Lobbying World

• Mark Lotwis has joined InterAction as senior director of public policy. Prior to joining the organization, Lotwis was senior director of campaign advocacy for the Save Darfur Coalition. He also served as executive director of the political action committee 21st Century Democrats and as chief of staff for former Rep. Ted Strickland (D-Ohio).

{mosads}• Kemp Goldberg Partners launched its public affairs practice Monday and recently opened a new office in Washington. The firm, whose previous clients include the United States Diplomacy Center and the National Transportation Safety Board, is an advertising, public relations and interactive agency.

• Andrew Fimka has joined Story Partners as director. Recently, Fimka worked for the National Federation of Independent Business as director of political and legislative advocacy. Before that, Fimka worked in a range of roles on congressional and presidential campaigns.

• John Thomasian left the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices to start a private analysis and strategic planning practice. Thomasian originated the position of center director in 1997, but started with the association in 1986. Before that, he was the unit chief for energy and environment in the Natural Resources and Commerce Division of the Congressional Budget Office.

• Gregg Melinson will start working for Hewlett-Packard in September as vice president of global government affairs. Melinson will leave his chief marketing partner position with Drinker Biddle & Reath, where he worked for much of the past 20 years. He briefly left the firm to work for then Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge (R) as deputy general counsel from 1995 to 1997.