Lobbyists

Bio, via USDA Risk Management Agency:

Before USDA, Mr. Layher worked as a staff assistant for a retired Member of Congress, was Director of Health & Regulatory Affairs at the American Horse Council, and most recently was a Legislative Assistant for House Agriculture Committee member Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12) where he handled the agriculture portfolio. R.J. grew up on his family’s fifth generation row-crop farm in Southeast Michigan. Upon graduating High School, he attended Hillsdale College and graduated in 2010 with a degree in Political Economy. Currently, he is on track to complete a Masters of Agribusiness degree at Kansas State University in 2019. In his free time, Mr. Layher enjoys cooking and traveling with his wife, playing golf and softball, and watching college football and basketball.

Bio, via Randolf-Macon College:

As a federal lobbyist for BP Worldwide (formerly British Petroleum), Lyons is responsible for interacting with Congressional stakeholders on issues related to BP’s business priorities. But his interest in politics goes all the way back to his childhood when he was listening to the radio waiting for the Orioles to play…According to Lyons, the political science major went to work with U.S. Senator George Allen (R-VA) right after graduating from Randolph-Macon. That was followed by an appointment from President George W. Bush to serve in his administration at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Lyons also served as the energy policy advisor for U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) for nearly three years.

Bio, via Department of Education:

Mr. Maddox previously served at DOE as Deputy Director of Communications during the administration of President George H.W. Bush. During the administration of George W. Bush, he served as FE’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Assistant Secretary (Acting) for Fossil Energy. From 2004 to 2006, he led a number of high-profile domestic energy initiatives, including the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act implementation, the FutureGen power plant project, and Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle power plant development. He also oversaw the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and policies relating to liquefied natural gas issues. In his FE leadership role, Mr. Maddox also represented the United States at several international forums, including the multinational Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum’s Policy Committee, which he chaired and collaborated with delegates from China, India, and other nations. While at the helm of the Fossil Energy program, he testified before Congress on several occasions. In addition to his service at DOE, Mr. Maddox has held a number of key leadership and public policy positions, including a stint as Director of Integrated Management Systems at Lockheed Martin. From 2007 through 2011, he served as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for Arcadian Networks, a New York-based telecommunications provider of private wireless networks for electricity utilities. While at Arcadian, he served as a member of the industry’s Gridwise Alliance Board of Directors. He was also President of Maddox Strategies, LLC, a Washington, DC-based government relations firm, as well as an issue expert for the American Action Forum, a non-partisan think tank in Washington, DC. He has also contributed to national media outlets and key trade publications on timely and critical energy-related subjects. Previously, Mr. Maddox served as Chief of Staff for then-Congressman Nathan Deal (GA), now Governor of Georgia. Mr. Maddox received his bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and his master’s degree in business from the George Washington University. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife and two children.

Bio, via LinkedIn:

Cecilia has over 19 years of experience in fundraising (political & nonprofit), event planning & advance, community relations (specializing in Latino constituencies), state & federal government relations, and business development. Cecilia has worked on several political campaigns for state & federal offices, in the nonprofit sector, and consulted multi-national corporations.

John K. Mashburn was a deputy cabinet secretary, who helps oversee the White House liaisons acting as the president’s eyes and ears at dozens of federal agencies. Mashburn, a prominent social conservative and congressional aide to the late Sen. Jesse Helms, worked for the Trump campaign as a policy director starting in April 2016. He also received $7,341 in consulting fees from the American Civil Rights Union this spring while he was employed by the White House. Started by a former Reagan administration official as a check to the American Civil Liberties Union, the nonprofit ACRU “monitors and counters organizations that threaten our constitutional rights and promotes election integrity,” among others things, according to its website. — ProPublica

Bio, via Department of Energy:

Prior to being confirmed as Under Secretary of Energy, Mr. Menezes was an executive with Berkshire Hathaway Energy in its Washington, D.C. office. Before joining BHE, Mr. Menezes was a partner at Hunton & Williams LLP, where he headed the Regulated Markets and Energy Infrastructure practice group. Prior to Hunton, he served as Chief Counsel, Energy and Environment, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, serving as chief negotiator for the House Majority in the enactment of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Before his service with House Energy & Commerce, he was Vice President with Central and South West, and upon its merger with American Electric Power, served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel for federal and state legislative and regulatory affairs. Mr. Menezes has been named in National Journal’s “Hill 100”—top Congressional staff for his work on both energy and environmental matters. He has been frequent guest speaker and lecturer before numerous associations and civic groups, including legal education seminars where he has been called on to address the nation’s energy and environmental policies, utility restructuring, telecommunications, ethics, merger and acquisition practices, and regulatory and legislative processes. He has co-authored numerous articles, a practice manual, and been quoted in the New York Times, Law360, Oil and Gas Journal, Politico as well as interviewed by E&ETV. He’s been listed Best Lawyers in America 2013–2016, Corporate Counsel’s Top Lawyers 2006–2011, Washington Post’s Top Lawyers 2008–2016, and DC Super Lawyers 2012–2016. Mr. Menezes is a graduate of Louisiana State University receiving both his undergraduate and juris doctor degree. Until joining the government he was a charter member of the Advisory Council, Louisiana State University Law John P. Laborde Energy Law Center, and served on the Board of Directors of the Congressional Chorus & American Youth Chorus.