone was born June 8, 1944, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of the University of Scranton (B.A., cum laude, 1967); the American University School of International Service (M.A., 1972); and the American University Law School (J.D., 1984). He has been admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania.

Mr. Noone began his career as a reporter for the Scranton Tribune (1964-1967: 1969-1970). From 1972 to 1974 he was staff correspondent for the Washington news magazine, National Journal. In 1974 he joined the U.S. Information Agency, where he served in a number of assignments including press officer at the U.S. Consulate General, Rio de Janerio. In 1981 he joined the ITT Corporation and was manager of government relations in the company’s Washington office. He was principal in the law/government relations firm of Karalekas & Noone (K&N) from 1988 until October 2004, representing businesses and state/local governments before the Defense Department and other federal agencies and Congress. In October 2004, K&N merged with The Washington Group.

Mr. Noone served on active duty in the U.S. Navy, including a tour of duty in Vietnam. He subsequently served in the Naval Reserve, retiring as a Captain in 2001. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Navy Commendation Medal (three awards). Mr. Noone is a member of the American Bar Association, Bar Association of the District of Columbia, National Press Club, Reserve Officers Association and the Naval Reserve Association. He serves on the Boards of Directors of the International Midway Memorial Foundation and the U.S. Navy Public Affairs Alumni Association.

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Adam S. Olsen joined The Washington Group and its sister firm the Integrated Solutions Group in August of 2007 and focuses on House Democrats.

Mr. Olsen worked for House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt for six years from 1998-2004 as Deputy National Finance Director.  Mr. Olsen was involved with the Gephardt in Congress Committee, Congressman Gephardt’s Leadership PAC- The Effective Government Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, as well as Gephardt for President 2004.  Between 1998-2002 Mr. Olsen helped to raise over $200 Million for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and other fundraising committees prior to Leader Gephardt running for President.

From 2004 until 2007 Mr. Olsen operated The Barnegat Group, LLC and raised money for clients such as the Clinton Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative, America Coming Together, New House PAC, as well as several successful business development and capital formation projects.

Mr. Olsen is currently active as a pro bono advisor to Terror Free Tomorrow, a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to a new strategic vision by leading the fight against terror by winning the popular support that empowers global terrorists.

Mr. Olsen earned a BA in International Studies from The American University School of International Service in 1997.  A native of Bergen County, New Jersey, Mr. Olsen lives in Washington, DC.

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Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
The Washington Group – A Ketchum Company
 
Eugene Patrone is a senior vice president and Chief Operating Officer at The Washington Group. Before joining The Washington Group (TWG) in 2001, he was a managing supervisor in the public affairs division of Fleishman-Hillard, where he focused on litigation support and transportation issues.  Today his portfolio of clients includes the Association of American Railroads, Exelon and the Embassy of Panama.  In the past, he has worked on behalf of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, helping it secure funding to rebuild New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. As COO, Mr. Patrone provides strategic and business direction for the daily operations of TWG.  During the course of his career, Mr. Patrone has covered a wide spectrum and brings unique expertise in politics, federal legislation and lobbying to The Washington Group and Ketchum public affairs.  After George W. Bush was elected president, Mr. Patrone served as a member of the Bush-Cheney Transition Advisory Committee for the Department of Transportation.

While on Capitol Hill, Mr. Patrone served as legislative director and leadership liaison for a number of critical initiatives for former Congresswoman Susan Molinari (R-N.Y.), who was vice-chair of the House Republican Conference.  As her legislative director, Mr. Patrone worked with Congresswoman Molinari in her role as chair of the Railroad Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and played a key role in the development and passage of the bill that created the Surface Transportation Board.  He was also a key staffer for Rep. Molinari when she gave the keynote address at 1996 the Republican National Convention.  Mr. Patrone provided counsel on a number of social concerns such as the Violence Against Women Act, welfare reform and increasing sentences for rapists and child molesters. Mr. Patrone also worked closely with New York State and City to secure federal funding for transportation economic development initiatives particularly TEA-21 – helping to negotiate a bill ensuring that transportation resources were allocated equitably among all states.

After Ms. Molinari returned to New York to work as a television host, Mr. Patrone worked for the New York Republican State Committee as director of field operations for Rudy Giuliani's successful run for mayor.  He later served as legislative director for Rep. Vito J. Fossella (R-N.Y.).  In 1994 Mr. Patrone was the director of field operations for Attorney General Dennis Vacco, helping him win his first bid for statewide office in New York.
A 1990 graduate of Fordham University with a bachelor's degree in English and a concentration in media studies, Mr. Patrone earned a law degree at the Touro Law Center. 

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Tonya M. Speed serves as senior vice president at The Washington Group. She has an extensive background in federal government affairs with an emphasis on health care and senior issues. Her other primary areas of responsibility include Medicare reform, telecommunications, banking and airline industry legislation. Having worked on a variety of issues before the House Commerce, Ways and Means, Judiciary and Senate Finance Committees, Ms. Speed has gained a great working knowledge of the legislative process. She has developed and implemented winning strategies for legislation within the committee structure that have become law.

Ms. Speed has been an integral part of The Washington Group “team” for more than 10 years. As a part of the team, politically she is well positioned to serve the needs of our clients. Ms. Saunders directs and coordinates fundraising activities for The Washington Group. Serving as host and co-host to a number of events, she is well known throughout Washington on both sides of the aisle. Ms. Speed is a board member of the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses’ Foundation (CBCSF) and received the Most Valuable Player Award for 2002 in recognition of outstanding service and personal contribution to the CBCSF. InfluenceOnline featured Ms. Speed on the cover of an article, Blacks on K Street: Getting Beyond Race.

In 1990, Ms. Speed worked on the successful re-election campaign for Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV (D-WV) – then joined the staff as an assistant. Prior to her Capitol Hill experience she was special assistant to Secretary Ken Hechler for the State of West Virginia. In addition, she worked as Project Director of a non-partisan organization that conducted voter registration statewide. Ms. Speed has clearly demonstrated her capabilities on both state and national fronts.

Ms. Speed has developed many unique relationships with policy makers from all sectors of Congress. Her lobbying talents are utilized in both House and Senate. She has developed strong working relationships with Democrats and Republicans, including the Congressional Black Caucus. Ms. Speed in an alumna of West Virginia State College.

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Brett Shogren is a Senior Vice President at The Washington Group with nearly ten years of legislative experience in the House of Representatives, including seven years in the House Leadership.

Prior to joining The Washington Group, Mr. Shogren served as Policy Director and National Security Advisor to the House Majority Leader and brings a unique breadth of experience and expertise in both policy and legislative process, having advised the House Leadership on issues ranging from telecommunications, health care, trade, technology, foreign affairs, National Security and intelligence.

As Policy Director, Mr. Shogren was responsible for developing and implementing the House legislative agenda by working directly with House and Senate Leadership, Congressional Committees and the White House.

Mr. Shogren’s role in the Leadership allowed him to play a key role in the development and passage of many major initiatives, including the Medicare Modernization Act, serving as the principle House Leadership staff member on the conference committee.  Brett also worked extensively on national security and defense issues, including the annual Defense Authorization Act, the 911 Commission Implementation Act and was the primary leadership staff member during the passage of key trade initiatives such as Trade Promotion Authority, making Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China, and the Central American Free Trade Agreement. 

Prior to serving in the House Leadership, Mr. Shogren served as Senior Legislative Aide to Congressman Bob Goodlatte, handling trade, defense, National Security, tax, health care, immigration and welfare reform. Before joining Congressman Goodlatte's staff, he served as a staff member on the House Judiciary Committee.

Mr. Shogren is a graduate of Amherst College in Massachusetts.

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Fowler C. West, senior vice president and general counsel of The Washington Group, spent more than twenty years on Capitol Hill where he served as Administrative Assistant to W. R. Poage of Texas and Staff Director of the House Committee on Agriculture under Chairman Poage and Thomas S. Foley. He worked on major agricultural, conservation, rural development, credit, nutrition and foreign food aid programs, including several major Farm Bills.

Mr. West left Capitol Hill to serve two terms as a Commissioner at the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).  At the CFTC his work focused on the system of Self-Regulation in the futures industry, customer protection, alternate dispute resolution (including arbitration, mediation and reparations), coordination with State securities regulation, and financial literacy in public schools.  Mr. West also chaired the Advisory committee on CFTC/State Cooperation.  While at the CFTC, he published several articles on regulatory issues and regulatory coordination.

Upon completing his second term at the CFTC, Mr. West became Executive Director of the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), an organization of state securities administrators.  There he promoted a more cooperative and co-regulatory relationship with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other national securities industry organizations.  While with NASAA, Mr. West gained a thorough understanding of federal and state securities regulation, including mutual funds and Self-Regulatory structure of the securities industry.

In 1996 Mr. West joined the firm that was to become The Washington Group working on a variety of issues including environmental protection, agriculture and securities regulation.  In January of 2001 Mr. West was the recipient of the Steward of the Everglades Award, presented by the Everglades Coalition, for his work in the passage of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan legislation.

Mr. West has a B.A. in Political Science from Baylor University; a M.A. in the Legislative Process from George Washington University; and a J.D. from Georgetown University of Law Center.

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