Department of Commerce: Former Lobbyists

Bio, via Bureau of Industry and Security - Commerce:

Rich Ashooh serves as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration. In this role, he is responsible for the U.S. dual-use export control policy, as well as the management of the Department of Commerce’s national security, nonproliferation, and foreign policy functions within the Bureau of Industry and Security. He also oversees the Bureau’s programs that ensure industrial resources are available to meet national and economic security requirements, including the Defense Priorities Allocation System (DPAS). He also participates in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which reviews transactions of foreign direct investment in U.S. companies for national security concerns. The Assistant Secretary chairs the Advisory Committee on Export Policy, which is a multi-agency tool to resolve security-related export policy matters. In addition, his responsibilities include the Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security (SIES), the Office of Nonproliferation and Treaty Compliance (NPTC), the Office of National Security and Technology Transfer Controls (NSTTC), the Office of Exporter Services (OExS), and the Office of Technology Evaluation (OTE). For much of his career, Rich was a senior executive in the defense industry, with the electronics group of Lockheed, which was later acquired by BAE Systems. During this time, Rich contributed to the growth of that business from an $800 million company to a nearly $5 billion enterprise and the world leader in electronic warfare. Rich was instrumental in the success of numerous programs which serve U.S. and allied warfighters. Rich also led the company’s homeland security efforts after 9/11, focusing the company’s technology solutions toward a new range of threats to our nation. He is proud to have contributed to the success of dozens of programs that have protected the lives of countless US and allied military servicemen and women. Rich’s professional career began in the US Senate, serving for several years as a Professional Staff Member on the US Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs where his primary focus was on federal procurement policies and oversight. A leader the higher education community, Rich served on the Board of Trustees for the University System of New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, as well as the UNH Foundation board. Prior to his nomination, he served as the Director of Economic Partnerships for the University System of New Hampshire, with over 33,000 enrolled students and the largest provider of post-secondary education in the state. He also served as Interim Executive Director of the Warren B. Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership and Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire School Of Law, a nationally ranked leader in intellectual property law. Rich was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, and is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, where he met his wife, the former Lori Johnson of Peterborough. He and Lori have five children: Sofie 24, Emma 22, Elias 20, Maya 19, and Sam 17.

Bio, via American Indian Tourism Conference:

Anthony Foti serves as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs within the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department Commerce. In that capacity, Anthony supports the Secretary of Commerce on legislative and intergovernmental affairs matters pertaining to the Department’s relationship with state, local, tribal and territorial governments and their governmental associations. Prior to joining the Department of Commerce, Anthony served as Chief of Staff to United States Representative Dennis Ross of Florida for over seven years. Anthony previously served at the Director of External Affairs for the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota and was a lobbyist at the prestigious law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld for over a decade. He also served as District Director to United States Congressman Bill Paxon of New York. Anthony received his undergraduate degree from the University at Buffalo and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree at the United States Naval War College. Anthony and his wife, Leslie, have two children and reside in Northern Virginia.

Bio, via Marketwire:

Laroski represented the United States in dispute settlement proceedings before the WTO and in other types of bilateral and multilateral trade relations while at the USTR. Prior to that, he handled antidumping and countervailing duty cases as an associate at Washington-based law firms, from 1999 to 2008. Laroski earned a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University School of Law, a Master of Laws degree from Georgetown University Law Center and a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.

Bio, via Department of Commerce:

Before joining the U.S. Department of Commerce, Steff served as the state of Indiana’s first Chief Innovation Officer under then-Governor Pence and subsequently Governor Holcomb. He was Executive Vice President for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and the state’s senior advisor for science, technology, and advanced manufacturing. Steff oversaw Indiana’s strategy regarding science and technology economic development and was directly responsible for the implementation of the Governor’s billion-dollar innovation and entrepreneurship initiative. He worked to expand investments and public-private partnerships throughout the state in information technology, life sciences, composite materials, nanotechnology, energy storage, advanced manufacturing, and the Internet of Things. Steff served on the Board of Directors of the Battery Innovation Center in Southern Indiana, the Dean of Engineering’s Advisory Council at Purdue University, and the Vice Chancellor for Research’s Advisory Board at IUPUI. Steff also served on the Board of Directors of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation. Prior to his roles in the state of Indiana, Steff worked for the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) in Washington, DC for nearly a decade. At the SIA, he served as an elected officer and vice president of global policy and technology partnerships. He was chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the United States Information Technology Office in Beijing. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors and the Advisory Board of Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Microelectronics. Steff started his professional career as a member of the Ways and Means trade staff in the U.S. House of Representatives under Chairman Thomas and Subcommittee Chairmen Shaw and Crane. Steff graduated Magna Cum Laude from American University where he possesses a B.A. in International Studies. He also completed graduate work at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., and received a M.A. in International Science and Technology Policy from the George Washington University.

Bio, via LinkedIn:

I have a career in government relations, currently with the Department of Commerce - International Trade Administration. Before re-joining the government, I worked for WestRock (formerly known as MeadWestvaco), a global packaging and chemicals manufacturer. I established and ran the Washington, D.C. office and led the federal government relations program, working closely with senior executives. In earlier years, I also worked as a lobbyist for a major trade association, and I began my career on Capitol Hill - U.S. House of Representatives as a legislative aide. My passion is working to pinpoint public policy strategies and messaging that have an impact on business competitiveness. This involves managing public policy communications, working with trade associations and other stakeholder organizations, and directed at Members of Congress and regulatory officials. I am skilled at leading coalition advocacy efforts on major public policy issues of importance to U.S. manufacturing. This involves combining a high degree of business acumen with an ability to craft and execute strategic lobbying initiatives focused on legislation and regulations. I have successfully worked on major policy areas of importance to U.S. manufacturing, including taxation, international trade, environment, energy, transportation and employee workforce issues.