This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  President 

Sante Esposito is an experienced specialist in various legislative issues with over twelve years of Federal advocacy and over twenty three years of congressional experience. He represents clients seeking strategic planning, legislative campaigns and Federal advocacy in various areas including highway and rail development; safety and research; aviation safety and promotion; and innovative technology and education. Esposito possesses unmatched institutional knowledge of numerous major infrastructure laws.

He was central to the development of the current Highway Trust Fund program structure; apportionment formulae; project funding process; special treatment of the Highway Trust Fund via firewalls; funding relationships between highways and transit; section 3 transit modifications; highway safety provisions; and rail initiatives. He played a lead role in the landmark “Transportation Equity Assistance Act for the 21st Century” (TEA-21) in 1998 and the "Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991" (ISTEA). He also was the lead staff person on the Amtrak Reform Act and has continued to represent interests and issues related to rail, including the effort to enact high-speed rail, rail safety, rail competition, and Amtrak reauthorization legislation. He also managed legislation enabling Federal support of aviation, Federal buildings and grounds, economic development, water resources, clean water, Superfund, wetlands, and trucking. He drafted legislation, organized hearings, conducted investigations and provided overall coordination of Committee issues and strategy.

He has particular expertise in the Federal appropriations and budget processes. He is a recognized expert on the Parliamentary rules of the House and the Senate, having lectured and taught on the subject. Esposito also enjoys long-standing working relationships with numerous decision-makers in the Congress and Executive Branch. He was very successful in securing various funding and policy matters in SAFETEA-LU, and most recently the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.

Esposito served as Democratic Chief Counsel for the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the United States House of Representatives. He also served as Counsel for the House Committee on Budget and the Congressional Budget Office.

Esposito graduated from Fairfield University (1969) cum laude with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law (1973).

Highlights:

• Served as Democratic Chief Counsel for the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure for eleven years under six different chairmen (Howard - NJ; Anderson - CA; Roe - NJ; Mineta - CA; Shuster - PA, and Oberstar - MN).
• The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has jurisdiction over aviation, coast guard, public buildings and grounds, economic development, railroads, highways, mass transit, highway safety, clean water, and water resources. In addition, the Committee has jurisdiction over the following agencies – Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Economic Development Administration (EDA), General Services Administration (GSA), Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
• Worked for the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for over 18 years.
• Lead Democratic House staffer for ISTEA and TEA-21.
• After leaving the Hill, secured over $850 million for clients in SAFETEA-LU.
• Because of his experience and ability to deliver, Esposito is widely recognized as one of the most highly regarded transportation experts in Washington, D.C.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  Managing Partner 

As a Partner of Federal Advocates, Inc., Michael Esposito is widely-regarded in Washington, D.C. as an expert in the annual Federal appropriations process. He provides congressional and Executive Branch laison on legislative and administrative initiatives with a focus on the appropriations and budget processes. He has successfully secured millions of dollars for municipalities, museums, libraries, aquariums, academic institutions, and various other organizations. In so doing, he has worked with clients in developing strategies; preparing project proposals; submitting necessary project information; coordinating the various needs/requirements of the client and congressional office; monitoring the legislative process; organizing and attending client D.C. briefings; interacting with the appropriations committees; monitoring the congressional process in its entirety; and, assisting in agency implementation on behalf of the client. Also, he has developed extensive contacts with key Members and staff in Congress, as well as with officials of the Executive Branch.

In addition, Esposito has worked extensively in promoting various public policy infrastructure issues pending both before Congress and the Administration. He has been instrumental in securing inclusion of such issues in various authorization bills.

Esposito graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University magna cum laude (2000) with a Bachelors of Science degree in Aeronautical Science and a minor in Aviation Safety. He is a professional pilot and former intern of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Highlights:

• Widely recognized as an expert in securing project funding through the annual Federal appropriations process (particularly for municipalities and non-profits).
• Has used his creativity to secure hundreds of millions of dollars for clients.
• Has established relationships with key decision-makers in both Houses and in both political parties.
• Works closely with the following agencies – Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Labor, Department of Education, Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Bureau of Reclamation, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Corps of Engineers, and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  Partner

Brad Mims brings 30 years of experience working on Federal issues in the transportation industry to Federal Advocates. Prior to joining Federal Advocates, Mims was vice president at Parsons Brinckerhoff, where he directed marketing and business development activities for their aviation, ports and marine, and transit practices; and he was a senior associate at Booz/Allen/Hamilton, where he was responsible for interfacing with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and coordinating the firm’s aviation-related activities.

Previously, he served as the assistant administrator for government affairs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and as the deputy assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs at the USDOT. During his tenure at the FAA/USDOT, he was the agency's chief congressional liaison officer and, as such, interfaced with Congress regularly on matters related to the Airport Improvement Program, which has been the centerpiece of airport funding in many of the recent Economic Stimulus and Recovery Program proposals. Mims maintains strong relationships with the Office of Airports at the FAA as well as with FAA Airport District Offices throughout the country. He continues to be quite active in the industry as a liaison to the American Association of Airport Executives and the Airports Council International/North America; and as a board member of the Airports Consultants Council and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials. Additionally, Mims has held legislative staff positions for several Members of Congress.
 

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  Partner 

Chris Massey is a Partner that brings to Federal Advocates over 15 years of Federal, state and local government affairs experience.  In his role at Federal Advocates, Chris represents the interests of public and private sector clients in developing and implementing advocacy strategies on Capitol Hill, at various State Capitols and in large population City Halls.  Chris develops large scale advocacy programs around legislative and procurement issues and has a particular expertise in understanding the needs and processes of cities, counties and states as it pertains to public/private partnerships and the funding needs of municipalities on Capitol Hill.  

Prior to joining Federal Advocates, Chris served as the Senior Vice President for Government Relations for EcoMedia, an environmental media start-up.  In that capacity, Chris developed and managed contractual relationships with the nations top Mayors and County Executives in large media markets across the country.  In addition, Chris worked with Governor’s environmental and transportation staff’s to develop environmental initiatives around carbon offsets and greenhouse gas reductions. Before his time with EcoMedia, Chris was the Vice President for Client Service at National Strategies, Inc., a state and local government relations consultancy focused on assisting large and medium sized companies develop procurement and legislative programs in every state capitol and the top 100 cities and counties by population. 

Chris served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn.  As the Councilmember’s Legislative and Policy Director, Chris was responsible for advising on all matters before the City Council including those matters before the Commerce Committee and particularly matters dealing with the Port of Los Angeles. In addition, Chris was the primary author for all of the Councilmember’s legislative proposals.  

Additionally, Chris has worked as a Client Manager with a top California government relations firm representing the interests of city, county and non-government organizations in Sacramento and Washington, DC as well as working for the top Los Angeles based Government affairs firm working with clients to assist them in navigating Los Angeles City Hall.

Chris began his career as a Legislative Research Assistant for the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy and the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee.  In that capacity, Chris worked with Legislative staff relevant to the minimum wage, executive compensation and healthcare.  

Chris is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles and holds dual Bachelors Degrees in Political Science and History.

Highlights:

• Developed public/private partnerships with local and state entities that resulted in millions of dollars being awarded to public sector entities to fund their environmental initiatives.
• Developed procurement strategies that led to over $250M in revenue for private sector organizations through public procurement vehicles.
• Secured over $30M in state and federal appropriations sources for public and non-profit projects.
• Drafted and secured passage of legislation at every level of government.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Director of Communications

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Legislative Assistant

As a Legislative Assistant of Federal Advocates, Inc., Sarah Godby is an invaluable asset to the Firm.  She specializes in researching past, present and future legislation; identifying areas of opportunity for specific projects/programs; assisting with the completion and submission of necessary client paperwork (appropriations forms, project questionnaires, etc.); organizing Washington, D.C. meeting schedules; and, managing the daily front office operations of the Firm.

Godby graduated in 1995 from the Washington Business School and comes to Federal Advocates, Inc. from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  At the FBI, Godby was Special Assistant to the Director of Finance.  Her duties included payroll; record keeping; formulation and distribution of monthly reports; coordinating staff travel; arranging daily meeting schedules, etc.