Of Counsel
SEAN O'SHEA OF-COUNSEL
Sean O’Shea is a Partner of Alexander, Borovicka and O'Shea, a government relations firm based in Washington, D.C., Chicago and Springfield, Illinois. He has more than 15 years of policy, legislative and legal experience working with various federal, state, and local government entities, nonprofits, trade associations, universities, corporations, and unions in the transportation and infrastructure areas, as well as complex insurance, environmental, and national security issues.
Sean served in various capacities in Washington, D.C. from the White House, to Capitol Hill as well as in the private sector representing various clients.
Most recently, Sean served at the senior levels of state government overseeing significant capital investments throughout the State of Illinois. Sean worked to ensure that three major capital sources were invested throughout dozens of cities, townships and counties across the state. Investments included a $31 billion capital program invested in a variety of transportation systems including highways, bridges, high-speed rail, passenger rail, and transit systems across the Chicago region and beyond. Sean also helped create a $2 billion Clean Water Initiative that was a joint effort between the Illinois Finance Authority and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to attack the backlog of drinking and wastewater needs throughout the State. He worked with the Illinois Tollway to enact and execute a $12 billion capital construction plan that will address significant capacity issues on the 286-mile Tollway system.
Sean also oversaw the Illinois Department of Insurance and coordinated among several agencies to establish a the health insurance marketplace as part of implementing of the Affordable Care Act and providing the uninsured with medical coverage.
Sean served as Vice President of Building America’s Future, founded by former Governors Ed Rendell (Pennsylvania) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (California) and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. BAF worked with elected officials across the country to ensure greater investment in infrastructure and has worked to ensure that public private partnerships will be a tool for governments to use in the future.
Sean served on the Senate staff of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton handling appropriations, transportation and infrastructure matters as well as homeland security and health matters related to the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City. Sean also advised the Senator on the Northern Ireland peace process and assisted the Senator in key pieces of legislation.
He also served in the Office of Cabinet Affairs in the Clinton White House overseeing several key agencies, responding to crises and coordinating the President’s Cabinet. Sean assisted in preparing briefing papers for the President, accompanied Cabinet officials on Presidential travel, and worked to coordinate response efforts including major disaster declarations, aviation incidents and other crisis matters.
Sean has represented clients in the private sector before Congress and the executive branch agencies on appropriations issues and regulatory matters and assisted clients with navigating Congressional investigations. Clients have included Fortune 500 corporations, municipalities, port authorities, hospitals, universities, nonprofits, and other entities seeking to navigate complex processes. Sean assists clients at the local, state, and federal levels dealing with police, process, and media related issues.
Sean is a graduate of DePaul University and American University Washington College of Law. Sean is an attorney licensed to practice law in Illinois and the District of Columbia. He is admitted to the United States Supreme Court, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and the Illinois Supreme Court.
MICHAEL ALEXANDER OF-COUNSEL
As a Partner of Alexander, Borovicka & O'Shea (ABO), and previously as President of Michael Alexander & Associates LLC, Mike has an extensive list of clients that rely on him to develop and execute their government affairs and legislative priorities at all levels of government.
With over twenty years of experience working in Washington, Mike advocates tirelessly on behalf of his clients to successfully navigate Capital Hill and the federal bureaucracy. He has developed a reputation of building broad
bi-partisan coalitions, helping clients gather intelligence and stay informed of current and pending policy trends, identifying advocacy groups to support their efforts, and passing critical legislation in D.C. Over his career,
he has worked to secure hundreds of millions of dollars in government funding, including in 2012, when he spearheaded the successful effort to help a manufacturing client win a $352 million contract. The following year he led the effort to help secure $60 million in funds for a transportation project that was critical to his client’s business. He has also mounted aggressive grassroots efforts to prevent damaging legislation from being passed into law by Congress.
In Springfield, Mike is regarded as one of the most trusted advisors to both public official and corporate clients. Mike's unique relationships with Republican and Democratic members of the Illiinois General Assembly are vast, and his ability to secure support on behalf of his clients is unparalleled because of his deep understanding of the inner working of state government, close contacts at the agency level, and his bi-partisan approach to creating consensus around an issue. In 2016, Mike crafted a strategy and successfully passed a potentially contentious bill in both the House and Senate on behalf of a client in the midst of a severely complicated, divisive, and politically charged budget process.
In the City of Chicago, Mike advises clients on the best approached to navigating City Hall. He works closely with the City's Aldermen, as well as with community leaders and the Mayor's office, to build robust grassroots campaigns and garner public support to ensure success for his clients. His clients at City Hall range from Fortune 500 companies to family-owned businesses that have operated in Chicago for generations.
Mike began his career in public service in 1995, when he went to work for then-Congressman, and now Assistant Democratic Leader in the United States Senate, Richard Durbin from Illinois. Mike worked for the Senator at the
senior staff level in both Washington and Illinois. He served as a top advisor on a variety of issues and was responsible for identifying and vetting appropriation requests; critical programs and projects that brought millions of dollars back to Illinois.
In 2003, Mike accepted a position with the State of Illinois, becoming the Director of Local Government for the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity (DCEO). At DCEO Mike worked driectly with mayors and other elected
officials around the state, as well as businesses and small looking to relocate or expand in Illinois, to identify various state incentives and to expand economic activity in the state.
In 2004 Mike transitioned to the private sector when he became the Director of Government Affairs for Simmons Hanley Conroy (formerly The Simmons Law Firm), one of the nation’s top law firms. In addition to his role as a founding partner at ABO, Mike continues to work directly with the Simmons Hanly Conroy partners to navigate the political and government landscape on behalf of the clients they serve.
Through his tenure, Mike has developed close relationships that have helped him create powerful networks and advanced strategies for his clients. Today, Mike utilizes these contacts and broad understanding of the issues to work hand in hand with his clients and to advance their legislative and business objectives. His work as a political consultant continues, as he is often called upon to work with and advise local, state and federal candidates and campaigns during election cycles.
Mike was born in Springfield, Illinois and raised in nearby Virden. He is a 1996 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, where he majored in Political Science and graduated with honors. Mike resides with his family in the Chicago neighborhood of Uptown.
JOHN BOROVICKA OF-COUNSEL
John Borovicka, is a Partner of government relations firm Alexander, Borovicka and O'Shea. Through his work in both the public and private sector, John Borovicka has developed one of the most unique networks of experiences, relationships, and substantive acumen in the advocacy community today. John utilizes this background on behalf of his clients as a founding partner of Alexander, Borovicka & O'Shea Government Solutions. With a diverse roster of clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small local businesses, John has earned the trust of leaders in areas such as education, manufacturing, and technology to represent their governmental interests. Recent highlights of his work include assisting a major international company in defeating a piece of legislation in Springfield that would have stifled technology and innovation, and helping another major company secure a multi-million dollar governmental contract, the most lucrative of its kind ever awarded.
John’s extensive career in public service includes over a dozen years working at the federal, state, and city levels of government. These include senior positions with then-U.S. Congressman and current Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel, current U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley, and current Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton. John’s governmental and campaign experience began in 1996 on the Democratic National Convention and President Clinton’s reelection campaign. His initial government work came in running the Chicago office of State Senator Cullerton. From 1997-1998, John served as field director on the first successful campaign of Mike Quigley, now a member of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee. John then spent four years working for the Chicago City Council as a legislative aide to Alderman Bernie Hansen of Lakeview.
In 2001, John joined Rahm Emanuel’s campaign for United States Congress, serving as his campaign manager when he was first elected in 2002. For the next five years, John was Congressman Emanuel’s District Director, where he served as his liaison to all local officials, governmental agencies and non-profit organizations, while running the Congressman’s Chicago office. During his tenure, he helped bring together state, local and city officials to provide millions of dollars in funding to local projects. John also continued as Congressman Emanuel’s political director throughout his tenure in Congress.
John’s lengthy campaign work also includes serving as Deputy Campaign Manager for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s final reelection campaign in 2007. John has also worked on behalf of many other successful campaigns for executive, legislative, and judicial positions. He continues to be a close counselor and trusted advisor to many other candidates and elected officials at the federal, state and local levels.
Immediately prior to forming Alexander, Borovicka & O'Shea, John spent five years in public finance at an international investment firm, where he was a Senior Vice President in infrastructure investment banking. John specialized in financings for a wide range of large governmental entities across the United States, including the Chicago Transit Authority, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and the State of Ohio. Serving as a financial advisor and bond underwriter, John gained a bird’s eye view of the governmental purchasing world from the inside out, while shepherding his clients through all facets of the procurement process. In addition to broadening his network of local elected officials, John was also able to create new relationships with members of Congress and their staffs representing different areas of the country.
John holds a B.S in Communications from Northwestern University, which he attended on a baseball scholarship. He also holds a J.D. from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, and is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois. John has been a guest lecturer in political science and communication at Northwestern, DePaul and Loyola Universities. He is the immediate Past President and current member of the Board of Directors of Chicago Lights, a community organization aimed at combating poverty. John recently completed a three-year term as an Elder of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of The N Club, for former letter-winning varsity athletes at Northwestern University. He is a past board member of the Chicago Summer Business Institute and the John Merlo Sports Program, and has been an active member of the Government Finance Officers Association, the National Association of Bond Lawyers, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Lakeview Citizens Council.
JEFFREY GOFF OF-COUNSEL
Jeffrey Goff is Senior Associate at the Oldaker Law Group and serves in an Of-Counsel capacity to The National Group.
Jeffrey served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to a senior Republican Member of the House Appropriations Committee. Jeffrey served as the Congressman’s associate staff to the Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies, of which the Congressman was Ranking Member. Jeffrey shaped and oversaw the Member’s legislative agenda and assisted in press operations and political affairs.
During his ten years on the Hill, Jeffrey had an expansive issues portfolio including, but not limited to, health care, education, and financial services. He has drafted and managed legislation introduced in Congress including bills to improve health and wellness programs, expand higher education opportunities, and create jobs in the manufacturing sector.
Jeffrey maintains excellent personal and working relationships with Members and staff on Capitol Hill, primarily on the Republican side of the aisle.
In addition, Jeffrey has considerable experience in coalition building and managing diverse groups toward a common goal. Jeffrey also has extensive campaign management and grassroots experience at the local level.
Jeffrey Goff is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
DAVID SCHMIDLY OF-COUNSEL
David J. Schmidly was born and raised on a cotton farm near Levelland in west Texas. Dr. Schmidly was a first generation college student and the first member of his family to attend and graduate from college. He received his B.A. and M.S. degrees from Texas Tech (1962-1968) and his Ph.D. degree from the University of Illinois (1968-1971), all in Biology and Zoology. Dr. Schmidly has been recognized as a distinguished alumnus at both of these institutions.
Dr. Schmidly served as President of the University of New Mexico from 2007-2012. Previously he had served as President and CEO of Oklahoma State University (2003-2007) and Vice President of Research, Dean of the Graduate School, and President at Texas Tech (1996-2003). Dr. Schmidly started his academic career at Texas A&M University in 1971 where he served as head of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (1986-1992) and Chief Executive Officer and Campus Dean at Texas A&M University at Galveston (1992-1996).
Dr. Schmidly has served on many higher education boards, including the Executive Committee of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP); the Council of Presidents, Association of University and Colleges (AGB); the Board of Directors, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU); and the Board of Directors, American College and University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).
Dr. Schmidly is a strong advocate and supporter of college athletics and its importance in the American way of life. He served for several years as a Director and member of the Executive Committee of the NCAA, and for two years he was Chairman of the Board of the Big 12 Athletic Program during a time of unprecedented growth and achievement. At Texas Tech, he hired Bob Knight as the men’s basketball coach – a move that proved to be tremendously successful.
Dr. Schmidly is an internationally respected researcher and scientific author and has been inducted into the Texas Hall of Fame for Science, Mathematics, and Technology, which recognizes Texans who have played a major role in significant scientific accomplishments. As a noted scientific naturalist, he has authored nine natural history and conservation books and more than 100 scientific articles. In addition, Dr. Schmidly received a very prestigious honor when a new species of mouse was named after him – Peromyscus schmidlyi. Quite possibly, he is the only university president with this distinction! Recently, Dr. Schmidly was selected as an honorary member of the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) which is the most prestigious recognition awarded by that scientific society.
Dr. Schmidly and his wife of 47 years, Janet Knox Schmidly, live in Placitas, New Mexico, and are the parents of two grown children.
JENNICE FUENTES OF-COUNSEL
Jennice Fuentes is a recently retired (2013) U.S. House of Representatives Chief of Staff with 25 years of legislative and political experience. She has a demonstrated track record advocating and advancing legislative issues to Congressional leaders and directly impacting the passage of legislation. As Chief of Staff to Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) she served as the Congressman’s principal advisor, political strategist and top manager. She was responsible for all legislative and political decisions, as well as management of a 22 member staff across Chicago and Washington, D.C. and a $1.4 million annual budget. She advised the Congressman on all issues before the House Financial Services committee, including securities, insurance, banking, housing and the $700 billion Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as well as immigration and issues related to the community.
Jennice is a proven strategist on political and legislative issues and has spent her career developing relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, building coalitions with Congressional leaders and motivating Democrat and Republican officials to act on legislation. After 25 years in Congress, she has founded Fuentes Strategies, LLC with collaborators who share her dedication for government relations to help businesses advocate and promote legislative issues that are relevant to the Latino/Latina community. Ms. Fuentes' public service work has been recognized by The Imagen Foundation, The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute, The Fundacion Azteca, The John C. Stennis Center for Public Service, The Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, the Embassy of Spain and the Fundacion Carolina.
Ms. Fuentes is also a cultural commentator, movie reviewer and frequent guest on various local and national radio and television programs, including CNN en Español, Voice of America, WUSA's News 9, and National Public Radio. A native of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Ms. Fuentes earned her B.A. from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts and her M.A. from New York University. She is fluent in Spanish, French and Italian and has knowledge of Russian and German.
MAUREEN WALSH OF-COUNSEL
Maureen has spent the last two decades serving as a senior legislative, regulatory and government relations advisor to a wide range of corporate and not for profit clients. She uses her comprehensive knowledge of Congress and the Administration to advance mission critical client objectives on a wide array of issues including energy, clean tech, biofuels, environmental sustainability, agriculture, transportation, and high technology.
Maureen founded Dynamic Change Group to provide clients creative and proactive government relations strategies shaped by the client’s individual legislative, policy and financial needs. DCG provides hands on lobbying, strategic consulting, and advocacy services and is a partner to clients, not a hired gun. DCG’s objective is to provide clients the full depth, and breadth of our expertise, experience and relationships.
Prior to founding Dynamic Change Group, Maureen spent five years with one of Washington, DC’s largest and well known government relations firms focusing on government affairs and federal funding opportunities for a broad range of clients including educational and healthcare organizations, technology companies, Fortune 100 firms, and foreign, state and local governments. Before returning to law school, she co-founded a boutique government relations firm, which was Google’s first federal lobbyist.
Maureen also has significant experience in managing and directing state and local campaigns and has working extensively with collations and broad interest groups in this capacity.
Maureen is a native of Virginia and began her career with Congressman Jim Moran of Alexandria, VA. She has also worked for a Governor of Virginia and a United States Senator. Maureen is a cum laude graduate of James Madison University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Art History. While attending JMU, she studied aboard in Florence, Italy and speaks Italian. In 2007, Maureen obtained her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.
DAVID DUNNING OF-COUNSEL
David Dunning is a partner at the Oldaker Law Group. Before joining the firm, Mr. Dunning was a consultant to Holland & Knight, LLP in the Strategic Environmental Management Services practice group. The practice area involved environmental, regulatory and legislative advocacy, as well as ISO Certification for 9,001 & 14,001 corporate training and implementation in manufacturing practices.
Today, Mr. Dunning serves clients in biotechnology, science and manufacturing for companies involved in LEED & Green guard certified products in the growing sustainable building material sector. Mr. Dunning also serves as Director of Raw Materials for AERT in Springdale, AR, where he has held various positions in the company for over 18 years. Mr. Dunning also serves as a consultant to Shaw Industries in Dalton, Ga for the Green Edge Sustainable Products & Engineering Services Group. Shaw Industries is a Berkshire Hathaway owned company.
Prior to Mr. Dunning's work in green manufacturing, he worked as a legislative representative for AARP in state and federal legislative areas. Mr. Dunning received his BA in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1970 and also enrolled in a work study program with Imperial College and Whittenberg Engineering in London.
JAVIER LLANO OF-COUNSEL
Javier LLano consults with clients on strategic and competitive issues to maximize and magnify the effectiveness of their relationships and advocacy programs to create marketplace advantage. He lobbies the Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees on issues related to economic development, health care, renewable energy, telecommunications and tax policy.
Mr. LLano is an artist in forming strategic alliances and partnership to create new opportunities to advance the agenda of clients. Mr. LLano served as the Lead Strategic Policy Advisor to the Governor of Puerto Rico, Luis G. Fortuño in Washington, on health care reform, housing, economic development, tax policy and labor issues. Mr. LLano advised Governor Fortuño and Puerto Rico cabinet members on policy issues, under consideration in Congress related to health care reform, housing, economic development and tax policy. He lobbied the Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees on those issues.
Mr. LLano established strategy partnerships with health care stakeholders in Puerto Rico to advance the Governor’s health care agenda in Washington, D.C. He promoted the adoption of a strategic policy by the Government of Puerto Rico to advance the implementation of Electronic Health Records and the expansion of the Medicare Advantage Program
Mr. LLano has developed a network of relationships with experts involved in the drafting and analysis of legislation, public policy that include issues such as health care, mixed-income housing, transportation, renewable energy and economic development over the years working as a City Planner and Policy Advisor to various elected officials in NYC, San Juan and Washington D.C.
Mr. LLano has been quoted a number of times in various newspapers articles and radio shows related to infrastructure issues affecting economic growth, affordable housing, health care, economic development, planning challenges such as the NYC urban transportation system, re-zoning and community benefit agreements, etc. On December, 2005 Mr. Llano appeared on the cover of CRAIN’S NEW YORK BUSINESS magazine (Nov. 28-Dec 4, 2005 Vol. XXI, No. 48) discussing affordable housing issues and challenges for New Yorkers.
Mr. Llano is bilingual. He speaks and writes in two languages (English and Spanish) and was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. He earned an M.P.A., with specialization in urban planning/economic development and public policy from New York University in the spring of 2001. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras campus in 1995.
AL MADISON OF-COUNSEL
For more than 35 years Al Madison has advised corporations, trade associations, coalitions, foreign governments and politicians on communications, public policy and business and political strategies. He has led, managed and held senior executive positions at a variety of strategic communications firms operating at the intersection of complex policy issues and the media. His specialty is in the protection and advancement of corporate, business and government reputations by helping clients manage tough communications issues when it matters most.
He has guided clients through high-profile communications challenges including legislative and regulatory battles, litigation, congressional hearings, repositioning campaigns and political crises. His seasoned understanding of the media ecosystem, both old and new, as well as his experience in the political and legislative worlds has informed his ability to provide reasoned, sound strategic advice and successful execution.
ELLIOTT FIEDLER OF-COUNSEL
Mr. Fiedler served as Legislative Director to Congressman David Obey, former Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Mr. Fiedler was also a senior executive at the lobbying firm of Cassidy & Associates for 10 years, represented a number of major corporations and non-profit institutions, and was one of the leaders of that firm's university representation practice.
Mr. Fiedler has expertise in the federal budget and appropriations processes, and in issue areas including health care, energy, defense, education and economic development. Before his work as a Congressional aide, Mr. Fiedler served as a budget analyst in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Mr. Fiedler is an independent consultant to The National Group and other entities.
FRANK LAZARUS OF-COUNSEL
Francis M. Lazarus is currently President Emeritus and Professor of Classics at the University of Dallas, in Irving, Texas. Dr. Lazarus was seventh President of the University of Dallas from 2004-2009, having assumed that office after serving for eight years as Vice President and Provost of the University of San Diego. Prior to his position at San Diego, Dr. Lazarus was Vice President for Academic Affairs at Marquette University from 1988-1996, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Dayton from 1980-1988, and Associate Dean of Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from 1979-1980.
Prior to serving in these administrative posts, Dr. Lazarus was a member of the faculty of Classics of Salem College (1973-1980) and the faculty of English at the United States Military Academy at West Point (1970-1973). In 1978-1979 Dr. Lazarus held an American Council of Education Fellowship in Academic Administration at Memphis State University in Tennessee. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Sigma Nu, the national Jesuit honor society.
Dr. Lazarus was educated at Canisius College in Buffalo (A.B. Summa Cum Laude, 1966) and at Cornell University (M.A., 1968; Ph.D. 1972). His areas of specialty are Latin and Greek Literature of the Classical period and Greek archaeology. His publications include an edited book on the character of Jesuit education, a book chapter on community service learning, and articles on the nature of Fortuna, the goddess of chance, in Latin Literature.
Dr. Lazarus currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Texas Independent Colleges Foundation. In addition, he is also a member of the Board of Regents of Seton Hall University, and the Board of Directors of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. Dr. Lazarus was born in Buffalo, New York and is married to the former Carol Scheminger, whom he met in third grade. They have three children and three grandchildren.
ARTHUR WU OF-COUNSEL
Art Wu retired from the United States House of Representatives Committee on Veterans Affairs in January 2011 after having served for 16 years as the Deputy Staff Director of the Full Committee and Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
He played a key role in oversight functions related to the re-engineering of the Department of Veterans Affairs, especially in electronic medical records, information security, technology modernization, consolidation and integration, infrastructure reorganization, procurement reform, quality assurance, prohibitive personnel practices, patient safety, quality assurance, practitioner credentialing, research and human subjects protections, third party collections, bioterrorism, VA/DOD sharing, interoperability and seamless transition and waste, fraud and abuse activities.
He is actively engaged with various veterans' organizations and the military services to maintain awareness of quality of life issues vital to all veterans, active, retired or former military service personnel and their families or survivors.
He was commissioned in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps in 1970. He served in various assignments and duties in hospital administration, medical evacuation, POW return team and health care policy. During his Army career he was variously stationed at Fort Myer, VA; Okinawa, Japan; Fort Knox, KY; Fort Lee, VA; Army Surgeon General's Representative to the Office of Civilian Health and Medical Programs of the Uniformed Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), Denver, CO; Medical Operations and Personnel Officer, VII U.S. Army Corps Surgeon, Stuttgart, Germany; and Chief, Health Care and Physical Standards, Army Surgeon General's Office, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon. He retired from the Army in 1990.
Mr. Wu is a professional consultant on health care reform, managed care programs, veterans issues and base closure and realignment among many others.