Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals

The health industry is one of the most important components of the United States economy.  Recent U.S demographic trends demonstrate that the health industry will continue to grow in significance.  With this growth will come an increase in regulations, scrutiny, and influence by federal, state and local governments.  The Livingston Group healthcare and pharmaceutical team has helped clients win major healthcare policy and reform debates, appropriated funds and favorable outcomes from federal agencies and secured federal funding for our clients' initiatives.

Our government affairs and health industry specialists have a wide breadth of experience and strong relationships with numerous members of the U.S. Congress, including the leadership of both political parties and congressional staff.  Several members of our team enjoy long-term working relationships with key individuals throughout the federal health system, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  Members of our team also have close, long-term relationships with White House, presidential, and executive branch staff.

Because each sector of the healthcare industry has its own unique rules and standards for operation, we believe industry knowledge is an essential tool in our representation.  We also offer extensive private healthcare business experience in our representation.  Our team includes former CEOs, presidents, directors, and senior vice presidents from the pharmaceutical, health insurance, medical professional, medical device, and technology fields, in addition to academic research and healthcare association advocacy specialties. 

The Livingston Group will ensure that your viewpoints are heard consistently and dealt with rationally in the intertwined world of government programs.  TLG is strongly positioned with relevant Congressional committees, as well as key regulatory agencies.  We can work with the latest political proposals to ensure that the U.S. retains a reasonable market-based approach to delivery of medical services, research and development.

Lead Partner

J. Allen Martin – is the Managing Partner of The Livingston Group.  Mr. Martin was Chief of Staff to Bob Livingston (R-LA) throughout the congressman’s twenty-plus-year congressional career.  He founded The Livingston Group with Mr. Livingston in 1999.  Mr. Martin has extraordinary relationships among a wide variety of congressional leaders, the executive branch, and foreign governments.

Director

Mark Lindsay – served on President Obama’s Transition Team and in President Clinton’s White House as Assistant to the President for the Office of Management and Administration.  He oversaw the White House Military Office, which among his many responsibilities included the Medical Unit.  Before joining The Livingston Group, Mr. Lindsay was with UnitedHealth Group in a number of senior positions including President of the AARP Pharmacy Services Division and Vice President of Public Communications and Strategy.  Prior to his appointment to the White House, Mr. Lindsay served as senior legislative aide and counsel to Congressman Louis Stokes (D-OH).  He worked closely with Democrats and the Congressional Black Caucus focusing on health care and on a number of business and economic issues.

Team

Honorable Wayne Allard – is a former two-term Republican Senator and three-term Member of Congress from Colorado, Mr. Allard, served on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee. He earned a doctorate degree in Veterinary medicine from Colorado State University, and shortly thereafter founded and operated Allard Animal Hospital in Loveland, Colorado.  Mr. Allard served as Chairman on Veterinary Medicine for the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, and was a recipient of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Presidents Award. He published several scientific articles on veterinary medicine, and authored the book Colorado’s United States Senators: a biographical guide, 1876-2000.

Honorable Bob Clement – is a former eight-term Democratic Congressman from Tennessee. As a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. Clement servced on the Aviation; Railroad, Highways and Mass Transit; and Water Resources subcommittees.  He also served on the House Budget Committee, giving him significant insight into funding procedures in Congress.  He made global contacts through his work on the House International Affairs Committee.  In his travels associated with the Tourism Caucus, he promoted trade and tourism for the United States.

Honorable William H. Zeliff, Jr. - is a former Republican Member of Congress from New Hampshire and House Deputy Whip. Mr. Zeliff served as Chairman on the National Security, International Affairs and Judiciary Subcommittee, and as a member of the Transportation, Government Reform and Small Business committees.

Steve Bende, Ph.D. – is a former vice president of scientific affairs of a pharmaceutical trade association.  In that position, Mr. Bende crafted and delivered science policy positions and represented the industry to the Food and Drug Administration, Congress, public, and the press. Mr. Bende is a former National Institutes of Health scientist, and worked on HIV/AIDS with Dr. Anthony Fauci. Mr. Bende is a leading expert in follow-on/generic biologics science and policy.

Laurinda Calongne – is a graduate of Tulane University, where she received the master of social work (MSW) degree after completing an internship at New Orleans' Charity Hospital.   Ms. Calongne also earned a master of education and fellowship in medical education from the University of Southern California.

Martin Cancienne – is a Partner at The Livingston Group and served as Chief of Staff and District Director for Congressman Billy Tauzin (R-LA), the former House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman.  Mr. Cancienne focuses primarily on appropriations, agriculture, health and education matters, energy and environmental issues, and Army Corps of Engineers projects.

Harvey F. Ernest, Jr. – recently completed a 27-year career with 3M, a $16 billion global company. He was head of 3M Federal Systems, the central strategy and business development organization for national government markets. He held management positions in 3M Health Care Markets throughout his career where he dealt with medical devices, health information systems and hospital procurement.

M. L. "Tripp" Funderburk – served as a senior aide to former Congressman Bob Livingston (R-LA) on both personal and committee staff.  As Senior Vice President for The Washington Group, Mr. Funderburk represented numerous clients before Congress and the executive branch on a broad range of areas including health care and various appropriations issues.

Geoff Gleason – has twenty-five years of Capitol Hill experience.  Most recently, Gleason served as Appropriations Associate to Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and State.  Mr. Gleason spent ten years as Chief of Staff for Congressman Jerry Solomon (R-NY), former Chairman of the House Rules Committee. He also served as Chief of Staff to Congressman John Sweeney (R-NY), and on President Reagan's Transition Team.

Steven L. Kreseski – as Chief of Staff to Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., helped negotiate the administration's medical malpractice tort reform package.  In his capacity as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to then-Congressman Ehrlich, Mr. Kreseski worked closely with the Health Subcommittee to win adoption of important nurse training and medical reform legislation.  As the Legislative Director for the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, Mr. Kreseski represented the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries in numerous states and before the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services on patient safety and regulatory issues.

Russell J. Mueller – was a principal adviser to former Representatives Newt Gingrich and Dennis Hastert during a quarter century tenure as senior legislative staff to the members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.  He also, served as senior staff for then-Majority Leader Dick Armey’s House Leadership Task Force on Health.

Bernie Robinson – is a Partner at The Livingston Group and served in Illinois Governor George Ryan's cabinet with responsibility for Washington operations. A graduate of the Chase School of Law, Mr. Robinson also served as a corporate affairs executive for Phillip Morris with both U.S. and international assignments.

Marjorie Strayer – is a former chief of staff to Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM), who served on the Armed Services and Energy and Commerce Committee. Ms. Strayer also worked in the Washington State House of Representatives and was chief of staff to a former Washington state Congressman.

Representative Clients:

  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Shoot for the Future