International Relations/Business Development
A recent trend in international relations has been the realization that the public profile of a sovereign nation in Washington, DC can be critical to the success of that nation's foreign policy goals. Challenges can include overall image and reputation, unilateral sanctions, US economic and defense assistance, and multilateral financing. Corporations and other institutions are continuously faced with both challenges and opportunities in the fast-moving global economy. As formerly closed markets open around the world, investment opportunities abound. Assessment of the political risks - and management of those political risks - are critical for successful business ventures over time. Overseas investments and trade often require in-country advocates as well as access to US government resources and support from federal agencies, international organizations, associations, financial institutions and the US Congress. We have a proven track record of success for our clients in finding competitive opportunities in international markets. Many of our professionals are multi-lingual.
Director: Honorable Lauri J. Fitz-Pegado -- Former Assistant Secretary and Director General of the US and Foreign Commercial Service at the Department of Commerce, diplomat, vice president of a global satellite company and managing director of a major public affairs firm’s international division. She has served as a strategic counselor to foreign governments, corporations and non-profits. She speaks Spanish and Portuguese.
lfitzp@livingstongroupdc.com
Honorable Joseph H. Blatchford - Former Director of the Peace Corps and Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce. Attorney specialized in international trade and tariff matters on behalf of foreign industries and government agencies before the executive branch and the courts. Lobbyist to secure or defend U.S. foreign assistance or trade preferences. Advisor on communications strategies to deal with the press and media.
Honorable E. Thomas Coleman -- Former member of the U.S. Congressional Delegation to the European Parliament from 1979 to 1992. Founded and chaired the U.S. Congressional Study Group on Germany. Served as an Official Observer to the Arms Control Talks in Geneva. As Vice President of Government Relations for BASF Corporation, provided strategic direction for one of the world’s leading transnational corporations. Participated in the Trans Atlantic Business Dialogue and the Transatlantic Policy Network.
Honorable Anthony J. Moffett -- Former subcommittee chairman on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Named "Best Member of Congress" by Consumer Federation of America.
Served as Vice President of The Monsanto Company, responsible for international external affairs.
Honorable William H. Zeliff, Jr. -- Former House Deputy Whip. Subcommittee Chairman on National Security, International Affairs and Judiciary Committees. Member of the Transportation, Government Reform and Small Business Committees.
Jeff Ballabon -- Former Senate Commerce Committee counsel and Legislative Counsel for Senator John Danforth. He has represented foreign companies in Washington and US companies in Europe, FSU, Latin America, Canada, China, India, Israel and Australia.
Dana Bauer -- Veteran of the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Intelligence Council. Directly supported the Director of Central Intelligence on matters relating to Turkey and the Aegean Region. Serves on the Board of Directors and as President of the American Iraqi Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Lydia A. Borland -- President of the Caspian Group, an international government relations and business development company specializing in Turkey and Azerbaijan. She is also the Washington Representative of the Turkish U.S. Business Council and Deputy Executive Director of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce. Fluent in Turkish, Spanish, Italian, French and Azerbaijani.
Lionel Collins, Jr. -- Former Chief of Staff to Louisiana Congressman William J. Jefferson who serves on the Ways and Means Committee. A graduate of Howard University Law School and the University of New Orleans with a total of 20 years House and Senate experience.
Terence Costello -- A 30-year veteran of the private sector, Executive Branch and Capitol Hill, he heads The Eagles Group, a domestic and international business development and lobbying alliance, which is engaged in pinpointing marketing opportunities and securing business in Canada, Europe and the Middle East.
William D. Crosby, Jr. -- Former Chief Counsel and Republican Counsel on House Rules Committee, with a total of twenty-seven years of experience. Served as a Navy officer during Vietnam War and received degrees from Yale (BA) and Columbia (JD).
David Dumke -- Co-founded MidAmr Group, an organization focused on strengthening political and economical relations between the U.S. and the Arab World. MidAmr Group works extensively with Congress to promote understanding of the Middle Eastern and North African political, economic, and social climate. He served as a staff to members of both parties holding positions in the following areas: appropriations, commerce, defense, energy, foreign affairs, trade, and transportation issues.
Carlos A. Echeverría -- Carlos Alberto Echeverría Alfaro is a partner in the law firm "Bufete Echeverría/InterLex" in San José, Costa Rica. The firm was founded more than 60 years ago and has a general practice, with special emphasis in business and government relations, in Costa Rica and the Central American Region. Mr. Echeverría speaks fluent Spanish and English, and has an intermediate command of the German language.
Harvey F. Ernest, Jr. -- President of RIVERGROUP, 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 has experience in developing global strategies and marketing organizations for national government business development corporatewide.
M. L. "Tripp" Funderburk -- Working on Capitol Hill, Mr. Funderburk served as Congressman Livingston’s lead staffer for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations. He assisted then-Ranking Member Livingston on appropriations for all international programs.
Bruce Hatton -- Former Vice President and General Manager of Washington Operations for McDermott International, the New Orleans-based energy services company with worldwide operations and facilities. Mr. Hatton also held a number of positions in both the public and private sectors, including Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and a principal strategist with the business coalition formed to gain Congressional approval of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Peter Iovino -- Served as an Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and later as global executive in charge of twenty-five TSA representatives at TSA headquarters and American embassies around the world. Iovino spent 15 years as a federal government lobbyist for Ford Motor Company, representing the company before Congress and the Executive Branch on a variety of issues, including international trade.
Cathryn J. Kingsbury -- A five-year legislative and government affairs consultant in international relations with a comprehensive background in Middle East and European affairs. In addition to client representation she provides general and strategic consultation to visiting delegations. Ms. Kingsbury has a Masters in Public Policy (International Relations and American Politics) from Pepperdine University.
David M. Lonie -- Former foreign policy analyst for the House Republican Study Committee and senior aide on the House International Relations Committee.
Mark Maddox -- Served as Deputy Director of Communications under President George H.W. Bush. And, under the present Bush Administration, Maddox managed high profile initiatives as Acting Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy at the Department of Energy. For example: the 21-nation Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, the Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Power Plant development and the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline. He also served as chief of staff for Congressman Nathan Deal (R-GA), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Ron McMurray -- Previously served as Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne’s representative in DC and the principal federal lobbyist for Idaho’s business and trading partners. During this period, he was also a member of the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee for U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick.
Darren Morris -- Led campaigns on behalf of foreign governments and organizations to raise public awareness, highlight foreign policy issues, and build support within the United States. Led coalition building and public relations efforts within business community for various trade agreements including NAFTA and CAFTA. Skilled negotiator on behalf of private interests, government agencies and corporations in international business alliances and ventures. Political advisor to several foreign interests in Canada, Europe, Central Asia and Middle East. Extensive strategic communications planning and media relations with international media and U.S. foreign policy media by serving as a spokesmen and communications strategist on several international endeavors.
Néstor Navarro, Jr. -- Mr. Navarro, based in Mexico City, provides consulting services for strategic business alliances in North America and Latin America. He is fluent in both English and Spanish, and provides particular expertise in shipping and other transportation issues.
Richard L. Rodgers -- A former naval officer and Deputy Executive Secretary to the Secretary of Defense, Rodgers coordinated the US Navy's liaison effort with the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
Robert G. Suber -- General Manager of M.G. Suber & Asociados, Cía. Ltda. (an Ecuadorian firm), Mr. Suber is based in Quito, Ecuador. His business experience includes defense, security and law enforcement products and services, along with mining and mineral, exploration, development and extraction.
Stacie W. Fujii -- Served in the office of Congressman Vic Snyder (D-AR). As senior staffer, she handled issues in Judiciary, Banking, Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, Housing, Science, Social Security and Telecommunications. Fujii is a member of the American Council of Young Political Leaders and has participated in two democracy building exchanges with the Egyptian government.
Representative Clients:
- Anglo-American
- APEX
- Azerbaijan
- Council for Democratic Iran
- Curacao
- Egypt
- Libya