Quinn Gillespie

Jack Quinn

Jack is the co-founder and chairman of Quinn Gillespie & Associates and serves as the firm’s chief strategist. He has been a long-time advisor to Democratic leaders and has served as counsel to numerous Democratic campaigns.

Before co-founding QGA in 2000, Jack was a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Arnold & Porter where he practiced for 20 years. Jack served as Counsel to the President the United States from November 1995 to February 1997. At the time of Jack’s appoint ment by President Clinton, he was Vice President Gore’s Chief-of-Staff and Counselor, a position he undertook in June 1993. Before his government service, Jack was also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center where he taught a seminar in constitutional law for three years.

Jack is a 1971 graduate of Georgetown University College of Arts and Sciences and is a 1975 graduate of Georgetown University Law Center where he was an editor of the Georgetown Law Journal. While in college and law school, Jack served on the staff of the United States Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs (1969-73), the Democratic National Committee (1973) and Senator Floyd Haskell (D-CO, 1974-75). In 1975-76, at the age of 26, Jack served as Campaign Director of the Udall for President campaign.

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has served on a number of boards, including Fannie Mae (1997-2000), the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial and the Center City Consortium.

John Feehery

John Feehery is currently the President of Quinn Gillespie Communications and Director of QGA Government Affairs.  Before joining QGA, Feehery was President of the Feehery Group, a strategic advocacy firm dedicated to helping its clients achieve their legislative and communications objectives in Washington D.C., and the chief blogger for The Feehery Theory (www.thefeeherytheory.com).  He is a frequent commentator on the political landscape, widely quoted around the country and often seen on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News Channel.   He is also a regular contributor to CNN.com, Politico and to The Hill’s “Pundits Blog.”

Feehery has worked for almost two decades in a variety of influential positions both as a staffer for three prominent members of the United States House of Representatives Republican leadership and a communications strategist in the private sector.  Most recently, Feehery served as Executive Vice President for Global Government Relations and Global Public Relations for the Motion Picture Association of America.

Feehery managed the communications operation for Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert.  Feehery was the longest-serving top spokesman to a Speaker of the House in the history of the House of Representatives.  Feehery came directly to the Speaker’s office after a stint as a government relations advocate for the Barbour, Griffith and Rogers.  He also served concurrently as Vice President for Communications for Policy Impact Communications.  Before that stint, Feehery served from 1995 until 1998 as the Communications Director for Majority Whip Tom DeLay. Before becoming DeLay’s communications director, he served as the Whip office’s Chief Floor Assistant, during the historically notable “Contract with America.”

Feehery started his career as a speechwriter to former US House Republican Leader Bob Michel.

Natasha Altamirano

Natasha brings strong media relations and writing skills to QGA’s communications practice, where she develops communications strategy and conducts traditional- and social-media outreach on behalf of clients. Prior to joining the firm in 2010, she served as Manager of Media Relations for the Tax Foundation, a national fiscal policy research organization. Natasha previously served as Communications Manager for the National Taxpayers Union, a taxpayer-advocacy organization, and its research affiliate, the National Taxpayers Union Foundation. She has secured media placements in a variety of national- and state-level print and broadcast media, including Fox News Channel, CNN, CNBC, the Associated Press, the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s and USA Today.

Natasha has worked as a reporter at The Washington Times and The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, Va. She graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia, where she served as News Editor for its student newspaper, The Cavalier Daily.

Adam Belmar

Adam Belmar joined QGA as a Director in the Communications practice in 2011.  Adam, who previously held the position of Vice President for Communications at R&R Partners, served as a commissioned officer in the George W. Bush administration.  In 2007, President Bush appointed Adam to be Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Communications for Production.  Adam developed and implemented messaging and visual communications strategies that advanced the President’s policies and objectives. Issues included energy, defense, economic growth, health care, trade, homeland security, environment, and national volunteerism.  During his tenure, he also managed production of all presidential addresses, events, TV interviews, press conferences and summits.

Adam also has extensive television and digital communications experience, having run the Washington bureau of ABC’s “Good Morning America,” and served as the Senior Producer for ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.” Adam was also previously a producer at the McLaughlin Group and Tribune Broadcasting.

Included in his portfolio of work at QGA, Adam serves as media consultant to the International Monetary Fund.  Adam is also a contributor to Sirius XM Satellite radio’s POTUS Channel and is Host of the weekly show, “Polioptics.”

Chris Brown

Christopher S. Brown joined QGA as Director of Digital Strategy in 2010. With more than a decade of experience leading digital projects, Mr. Brown has helped global brands, associations, nonprofits and news organizations develop digital advertising, public relations and public affairs programs. He previously held the position of Managing Editor for New Media at the FOX television show America’s Most Wanted, and began his career at KRON-TV in San Francisco. A startup veteran and award-winning producer, Chris is also a former co-chair for new media and professional development at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Follow him on Twitter @chrisbrowntv

Jeffrey Cramer

Jeff provides counsel and support for QGA’s energy, environmental services and telecom clients.  Having worked in the technology industry and as an advocate on local, state and national issues, Jeff brings a unique combination of skills and experience to support QGA client needs.

Jeff joined QGA in 2010 after spending over four years working in the energy, environment and telecom sectors.  Most recently, Jeff led internal business development for Pacific Crest Securities’ Mosaic Group, a leading technology focused investment bank by engaging leading clean technology, telecom and energy policy experts in one-on-ones with institutional investors, industry research and events.  Additionally, Jeff has been an active advocate and organizer for environmental and clean technology advocacy groups in the US and Latin America.

Jeff is a graduate of Clark University, with a degree in philosophy and government and an ardent Green Bay Packer supporter.

Drew Cole

Drew brings a working knowledge of Capitol Hill and a strong network of bipartisan contacts to his role at QGA, supporting firm’s energy, transportation, trade, appropriations, and telecommunications clients.

Drew joined QGA in 2009 after spending five years lobbying at a D.C.-based public affairs firm where he led and assisted client teams ranging from Fortune 50 corporations, national trade associations, and not-for-profit entities. In addition to his lobbying work, Drew has been an active fundraiser and campaign operative. At the 2000 GOP Convention in New York City, Drew participated in the Floor Whip/ Communications team where he worked with the various delegations ensuring convention parliamentary procedure was fulfilled. Drew began his political career completing work in the office of former Senator Don Nickles office and participating in the Senate Floor Page program.

Drew is a graduate of Trinity University (San Antonio, TX) with a B.A. in Political Science.

Joe Dagher

With a solid background in financial services, Senior Associate Joe Dagher provides QGA’s government relations clients with deep policy expertise and insight garnered from years of Banking and Housing policy experience in the office of U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN).  As a Legislative Aide, Joe worked on issues related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as well as the global macroeconomic policy matters. 

Prior to his role as legislative aide, Dagher served for three years as Senator Corker’s legislative correspondent for Banking and Housing.  Before that, Joe spent a year in the office of then U.S. Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH).  

He is proficient in spoken colloquial Arabic and holds a BA from Virginia Tech where he majored in political science.

Bonnie Hogue Duffy

As leader of QGA’s healthcare practice, Bonnie tackles complex policy challenges and political issues currently before Congress and the administration. She is actively engaged in all facets of the healthcare sector. Some of her recent achievements include positioning a Fortune 500 CEO for discussions on health care reform with key members of Congress and agency heads, serving as a strategic advisor to an insurance client testifying at an Oversight & Investigations hearing and counseling a large benefits consulting firm about the impact of health reform on large employers.

She joined QGA 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. This work included working with various agencies at HHS, including CMS, NIH, FDA and CDC. She represented the Association to the broader patient organization community and to organizations representing older Americans. Bonnie also has 10 years of experience working in the United States Senate where she served as a professional staff member on the Senate Special Committee on Aging, working for Chairman David Pryor on Medicare, long-term care and health care reform. She also worked as a legislative assistant to Senator Jack Reed and as Senior Health Policy Advisor to the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, under the leadership of Senator Tom Daschle. Bonnie previously worked as Director of Health Policy at the American Association of Health Plans (now America’s Health Insurance Plans).

A graduate of Tulane University, Bonnie earned a Masters in Public Policy from Duke University.

Allyson Groff

Allyson provides strategic counsel and government relations services to QGA’s energy and environment clients.  She brings to the firm a strong understanding of the legislative process and extensive experience in communications. Prior to joining the firm in 2010, she served as the communications director and spokeswoman for the House Committee on Natural Resources, under the leadership of Chairman Nick Rahall, where she had the opportunity to promote and advance the Committee’s agenda on a national level on a variety of energy and environment issues.  Allyson previously worked as a press assistant for the House Committee on Small Business and the office of Rep. Nydia Velázquez.

Allyson is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, with a degree in public relations and political science.

Katherine Hamilton

Katherine Hamilton joined QGA after serving as the President of GridWise Alliance  for more than two years.  Prior to that role, Hamilton was a policy advisor for Good Energies, Inc., a private investment company with a current portfolio in clean energy technologies of more than $6 billion. She was previously Co-Director of the American Bioenergy Association where, in addition to advocating for clean uses of biomass for power and fuels, she advised the Governor of New Jersey on the biomass components for a state renewable portfolio standard.

As President of her company, The Hamilton Group, Katherine advocated for the Union of Concerned Scientists, Natural Resources Defense Council, Midwest Research Institute and other organizations to lobby Congress and statehouses on various clean energy policies and funding. Katherine worked for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) first in the research area, then as Manager of Government Relations in Washington, DC. She was an expert witness on renewable energy for the House Committee on Science and served as an advisor to Vice President Cheney’s Task Force in developing a national energy plan.

Katherine worked for nearly a decade for Virginia Power (now Dominion Energy), designing overhead and underground electrical systems for commercial and residential developments and later as senior analyst in commercial energy efficiency, performing energy audits and advising customers on load management technologies and creative rate structures. She has degrees from Cornell University and the Sorbonne and lives in Arlington, VA with her husband, four children, and two dogs.

Katherine serves as an expert on smart grid for Johnson Controls’ Institute for Building Efficiency (www.institutebe.com) and is on the editorial advisory board of AOL Energy (www.aolenergy.com).  Follow Katherine on Twitter @cleangridview and visit her blog www.cleangridview.com.

Michael F. Hussey

Mike works on legislative and regulatory issues for clients including Entergy, MetLife, the National Association of Realtors, and State Farm.

Prior to joining QGA in 2002, Mike 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 grassroots departments. Before that he served as a Senior Legislative Director at the National Association of Realtors for 10 years. Mike 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.

Kevin D. Kayes

Kevin provides a unique combination of technical, committee and leadership qualifications to QGA clients. An expert in Senate procedure, Kevin has worked with Senators on both sides of the aisle to forge strategies and find compromises that have resulted in passing legislation.

Kevin 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. Kevin also 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, Kevin 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.

Kevin 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.

Susan Garman Kranias

Sue is one of QGA’s 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, Sue 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 2001, Sue 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.

Sue graduated from the American University in Washington, D.C., with a degree in journalism.

Marc S. Lampkin

As one of QGA’s lead Republican lobbyists and senior strategic advisors, Marc brings extensive experience in political campaigns, public policy and law to his work on behalf of QGA clients.

Marc is a veteran of the 2000 Bush for President campaign where he served as Deputy Campaign Manager, senior Bush-Cheney political operative at the 2000 Republican Convention, and leader of the recount efforts in various locations in Florida. Prior to the Bush campaign, Marc held a variety of senior positions with Republican Members of Congress including serving as General Counsel to then-House Republican Conference Chairman John Boehner (now Speaker of the House), Policy Director to the late Senator Paul Coverdell, and majority professional staff member to the House Education and Labor Committee.

Marc is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross with an A.B. in Political Science and he earned his J.D. from Boston College Law School in 1991.

Jim Manley

As a senior communications advisor and spokesman for the Majority Leader, Jim spent six years at the nexus of politics and policy for every issue facing the Senate.  Before he was tapped to join Reid’s leadership office, Manley spent nearly 12 years as press secretary for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and the US Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and Pensions.  In that role, he worked on communications and press strategies for legislation such as minimum wage and pension reform, reauthorizations of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and No Child Left Behind.  Prior to that, Manley worked in the press office of then Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-ME).

Erica Sivertson

Prior to joining QGA, Erica Sivertson served as executive assistant to Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and previously was a legislative correspondent on economic, banking, housing and social issues. She served as the Treasurer for the Women’s Congressional Staff Association (WCSA), which provides professional development and activities to the organization’s nearly 400 female congressional staff members.

During college, Erica interned for Senator Klobuchar’s district office and equipment finance subsidiary for a fortune 100 financial institution. She was actively involved in numerous student activities while working full-time as an accountant for a small wholesale manufacturer in Minneapolis. Also, she studied abroad at Italy’s Bocconi University, a premier business school located in Milan, and National Taiwan University in Taipei to study Mandarin, finance and economics. She has also traveled extensively in Asia and Europe and gained an in-depth perspective on the European Union and developing economies.

Erica is a graduate of the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Finance and International Business.

Patrick Von Bargen

Patrick provides strategic counsel to a wide variety of QGA’s energy clients, primarily in the clean technology space, including solar, wind, recycling, and biomass. He also represents startup firms using venture capital to develop clean energy technology. He has an acute understanding of the various, complex aspects of the new public policy proposals that will shape the nation’s energy future. He helps educate public policy leaders about the full range of opportunities in the nation’s future energy landscape.

Patrick joined QGA in 2008, after having served in major public policy roles over 17 years in Washington, including as Chief of Staff to Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) from 1987 to 1999 and Managing Executive for Policy & Staff for Chairman William H. Donaldson (R-NY) at the Securities & Exchange Commission from 2003 to 2005. He also headed the National Commission on Entrepreneurship and served as Vice President of the Council on Competitiveness, the only national organization whose membership is comprised exclusively of CEOs, university presidents, and labor leaders focused on American economic competitiveness issues. He had a distinguished career in law representing start-up technology companies and venture capital firms and served three years as CEO of the Center for Venture Education’s Kauffman Fellows Program in Silicon Valley — the premier education and networking institute for new junior and senior venture capitalists around the world.

Patrick earned a B.A. in History with Honors in Humanities, graduating summa cum laude from Stanford University, a J.D. from Stanford Law School, and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. He is a member of the bar in the states of California and Colorado.