PRINCIPLE. PASSION. PURPOSE.
Fulcrum Public Affairs is a full-service bipartisan government affairs firm specializing in federal relations, state and local advocacy, and stakeholder coalition building. We represent Fortune 100 companies, innovative start-ups, and mission-driven nonprofits. Fulcrum is 100% Black and Latino-owned.
What We Do
We leverage our wide-ranging backgrounds to give clients reach in all spheres of influence, from Congress and the Administration to state/local leaders and stakeholder advocacy groups. Our diverse team devises creative strategies to give our clients a seat at the table as federal policy decisions are made and executed in the nation’s capital.
Federal Lobbying · Our years of experience in Congress and previous presidential administrations have uniquely positioned us to engage with today’s White House, executive cabinet agencies, and Congressional leadership, committees, and caucuses. From the Congressional Progressive Caucus to the pro-business New Democrat Coalition, we work across the political spectrum of those setting the agenda in Washington. Our trusted relationship with the House and Senate TriCaucus – the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) – enables our clients to develop and advance policy solutions that serve communities of color.
State Advocacy · By leveraging long-standing relationships with governors, mayors, other state and local elected officials, and their membership organizations, we enhance our advocacy efforts at the federal level.
Stakeholder Coalitions · We build coalitions with think tanks, civil rights and minority organizations, and center-left advocacy groups that are influential with the Biden Administration and Congressional Democrats. Whether we are working with groups representing the business community or advocating on behalf of progressive causes, our team provides a platform for our clients to connect with groups that share a common goal. We help align the missions of these stakeholder organizations with our clients’ goals to create mutually-beneficial policy outcomes.
WHO WE ARE
We have decades of experience serving at the pinnacle of policy, politics and advocacy. Our strategists have held senior-level positions in Congress and presidential administrations. Our holistic view of the legislative and political processes allows us to effectively educate and advocate on behalf of our clients.
OSCAR RAMIREZ
Partner & Co-Founder
(202) 365-2971
[email protected]
Expertise
Financial Services, Labor, Tech
Administration
U.S. Department of Labor, President Barack Obama
U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Al Green (D-TX-09)
Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA-32)
Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA-32)
Oscar is a seasoned Democratic strategist with two decades of policy and political experience in senior roles on Capitol Hill, on national political campaigns, in the Obama Administration, and at other government relations firms. In the Obama Administration, Oscar served as a senior advisor to Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. He spent seven years on Capitol Hill as chief of staff and legislative director for three members of Congress, including House Financial Services Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Al Green (D-TX-09). While on the Hill, he served as president of the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association. He also worked on the presidential campaigns of John Kerry in 2004 and Barack Obama in 2008 and served as a member of the Democratic National Committee and vice chair of the Maryland Democratic Party.
Oscar has been recognized as a “2020 Top Lobbyist” by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics, one of DC’s “Top Lobbyists” by The Hill, one of Washington’s “most influential movers and shakers under 40″ by Washington Life Magazine, and as one of the top “40 Under 40 Latinos in American Politics” by The Huffington Post. He also sits on the Democratic National Committee’s National Finance Committee. Oscar received a BA from Johns Hopkins University and a JD/MA from George Washington University. He is the father of two very smart dogs, Dug and Lucy.
DANA THOMPSON
Partner & Co-Founder
(202) 297-3688
[email protected]
Expertise
Appropriations, Banking, Defense, Education, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Judiciary, Natural Resources/Federal Lands, Transportation, Veterans Affairs
State-Level
Governor Martin O’Malley (D-MD)
U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA-43)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18)
Dana has nearly two decades of federal and state government, as well as federal and state government relations, experience. He has developed strong connections on Capitol Hill as well as in governors’ offices, state agencies, mayoral offices, and advocacy organizations on both sides of the aisle. On the Hill, Dana served as legislative director and chief counsel to Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43). He also served as chief of staff to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18). Dana was the first African-American to serve as director of a U.S. governor’s Washington, DC office. Under Governor Martin O’Malley (D-MD), Dana acted as the Governor’s key liaison to the National Governors Association and worked closely with the Maryland Congressional delegation, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Senate Small Business Committee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-MD), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and National Capital Region leaders in the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Dana has been recognized as one of DC’s “Top Lobbyists” by The Hill for the last two years and is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Gonzaga College High School, and Yale University alumni associations and the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum Advisory Board.
Dana received a BA from Yale University and a JD from Catholic University of America.
SASHA BERNHARD
Vice President
(425) 419-8150
[email protected]
Expertise
Education, Infrastructure, Technology/Telecommunications, Transportation
U.S. Senate
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01)
Sasha joined Fulcrum from the office of Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), where she served as senior policy advisor handling a variety of technology and telecom issues. Sasha was one of the lead House staffers on privacy issues, drafting the Congresswoman’s privacy bill that was endorsed by the New Democrat Coalition and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Rep. DelBene is the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Chair Emeritus of the New Democrat Coalition, and a member of the Ways and Means Committee. Sasha previously worked for Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA). Prior to coming to Congress, she worked in the tech sector at various startups and at Amazon’s headquarters on the Amazon Business team.
ZACK LAVEN
Vice President
(480) 459-1647
[email protected]
Expertise
Energy, Evironment, Trade
U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ-06)
Zack joined the Fulcrum team in November 2022 from the office of Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), where he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and managed a variety of policy areas over six years. Rep. Schweikert is a member on the House Ways and Means Committee and is the chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee. He also serves as the lead House Republican on the Joint Economic Committee and co-chairs the Congressional Tele-Health Caucus. Prior to working in Congress, Zack worked as a Government Relations Specialist at the Dow Chemical Company covering trade issues. A native of Scottsdale, Arizona, he received a BA from American University and an MSC from The London School of Economics and Political Science.
EMILY LAVERY
Vice President
(571) 438-4724
[email protected]
Expertise
Finance, Tax, Trade, Financial Services, Energy Tax, Small Business, Judiciary
U.S. Senate
Sen. Tim Scott
Emily Lavery joined Fulcrum in January 2023 after spending nearly seven years working on Capitol Hill for Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and, more recently, as an investment advisor to ultra-high net worth investors at top global investment firm AllianceBernstein. There, she directly managed roughly $115 million dollars in private wealth on behalf of her clients. Prior to that, Emily served as Staff Director for the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure, as the Republican Staff Director for the Senate Entrepreneurship Caucus, and senior advisor for tax, trade, and economic policy to Senator Scott. She served in this role throughout the drafting and passage of the historic CARES Act. Emily was also the lead advisor for the implementation of Senator Scott’s keystone initiative, the Opportunity Zone tax incentive. Senator Scott remains a senior member of both the Finance Committee and the Small Business Committee and will serve as the ranking member of the Banking Committee in the 118th congress. She is a native of Fairfax, Virginia and graduate of the University of South Carolina and the Washington College of Law at American University.
ANDREA MARES
Vice President
(505) 379-2600
[email protected]
Expertise
Health, Housing, Indian Health Services, Veterans’ Affairs
U.S. Senate
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Andrea Mares joined Fulcrum after spending over eight years working on Capitol Hill for Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), where she worked on several issues, including healthcare, housing, veterans’ affairs, and Indian Health Services. Senator Heinrich chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and is the vice chairman of the Joint Economic Committee. During her time with Senator Heinrich, Andrea helped advance the Cadillac Tax legislation and worked closely on issues surrounding rural health. Growing up in and working for New Mexico, Andrea has gained a unique understanding of the issues that large rural states face.
SARAH MONTEITH
Vice President
(425) 923-4899
[email protected]
Expertise
Appropriations, Education, Labor, Judiciary
U.S. Senate
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA-26)
Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA-10)
Sarah joined Fulcrum from the office of Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), where she served as a legislative assistant handling a variety of education, appropriations, workforce, infrastructure, immigration, and judiciary issues. Sarah was one of the lead House staffers advocating for the expansion of Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeships in Computer Science and Information Technology expanding traditional workforce training into the 21st Century. Sarah also authored the Youth Workforce Readiness Act leading the way for an expansion of afterschool learning programs through Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Reauthorization. Rep. Kilmer is the Chair Emeritus of the New Democrat Coalition and is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Sarah previously worked for Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA) managing his work on the House Education and Labor Committee, and for Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA). Senator Murray also chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee. Prior to coming to Congress, Sarah worked for Senator Murray’s District Office in Seattle, WA, and on various state and local campaigns in Washington State.
MIYA PATEL
Vice President
(904) 315-0716
[email protected]
Expertise
Antitrust, Banking, Immigration, Judiciary, Tech
U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO-02)
Former Rep. John Delaney (D-MD-06)
House Financial Services Committee
Miya brings a unique blend of experience in government, in the private sector and as a public interest lawyer to Fulcrum. Miya joined Fulcrum having served as Judiciary counsel to Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO), who serves in House Leadership as Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC). Rep. Neguse also serves as vice chair of the Judiciary Committee Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee. Miya previously worked as counsel to Rep. John Delaney (D-MD), staffing the Congressman on the Financial Services Committee, and as legal fellow in the House Financial Services Committee. She has also worked on presidential campaigns, most recently serving as regional director for the Biden campaign in Florida. Prior to working in Congress, Miya worked as a senior analyst at Goldman Sachs and as an immigration lawyer.
JOSIE VILLANUEVA
Vice President
(219) 545-7438
[email protected]
Expertise
Health Care, Immigration
Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, President Joseph Biden
U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV-04)
U.S. Senate
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Josie joined Fulcrum in February 2022 after serving as Counselor to Secretary Xavier Becerra of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, she worked for a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Previously, she served as deputy chief of staff and legislative director to Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV-04), who is the 1st Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and sits on the House Ways & Means Committee. Rep. Horsford also leads the CBC’s 100 days task force and engagement with the Biden-Harris Transition Team. Previously, Josie worked for Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee and Commerce Committee, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL).
Paola joined Fulcrum in July 2023, with experience as a Government Affairs Associate in the tech industry, where she focused on advancing digital equity initiatives and workforce development policies. Paola was also a Legal Assistant at the State Farm Litigation Counsel Office, where she supported two Circuit Court attorneys. Throughout her college career, Paola interned at the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia and at the Capitol Hill Consulting Group, gaining valuable insights into a variety of legal and policy matters, particularly in health care and the role of PROMESA in Puerto Rico during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paola also interned at the Office of the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, who serves on the Committee on Natural Resources and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Paola previously served on the board of the Up2Us Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on providing food assistance and scholarships for enhanced workforce training to low-income healthcare workers and minority students in the DMV area. Paola is a proud native of San Juan, Puerto Rico and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in French from American University.
WHO WE
WORK WITH
Fulcrum offers small firm service with big firm capabilities. We work with some of the most prominent names in the tech, financial services and health care industries, along with leading nonprofits.
CONTACT US
Get in touch with us: [email protected]
660 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20003