Experience

Experience as Government relations specialist-Lobbyist, Senior Chief Counsel, & Congressional Advisor

With decades of work experience, Smith Advocacy Group has developed the competence and skills to represent organizations in high-stake matters, critical to their economic success and regulatory compliance. As a Government relations specialist-lobbyist, congressional advisor and counsel, and agency Government relations specialist and staff, we have encountered a broad spectrum of business, legislative, and regulatory challenges. This experience sharpened the expertise to successfully represent organizations on significant platforms critical to each organization's operational and fiscal viability.

For Many Decades as
A Government relations specialist-Lobbyist

  • Represented diverse industry and public sector clients. Consisting of hundreds of domestic and international companies and organizations in complex and challenging legislative and regulatory matters.
  • Consistently produced valuable operational and fiscal results for diverse private and public sector entities through sophisticated government strategies, development, and execution to achieve the objectives of our clients.
  • Provided strategic advice and direction to clients at the CEO/COO level and as needed for third party corporate partners affecting common operational performance and objectives. This includes a disciplined communication plan for government and public audiences, crisis and incident response advice, and lobbying and ethics compliance.
  • Implemented the strategy consistently in contentious and political environments resulting in favorable outcomes for clients through the passage of legislation or granting of regulatory or administrative relief. Our significant successful accomplishments include various sectors.
  • Seven-year effort to provide relief to the recreational boating industry on workers' compensation issues overcoming objections from organized labor and elected officials.
  • Three-year effort to provide relief to the national oilseed industry on adverse pollution compliance requirements overcoming objections from EPA, administration, and congressional interests.
  • Over 20 years, we conducted multiple efforts to provide relief to individual vessel owners from adverse vessel registration requirements, helping in overcoming objections from the domestic special interests, competitor vessel owners, and congressional interests.
  • Maintained key bipartisan relationships with Members of Congress and key congressional staff, many on a first-name basis, through such efforts as serving as a campaign volunteer and official congressional portrait committee chair.
  • Accomplished communicator regarding legislative and regulatory affairs, including policy development, supporting documents and correspondence, and oral presentations, including a frequent presenter as a subject matter expert for industry conferences on shipping, maritime, and environmental issues.

Clientele Interests Include

  • Defense and national security.
  • Energy.
  • Homeland security.
  • Infrastructure.
  • Maritime.
  • Alaska Native organizations.
  • Natural resources - fisheries.
  • Recreational vessel industry
  • Non-profit.
  • Public facilities.
  • Federal government & fiscal matters.
  • Transportation.
  • Defense and national security.
  • Energy.
  • Homeland security.
  • Infrastructure.
  • Maritime.
  • Native American and Alaska native.
  • Natural resources.
  • Non-profit.
  • Public facilities.
  • State and local government matters.

Decades of Experience as Senior Chief Counsel
and Congressional Advisor

  • Advised Members of Congress on key policy and strategy decisions for legislative objectives and oversight of regulatory agencies.
  • Drafted and negotiated elements of key legislation with Members of Congress, congressional staff, and key administration officials leading to significant shipping, maritime, oceanographic, and environmental legislation on a national scale. It includes the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the modern codification of the shipping laws in Title 46, US Code, and establishment of an environmental restoration program and account for Coast Guard.
  • Communicated directly with constituents, government agencies, and industry interest groups on all matters at conferences and public meetings.
  • Frequently traveled with Members of Congress for field hearings and meetings to respond to constituent, industry, and public concerns and issues.
  • Lead a highly skilled staff of professionals with a broad spectrum of subject matter oversight often in demanding and politically charged environments.
  • Was a congressional advisor for a US delegation to International Maritime Organization.

Years of Service as A Civilian Federal Agency and Department Attorney-
Advisor & Military Government relations specialist & Officer

  • Advised senior political appointees (general counsel and assistant secretary level) and senior executive service officials, and others from cabinet-level departments and the Office of Management and Budget on a full spectrum of legislative and administrative responsibilities.
  • Developed and advocated for complete legislative packages (statutory amendments and supporting explanatory documents).
  • Oversaw congressional correspondence and record management.
Contact Us
map