Top corporate lobbyists in D.C.

In-house lobbyists don’t have the same swashbuckling reputation as the hired guns on K Street, who charge by the hour and, drink in hand, hobnob at fundraisers most nights of the week. But in the light of day members of Congress and their aides often value the steady counsel of corporate lobbyists more. They’re viewed as experts in their industries and as being tied more closely to districts, and therefore voters, back home. Here are some names that come up in conversations with congressional aides and other lobbyists.

Sam Adcock, EADS North America. Adcock is showing his mettle at helping his company make its play on the U.S. military market and defending its win for a multibillion-dollar Air Force contract.

Cory Alexander, Fannie Mae. Alexander was chief of staff to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) before becoming one of the most respected corporate lobbyists downtown.

Victoria Blatter, Peter Rubin, Merck. Blatter leads a top-notch squad for this Big Pharma powerhouse.

Abigail Blunt, Kraft Foods. Blunt went with the food manufacturer last year when it spun off from corporate giant Altria. In addition to being Kraft’s Senate lobbyist, she is married to House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).

Stephen Brown, Tesoro. A former aide to Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), Brown maintains close ties to both Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

Nicholas Calio, Citigroup. Calio boasts Jimmy Ryan, known to be “closer to [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid [D-Nev.] than anyone in Washington,” in his talented stable of lobbyists.

Kenneth Cole, General Motors. Cole’s contacts on Capitol Hill help the auto industry stay on track.

Rodger Currie, Amgen. This biotech firm’s cash cow anti-anemia drug has taken a battering, but Currie and his team could have the clout to minimize the damage.
Brian Dailey, Lockheed Martin. Dailey and his team will be hard at work this year to protect the defense giant’s turf in several high-profile program, such as the F-22 Raptor and the new presidential helicopter.

Priya Dayananda, KPMG. This former staffer to three House Democrats wins battles on the Hill through her smarts and her charm.

Nancy Dorn, General Electric. GE spent more than $26 million on lobbying in 2007. But it is Dorn’s lobbying ability that gives the corporate giant its edge in Congress.

Duane Duncan, Fannie Mae. Duncan has protected Fannie Mae from regulatory threats year after year.

Matt Gelman, Microsoft. The top lobbyist for the software giant, Gelman has solid connections to House Democratic leaders, including Majority Whip James Clyburn (S.C.).

Rich Glick, PPM Energy. Glick, an official for the Energy Department during the Clinton administration, pushes more support for renewable power in Congress.

Rob Griner, JP Morgan Chase. This former Democratic staffer and his Republican counterpart, Steve Patterson, keep this storied Wall Street bank covered on Capitol Hill.

Bob Helm, Northrop Grumman. The former Senate Budget Committee staffer and Pentagon appointee and his team are busy at work on issues ranging from shipbuilding to aerospace and trade.  

Ed Hill, Bank of America. One of the brainiest lobbyists on K Street, Hill has the ear of House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.).

Tod Hullin, Boeing. Hullin’s wealth of experience in the Pentagon and White House will come in handy this year for the industry giant.

Peter Jacoby, AT&T Corp. Jacoby is the go-to guy for Democrats for the telecom giant.

Mark Keam, Verizon. Keam, a former aide to Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), makes sure Verizon gets its message across.

Tim Keating, Honeywell International Inc. The well-respected former Clinton administration legislative director runs a successful in-house lobby shop.

Bill Lane, Caterpillar. Lane is one of the co-chairmen of the business coalition lobbying for approval of the Colombia free trade agreement, a top administration policy in 2008.

H. Adam Lawrence, Southern Co. Lawrence, who was counsel to then-Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), leads one of the most active federal affairs offices in town. Democrat Jeanne Wolak also gets high marks for her advocacy.

Buford Lewis, ExxonMobil. Buford, a well-known face in the Senate, is credited with being a good spokesman for his company in what are trying times for the industry — politically speaking, anyway.

Tim McBride, Freddie Mac. McBride is a master of steering Freddie Mac out of trouble on Capitol Hill.

Scott Miller, Procter & Gamble. As head of the consumer products giant’s lobbying, Miller oversees its portfolio, but foreign trade is his specialty, making him a busy man these days.

Betsy Moler, Exelon. Moler was a Democratic staff aide, a top Energy Department official and a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission before becoming one of the most respected utility lobbyists in Washington.

Ziad Ojakli, Bruce Andrews, Ford Motor Co. Ojakli used to lobby the Senate on behalf of the Bush administration; Andrews came on board last year to help reach out to the new Democratic majority.

John Orlando, CBS Corp. Orlando, a former chief of staff to Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.), is CBS’s eye in Washington.

Joe Seidel, Credit Suisse. This former general counsel to the House Financial Services Committee and his top Democratic lobbyist, Mike Williams, have golden contacts on the Hill.

Sarah Thorn, Wal-Mart. The retailer has aggressively responded to the lead-painted toys and tainted food that landed on its shelves, and Thorn and her colleagues are carrying its messages to Congress and the White House.

Howard Woolley, Verizon Wireless. Woolley is described as a thoughtful and effective advocate who knows the issues that affect his company inside and out.