The 2016 Elections Are Almost Here... Are You Prepared??
Kelley Drye Seminar
October 5, 2016 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm (EDT)
Join Kelley Drye’s Government Relations and Public Policy Group as we present a bipartisan assessment of the 2016 election. Election analysts Greg Speed and Jim Ellis will break down the 2016 race for the White House, as well as key Senate and House races and the fight For Congress. Greg and Jim will provide a detailed and data-packed assessment of the current state of play, as well as the prospects for control of both Chambers in the upcoming 115th Congress.
Greg Speed is the president of America Votes. He has led AV as president, and previously as executive director, since late 2007. Under Greg’s leadership, AV has experienced significant growth as an organization, partnership network, and a pillar of progressive infrastructure nationally and in the states. He has led the development of a strong and stable fundraising base, and built robust campaign operations and coordination of independent programs delivering millions of voter contacts. Previously, Greg served as Communications Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the 2004 election cycle. Greg worked as Press Secretary for Congressman Martin Frost during his tenure as Democratic Caucus Chair. A foremost progressive expert on the redistricting process, Greg has led AV and allies’ multi-tiered strategy nationally and in key states to impact redistricting. Previously, he directed communications for IMPAC 2000, the national Democratic redistricting project in 2001-2002. He has also worked in numerous states leading public education advocacy campaigns as National Communications Director for Communities for Quality Education (CQE). Greg currently serves on the boards of Priorities USA, ProgressNow, and the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. He was raised in “Chicagoland” and is a proud alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He and his wife, Lona Valmoro, reside on Capitol Hill with their two children.
Jim Ellis is President of Ellis Insight, LLC, where he analyzes electoral politics and reports upon trends, and tendencies in American elections. Jim formerly provided political consulting services to the House Republican majority through 2006; has run two national political action committees; and consults with many major corporations, associations and national lobbying firms. Jim’s former positions as executive director for two national political action committees built well-recognized skills in advising, strategizing for, and evaluating campaigns. His close-up role as a leading political consultant to the Republican majority leadership of the House of Representatives resulted in a strong reputation for calling races correctly. Among other projects, he researches and writes on elections, candidates, and races for additional clients that include corporations and trade associations such as NACS, Walmart, Exelon, and UPS. Jim speaks around the country on politics, previously appeared as a debate participant on the CBS affiliate in Washington, DC’s morning news program, and has been interviewed on many national and local radio programs.
About Kelley Drye’s Government Relations & Public Policy Practice
Kelley Drye’s bipartisan team of legislative advocates includes more than 30 government relations professionals with diverse legal and legislative backgrounds and significant credibility with decision-makers at all levels of the federal government. We work to advance our clients’ interests as they strive to sustain market leadership, ensure a competitive business environment or achieve a specific policy objective. We not only understand the intricacies of the legislative and executive branches individually, but also help clients navigate the delicate interplay between the two.
Our Government Relations and Public Policy practice is built on a legacy of innovation that stretches back over 50 years. In 1963 the firm’s Washington, D.C. office was founded by two former congressional staffers, creating one of the first law firms to specialize in lobbying and to bring together attorneys with non-lawyer government relations professionals.