Senior Staff

Rochelle Behrens

Rochelle Behrens joined Quinn Gillespie & Associates in June 2004 and helps provide government affairs counsel to the firm’s clients. Ms. Behrens represents a wide range of corporations and coalitions on issues related to financial services, science and entertainment. She also works on business development matters.

Previously, Rochelle worked closely with firm chairman Jack Quinn providing project support, fundraising and media direction for him. Her connection to and interest in the media community keeps her involved also with communications strategy for QGA’s clients.

Ms. Behrens began in politics serving as an intern in the White House Office of Public Liaison. She is a native of San Diego, California and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in both Art History and Political Science with a concentration in American Politics.

back to top

Stacey Morton Bowlin

With more than 12 years of experience in corporate branding, marketing programs, product management, event planning and business development, Stacey Morton Bowlin is helping Quinn Gillespie & Associates develop and execute standout communications strategies on behalf of the firm and its clients.

Prior to joining QGA in 2008, Ms. Bowlin provided strategic communications counsel and support to Ford Motor Company’s philanthropic arm, Ford Motor Company Fund, and created and implemented a growth-oriented marketing strategy as vice president for Dittus Communications, a prominent Washington D.C. public affairs firm. During her five year tenure with Dittus, revenue more than doubled and the firm received numerous honors including 2003 ‘Public Affairs Agency of the Year.’

Before coming to Washington D.C., Ms. Bowlin worked in the technology arena creating a new market for streaming media. In the midst of the Internet boom in the late 1990s, she was integral in the launch of an enterprise Webcasting application and the subsequent product transition during the mergers and acquisitions between Netpodium, INTERVU and, ultimately, Akamai. Ms. Bowlin also led marketing and public relations efforts for a go-to-market consultancy in Seattle and managed executive visibility programs for Alexander Ogilvy in Atlanta. She is a graduate of Washington State University.

back to top

Bonnie Hogue Duffy

Bonnie Hogue Duffy co-manages the QGA Healthcare practice. She joined QGA in 2007 after having served as Director of Federal Policy at the Alzheimer’s Association. In this position, she developed and implemented the Association’s policy positions on federal issues.

back to top

Allison Giles

Allison H. Giles co-manages the Healthcare practice at Quinn Gillespie & Associates. She brings more than a decade of both legislative and executive experience to the firm.

Ms. Giles joined the firm in January 2007 after serving as Chief of Staff to the House Ways and Means Committee under Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA). During her six years of service in this position, she advised the Chairman and Committee Members on policies within the Committee’s jurisdiction including legislation affecting Medicare and health care, taxes, trade, welfare and Social Security policies. Prior to this, she spent an additional six years working on the Committee as Professional Staff on health care issues and as a Legislative Assistant for Representative Thomas. Before working on Capitol Hill, Ms. Giles served for two years as the Assistant Chief Counsel for Health Policy at the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Ms. Giles also worked as a Registered Nurse for nearly ten years at several major teaching hospitals. She specialized in the area of medical oncology, specifically gynecological oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation.

A native of Washington, D.C., Ms. Giles earned a B.S. in Nursing from Boston College and a J.D. from Widener University School of Law. Ms. Giles and her husband Tom live in Chevy Chase with their three sons.

back to top

Catherine Goode

Catherine Goode manages QGA’s International practice and international business development. Since joining QGA in January 2005, she has provided government and media relations counsel and tactics to the firm’s foreign government, international corporate and non-profit organization clients. She works with clients on issues including accession to the European Union, international trade, diplomacy and political campaigns. She also provides grassroots strategy and tactics on domestic issues including employment-based immigration reform and U.S. commercial relations.

Prior to joining QGA, Ms. Goode served as a researcher to the founder and Chairman of Robinson, Lerer & Montgomery (RLM), the nationally recognized strategic and crisis management communications firm based in New York. She has also served as a Commercial Assistant for the Department of Commerce at the U.S. Consulate in Montreal, Canada, and a researcher at the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council in Washington, DC.

A sixth-generation native of Houston, Texas, Ms. Goode speaks fluent French. She earned her Masters in International Public Policy from Georgetown University and B.A. from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

back to top

Elizabeth Hogan

Elizabeth Hogan joined Quinn Gillespie & Associates in May 2005 after more than five years working for the Bush Administration and the Republican National Committee. She provides government relations counsel to a variety of the firm’s clients on a wide range of issues including education, energy, environment, health care, labor, and transportation. The firm’s clients benefit from Ms. Hogan’s executive branch, political and campaign experience.

back to top

Virginia Hume

Virginia Hume is one of Quinn Gillespie and Associate’s senior media and communication strategists. Since joining the firm in February 2000, she has served a variety of the firm’s clients on issues ranging from steel imports and government antitrust investigations to regulation reform legislation for Government Sponsored Enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Ms. Hume has strong skills and experience in media relations and written communications. She supports clients in both strategic and tactical capacities. In addition to creating effective media relations and communications strategies, she also offers solid relationships with a variety of journalists, particularly in television and among conservative media. During the 2004 presidential campaign, Ms. Hume volunteered with “W Stands for Women,” a grassroots effort to mobilize support for President Bush among women. She helped lead a group of professional female writers who sought to generate support through letter writing and placement of newspaper op-eds.

Prior to joining QGA, Ms. Hume was a Managing Director at BMSG Worldwide and a Deputy Press Secretary in charge of broadcast and national cable at the Republican National Committee. For several years after leaving the RNC, she was a Contributing Editor of Rising Tide, the RNC’s magazine. She also served as the Deputy Director of Communications for the Sauerbrey for Governor Campaign in Maryland in 1994. Virginia graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland with husband Drew Onufer and their two daughters.

back to top

Michael F. Hussey

Mike Hussey joined Quinn Gillespie & Associates in March 2002. He works on legislative and regulatory issues for clients including Entergy, the National Association of Realtors, Diageo, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Banco Popular, Genworth and State Farm.

Prior to joining QGA, Mr. Hussey served as Chief of Staff and Chief Federal Lobbyist for the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), an organization of the nation’s leading resort development companies including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Disney. In addition to overseeing a staff of 30, he created a new political action committee that has grown into one of the nation’s largest PACs. He also directed the Association’s lobbying and grass roots departments. Before that he served as a Senior Legislative Director at the National Association of Realtors for 10 years.

Mr. Hussey began his career in the nation’s capital with former U.S. Senator John Durkin (D-NH) from 1977 to 1980. During his tenure in the Senate, he served as a legislative assistant responsible for small business, tax and energy issues.

back to top

Kevin D. Kayes

Kevin D. Kayes joined Quinn Gillespie & Associates in November 2006 and provides senior leadership to the firm on client issues, business development and Democratic political activities. Kevin joined QGA after having served 23 years on Capitol Hill, where he held a number of important positions in the United States Senate and brings a wealth of substantive policy, Congressional procedure and strategic expertise to the firm. He most recently served as Chief Counsel to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and helped manage policy matters for the Leader within the jurisdiction of the Senate Commerce, Banking, HELP, Judiciary, Finance and Government Affairs Committees, as well as conducting outreach efforts to the business community.

Prior to that Mr. Kayes served as Staff Director and Chief Counsel on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee for Senator Ernest F. Hollings during his tenure as both Chairman and Ranking Minority Member from 1999 – 2004. In his early Hill career, Mr. Kayes served as Assistant Floor Parliamentarian from 1987 until 1999 under both Republican and Democratic Leaders in the United States Senate and began his career in Congress as a Legislative Assistant to Congressman Adam Benjamin, Jr. (D-IND) a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee.

A native of Crown Point, Indiana, Mr. Kayes earned a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from Indiana University and a J.D. from DePaul College of law in Chicago. He is a member of the Bar in the District of Columbia.

back to top

Susan Garman Kranias

Sue Garman Kranias is one of Quinn Gillespie & Associates senior communications strategists, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in public affairs and public relations to her work on behalf of QGA clients. She is an expert at crisis and issues management and specializes in corporate strategy and development of broad-based public education programs. She also has significant experience working on energy, environmental, healthcare, high-tech and biotech issues. During the course of her career, Ms. Garman Kranias has been involved in issues as varied as crisis management surrounding the introduction of new reformulated gasolines; public education on electricity deregulation; communications for major corporate mergers and proxy campaigns; and issues management around new product introductions.

Prior to joining QGA in September 2001, Ms. Garman Kranias was a Managing Director and member of the public affairs leadership team at Burson-Marsteller, a global public relations agency. There she worked on numerous energy, chemical and transportation issues and clients. She began her career in Washington as a writer for the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association. Ms. Garman Kranias graduated from the American University in Washington, D.C., with a degree in journalism. She lives with her husband and two young children in Kensington, Maryland.

back to top

Marc S. Lampkin

Marc Lampkin brings extensive experience in political campaigns, public policy and law to his work on behalf of Quinn Gillespie & Associate clients, including Sony, Diageo, Forest County Potawatomi Community, DaimlerChrysler, First Data Corporation and PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP.

Prior to joining QGA in February 2001, Mr. Lampkin served in a variety of roles with the Bush for President campaign including Deputy Campaign Manager, senior Bush-Cheney political operative at the 2000 Republican Convention, and leader of the recount efforts in various locations in Florida. More recently, he played a prominent role in the Delegate and Caucus Operations at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York.

Mr. Lampkin has also held several senior policy positions with both House and Senate Republican Leadership offices where he worked on financial service, education, e-commerce, tax and judiciary issues. He began his career as an Associate Attorney at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. He is a 1986 cum laude graduate of the College of the Holy Cross with a A.B. in Political Science, and earned his J.D. from Boston College Law School, where he served as a member of the Boston College Law Review and the Frederick Douglas National Moot Court Team.

back to top

David R. Lugar

Dave Lugar has a strong background in financial services, trade and energy issues. He provides legislative and regulatory counsel to clients such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Cemex USA, MetLife, State Farm, Bank of America, and Zurich.

Prior to joining QGA in February 2000, Mr. Lugar served as Director of Congressional Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, lobbying on a variety of issues. He also has significant political experience, having held finance and fundraising positions for the National Republican Senatorial Committee under Chairman Alfonse D’Amato and Chairman Mitch McConnell. Before entering politics, Mr. Lugar also worked as a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch and in management positions with AT&T in the Mid-West. Mr. Lugar is a graduate of Indiana University.

back to top

Nicolas Maduros

Nicolas Maduros joined Quinn Gillespie & Associates at its inception in January 2000. He provides government relations and public affairs counsel to a variety of the firm’s clients. Mr. Maduros also works with clients on a wide range of legislative and regulatory matters from financial services to agriculture to Native American issues. Additionally, he has assisted a number of clients in the resolution of international trade disputes and the negotiation of trade agreements. Mr. Maduros also counsels firm clients on public affairs issues, with an expertise in advising companies involved in civil or criminal legal proceedings.

Prior to joining QGA, Mr. Maduros worked with former White House Counsel Jack Quinn as an attorney in Arnold & Porter’s Public Policy Practice Group. While at Arnold & Porter, he represented clients before Congress, the Administration and various independent agencies.

Mr. Maduros has also worked as an attorney in the Washington office of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson & Hand and at an educational technology company as counsel to the Chairman and CEO.

Mr. Maduros is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School and currently resides in the District of Columbia.

back to top

Christopher McCannell

Christopher McCannell joined Quinn Gillespie and Associates in 2007 after spending eight years as Chief of Staff to Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY). Congressman Crowley is a member of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and a member of the House Democratic leadership as Chief Deputy Whip. Prior to working with Congressman Crowley, Mr. McCannell served as press secretary for Congressman Steny H. Hoyer, and on the staffs of Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski and Senators Frank R. Lautenberg and George J. Mitchell. Mr. McCannell brings thirteen years of experience in Congressional communication, policy and politics.

Mr. McCannell served as the lead staff member in Congressman Crowley’s office interacting with House Democratic leadership through his role as floor assistant to the Chief Deputy Whip. He has helped develop successful coalitions uniting policy makers and advocates to pass the modernization of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, reform of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the US-Singapore, Chile, Morocco and Bahrain Free Trade Agreements, reform of Terrorism Risk Insurance (TRIA) and passage of the American Job Creation Act (FSC/ETI).

Mr. McCannell has worked extensively to reinvigorate in the 109th Congress the New Democrat Coalition, a group of over 60 centrist Members of the House of Representatives of which Rep. Crowley is a chair. He has also worked closely with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Business Council. Mr. McCannell served as chief political advisor to Crowley in his DCCC Business Council Chairmanship role.

Prior to serving on Ways and Means, Mr. McCannell worked to promote Congressman Crowley’s priorities on the Committee on Financial Services. Mr. McCannell has worked on a number of Congressional and Presidential campaigns and has extensive experience in accomplishing public policy goals.

back to top

Patricia McMurray

Patricia McMurray brings more than 20 years of experience in public relations and the news business to her work on behalf of QGA clients. She is a former news editor, writer and producer who has also worked as a public relations manager at two major Washington trade associations.

She has a long background in energy and healthcare work. During the California electricity crisis, Ms. McMurray acted as a key communicator to the media for the trade association representing investor-owned electric utilities. On the healthcare front, Ms. McMurray helped design various types of media outreach for a well-known Washington consulting firm; she helped publicize their policy-neutral comparison of the Bush and Kerry health care plans in fall 2004. That campaign garnered outstanding media coverage nationwide and a mention during the Presidential debates.

Prior to joining QGA, Ms. McMurray worked as a writer-producer on a political talk show at MSNBC, a news editor and writer at The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and a news writer at CNN’s Washington bureau. Additionally, Ms. McMurray has a background as a host and a reporter on public and commercial radio stations in Boston and in Washington, D.C. Most recently, she was a director in the media practice at Burson-Marsteller, a global public relations agency.

She is a graduate of Connecticut College and holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in English from the University of Pennsylvania.

back to top

Harriet James Melvin

Harriet Melvin brings more than 15 years experience in government affairs and business to her work for Quinn Gillespie & Associates clients including Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers and Safeway. For each of these clients she is a partner in devising and implementing their government and political affairs strategies. She helped secure passage of the Satellite Home Viewer Act bringing local channels to satellite viewers and played an integral part in the passage of the Internet and Broadband Deployment Act in the House of Representatives.

Prior to joining QGA in April 2000, Ms. Melvin served as Vice President for Federal Government Affairs for Circuit City Stores and CarMax. She also previously served as a Legislative Representative for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and was Legislative Assistant to Rep. Charles Hatcher. Ms. Melvin has served as an instructor at the National Republican Congressional Committee’s (NRCC) Campaign School and provides legislative and political advice as a member of NRCC’s prestigious “House Incumbent Retention Group.” She was named one of the “Rising Stars under 40” by National Journal. Ms. Melvin is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

back to top

Manuel Ortiz

Recognized by several national publications as one of Washington’s top lobbyists, Mr. Ortiz combines political savvy with common sense business acumen to help Fortune 100 companies as well as foreign and domestic government entities negotiate the changing environment on Capitol Hill. He has a proven ability to deliver success and help raise the political profiles of companies and CEOs inside the beltway.

Mr. Ortiz works with domestic & international clients on a broad range of issues by providing strategic planning and government affairs counseling. Mr. Ortiz participates actively in the National Democratic Party and its overall leadership structure. He has worked closely with the Democratic Senatorial and Congressional Campaign Committees in their efforts to secure a majority and is also actively involved in national Democratic campaigns with policy, political and fundraising efforts. In 2004, Mr. Ortiz served as top aide to Senator John Kerry’s presidential campaign. Today, Mr. Ortiz serves as political advisor to several U.S. Senators in leadership and is a valued consultant to political candidates.

Mr. Ortiz appears frequently on national news networks such as MSNBC, Telemundo and Univision as a political commentator, sharing his insights on various newsworthy topics.

Prior to joining QGA in April 2003, Mr. Ortiz served as a transactional attorney with the international law firms of Verner Liipfert Bernhard McPherson & Hand and Greenberg Traurig LLP. During this time, Mr. Ortiz counseled private and public sector clients in the following areas: public infrastructure, energy, transportation, capital markets, communications, environmental, and technology. He gained significant experience dealing with Latin American clients and Fortune 100 companies doing business in that region. Mr. Ortiz frequently counseled entities doing business with the Federal Government as well as international companies developing business in Latin America.

Mr. Ortiz also has extensive experience representing and advancing the interest of United States territories and foreign governments with federal agencies, Congress and the White House.

Mr. Ortiz, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, obtained a B.A. and J.D. from the University of Kansas, where he also served as captain of the men’s tennis team.

back to top

Ashley Prime

Ashley Prime provides communications services to many of QGA’s high-profile clients. Since joining QGA in 2006, she has developed and executed media strategy and tactics, designed to enhance visibility of issues at a national and targeted local level. Ashley has succeeded in placing stories in a wide range of national and local media including NBC’s “Today Show,” Fox Business, PBS’s “Nightly Business Report,” CNBC and Bloomberg TV as well as high profile print media including the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, and Los Angeles Times. In addition, Ashley maintains fresh and current contacts with journalists at most widely-recognized print, broadcast and radio outlets. She is also a member of the Republican Communications Association.

Ms. Prime previously worked for the Republican National Committee where she was the Coalition Director with the Jerry Kilgore gubernatorial campaign. She has also worked for Senator George Allen (R-VA) and has served on various national and local Republican political campaigns. She is a graduate of James Madison University in Virginia.

back to top

Rick Shapiro

Richard Shapiro joined Quinn Gillespie and Associates in 2007 to support the firm's energy, environment, and natural resources clients. He has more than 20 years of regulatory and public affairs experience in the energy and building materials industries as well as managing large-scale, multi- million dollar infrastructure projects.

Before joining QGA, Rick served as executive vice president of public affairs for CEMEX's U.S. operations and was responsible for the Company's governmental affairs, corporate communications and community relations functions. Prior to joining CEMEX in July of 2004, Shapiro was vice president of external affairs for Sempra Energy Global Enterprises in San Diego, California.

Shapiro received his Bachelors degree with Honors from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., and a J.D. with High Honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford, Conn. He most recently served on the Board of Directors of the Portland Cement Association and the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

He resides in Houston, Texas with his wife and two Children. .

back to top

FIRM PROFILE | SERVICES | RESULTS | TEAM
CLIENTS | IN THE NEWS | CONTACT US