Archives: Leadership

After a career primarily in the private sector, Danielle McBeth transitioned to Florida A&M University (FAMU) to join the President’s Senior Leadership Team as Director of Government Relations. A seasoned government relations practitioner at the federal, state and local levels of government, Ms. McBeth works collaboratively on behalf of her alma mater with the Board of Trustees and University Leadership to establish and implement state and federal legislative priorities. Advocacy on behalf of FAMU includes championing support for critical resources while opposing budgetary reductions and public policy that would jeopardize post secondary initiatives generally and HBCUs specifically.

Before transitioning to FAMU, Ms. McBeth was a Partner at Alcalde & Fay, where she amassed substantial government relations and public affairs experience on behalf of corporate, municipal and educational entities. After only a few years with Alcalde & Fay, Ms. McBeth became the youngest African-American woman appointed to partner in an established independent government affairs practice. Ms. McBeth has advocated on issues related to transportation, economic development, infrastructure, education, technology, and immigration. She has successfully led the legislative efforts of coalitions and organizations before Congress to amend and promote broad national policies. Her achievements included securing Federal grants and legislative appropriations for educational institutions and local governments for water and wastewater infrastructure, roadways, law enforcement technology, and marine science research.

Early in her career, Ms. McBeth served as press secretary for the Florida Commission on Education Reform and Accountability where she was responsible for coordinating media relations between campaign and media entities statewide. She served as the public information specialist for the Florida State University Center for Professional Development, where she coordinated publicity and promotions at the state, national, and international levels. She also worked for several newspapers including the New York Times Regional Newspapers, the Spartanburg Herald-Journal and the Tallahassee Democrat.

A native of Jackson, Mississippi, she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Florida A&M University. While continuing her career in government relations, Ms. McBeth obtained a law degree from American University, Washington College of Law.

Edward Lawrence Williams II “Lance” serves as a Director on BP America’s U.S. Government Affairs team based in Washington, D.C. As one of BP’s federal lobbyists, he manages corporate issues and represents BP’s Integrated Supply and Trading (IST) business and renewable energy businesses in front of federal-elected and appointed officials. Prior to this role, Lance served as a Director on BP America’s Regulatory Affairs team, managing the team’s priorities and coordinating strategic outreach efforts.

Lance previously served in politically appointed positions serving as business liaisons at the United States Treasury Department and the U.S. Department of Commerce. He also served on the Steering Committee for the White House Business Council. In these capacities, Lance was a business advocate in the Obama Administration, ensuring that the private sector and public interest groups had access to senior government officials in order to enable informed policy making decisions. He was also responsible for introducing businesses to new domestic and international market opportunities, engaging businesses across the country on priority economic issues, and keeping cabinet and subcabinet members briefed on industry priorities.

Prior to his work with the Obama Administration, Lance joined Presidential hopeful and then-Senator Barack Obama’s Campaign for Change as a volunteer in Chicago, and then as an Organizer and Base-Vote Director in Georgia and Florida, respectively. Lance started his career with BP’s IST business in Chicago, IL as an Analyst.

Lance received his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College and currently resides in Gaithersburg, MD with his wife LaRae and two daughters, Layla Madison and Anaya Grayce.

Ben Tesfazghi is the Manager of Legislative Affairs for the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), a trade association representing nearly 16,500 franchised new car and truck dealers in the United States.

In his role, he is responsible for tracking legislative initiatives related to vehicle affordability and safety, transportation and infrastructure, fuel economy, trade, and tax; working with Members of Congress and their staff to advance the association’s legislative priorities and providing political analysis and strategic advice that helps inform the association’s decision-making.

Prior to his role at NADA, Ben worked with the law firm Ballard Spahr as a Paralegal/Project Assistant, working on issues pertaining to Consumer Financial Services, and Data Privacy and Security. He has also held roles with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), the House Committee on Homeland Security and American Express.

A native Washingtonian of Eritrean descent, Ben received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and in Homeland Security from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He likes to spend his time being actively involved in his community mentoring students in the DC-area and providing career insight to recent graduates.

Tiffani V. Williams is a Senior Vice President and Public Policy Advisor with the Daschle Group, a Public Policy Advisory of Baker Donelson, and Of Counsel with Baker Donelson. She concentrates her practice on public policy matters relating to the health care, biofuel, food, and agriculture sectors.

Ms. Williams has represented multinational organizations across various segments of these industries, to advance her clients’ business and public affairs priorities, specializing in government relations. She provides clients with a full range of services including, regulatory and policy analysis, advocacy, and thought leadership strategy.  As part of her advocacy, Ms. Williams interacts directly with Congress, the administration, and executive branch agencies.

Ms. Williams has authored and contributed to a number of publications on topics related to her practice. In 2014, she was recognized as a Washington, DC Rising Star in the Super Lawyers Magazine.

A native of Washington, DC, she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from American University, a Master of Public Health Degree from Yale University, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall).

Ms. Williams enjoys watching movies, traveling to new destinations, and mentoring.

Nana A.P. Nyanin is an Assistant Vice President of Government Affairs at LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker dealer. Ms. Nyanin is responsible for advancing the firm’s public policy priorities on Capitol Hill and serves as a conduit to Members of Congress and their staff. Ms. Nyanin’s political analysis and strategic guidance enables LPL to navigate an ever-changing legislative and regulatory landscape.

Prior to LPL, Ms. Nyanin was a lead lobbyist and policy analyst at New York Life, where she managed a bi-partisan cybersecurity and privacy government relations strategy. Ms. Nyanin began her professional career at the United Nations in Bangkok, Thailand, where she conducted research on a myriad of subjects, including global supply chains, rural development, and employment creation.

Ms. Nyanin attended McGill University in Montreal, Canada, earning an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in International Development Studies and Political Science. In addition, she received her master’s degree in Local Economic Development from the London School of Economics (LSE). While at the LSE, Ms. Nyanin conducted research for her master’s thesis within Ghana (her family’s country of origin), exploring the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility, the transfer of advanced skills, and the commercialization of technology. Ms. Nyanin also holds a professional certificate in Cybersecurity Strategy from Georgetown University.

A true global citizen, Ms. Nyanin spent her formative years living in the Philippines, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.

 

Issac A. Fordjour joined Tarplin, Downs, & Young, LLC in February 2007. He was most recently the Director of Federal and State Legislative Affairs for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). Prior to joining NMDP, Fordjour worked in the office of the Tennessee House Speaker Pro Tempore where he assisted the legislative effort to establish TennCare. Fordjour is also co-founder of Legacy PAC, a bipartisan political action committee focused on supporting emerging political leaders. He serves on advisory committees for numerous organizations including the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the National Conference of Black Mayors, and the Democratic National Committee.

Marcus Sebastian Mason is Senior Partner at The Madison Group, LLC (TMG) with offices in Los Angeles and Washington, DC. He also manages the firm’s West Coast operation in California.

 Prior to joining TMG, he served as Amtrak’s Senior Director of Government Affairs, and interim Head of Office. He was responsible for advancing the company’s strategic business initiatives in the House of Representatives, United States Senate and more than three dozen states.

 Prior to his tenure at Amtrak, Marcus served as both Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for two California Members of Congress. During that time, he initiated and enacted several initiatives impacting the 37th Congressional District and the State of California. Marcus won his first congressional campaign at age twenty-one before beginning his tenure as Capitol Hill’s youngest Chief of Staff.

 He currently serves on the board of directors of the Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee (CBCPAC). He also serves on the Corporate Advisory Board for Pearl Homes, a modular affordable housing developer. Marcus is the Chairman of the Biden Campaign’s African American Leadership Finance Council

and serves as Senior Advisor to the Campaign’s Co-Chairman, Congressman Cedric Richmond.

Marcus has served on the board of directors of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) as its Treasurer and chaired its Budget & Investment Committee. He also recently became the immediate past president of the African American lobbyists association, the Washington Government Relations Group (WGRG).

 Marcus is a published author who writes spy thrillers under the pen name Sebastian Cheney. He is married to Christina Mary and is the father of three, Taelor Chanel, Romelo and Grace Anne.

Virgil Miller served for nearly 13 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, most recently as the Chief of Staff for Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA), current Assistant to the Majority Whip and immediate past Chairman of the CBC. Virgil served as liaison between Rep. Richmond and two presidential administrations, including all federal agencies. In addition, he coordinated Rep. Richmond’s activities with congressional leadership and House committee offices, earning a high level of respect by members of Congress and many others in Washington, on both sides of the political aisle. He was instrumental in developing the strategy for successful passage of multiple bills in the House pertaining to job creation, cybersecurity, energy, flood protection, disaster recovery, critical infrastructure protection and nuclear global detection.

Before joining Rep. Richmond’s office, Virgil spent four years as a professional staff member for the Committee on Energy and Commerce and health policy advisor to Chairman John Dingell (D-MI). He played a key role in drafting and negotiating the passage of some of the most consequential health and safety policy of the last 15 years, including the Affordable Care Act, the Food Safety Enhancement Act, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 and the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008.

Earlier in his career, Virgil was a health policy fellow in the office of Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY). In that role, he assisted in developing and advancing the congressman’s health policy agenda, including reauthorization of the National Institutes of Health, reduction of childhood obesity, expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and medical device safety.

A native of South Carolina, Dontai Smalls joined the UPS Global Public Affairs function in the Washington, DC office in October 1999. He coordinates all international issues on Capitol Hill for UPS, particularly global trade and customs modernization policy. He also coordinates UPS’ global aviation portfolio in DC. He is responsible in Washington for managing the relationships between UPS and Europe, including the embassies. Dontai also manages the relationship between UPS and the Congressional Study Groups, which provides substantive, issue-based opportunities for Members of Congress to engage with their counterparts abroad.

From 2005-2007, he served as counsel to UPS’s Air Group Legal Department in Louisville, KY. In that capacity, he focused on all brokerage/customs, flight operations, international operations and real estate/airport property issues relating to UPS Airlines, one of the largest airlines in world.

Prior to coming to UPS, Dontai completed various internships in Washington, including The White House, Department of Energy, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

He is Chairman of the Board of Directors at the United Planning Organization, the City’s largest anti-poverty nonprofit organization and also serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, the Express Association of America (Vice President), the South Carolina Business Council in Washington, and the International Aviation Club (Treasurer).

Dontai received his Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center and his Bachelor of Arts cum laude in political science from Howard University.

He and his wife, Jennifer, reside in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC with their two children.

With nearly 25 years of experience in government affairs, public policy, business and industry – Nigel has working in both chambers on Capitol Hill, on political campaigns and in the private sector to drive initiatives around innovation, small business and entrepreneurship, modernizing government, and economic development.

Nigel supports businesses of various sizes develop and implement integrated and comprehensive government affairs program including setting strategic direction, brand awareness, market shaping, public policy and advocacy. He serves as liaison between members of Congress, State and Local governments, service and technology industry, regulators and other policy makers.