Washington, D.C. – Ballard Partners, a leading international lobbying firm, today announced that Micah Ketchel, a former Senior Advisor at the National Security Council, has joined the firm as a Partner in the Washington D.C. office. Ketchel will lead the firm’s newly established Critical Minerals Practice, advising clients on strategic policy, supply chain security, and international regulatory matters critical to the energy transition.

“The global competition for critical minerals is one of the most defining national security and economic challenges of our time, requiring sophisticated counsel,” said Brian Ballard, President of Ballard Partners. “Micah’s unique experience navigating complex issues at the White House, State Department, and on Capitol Hill makes him the ideal leader for this crucial new practice. We are thrilled to welcome a professional of his caliber to the firm.”

Mr. Ketchel joins Ballard Partners with extensive experience across the executive and legislative branches, offering clients deep insight into the intersection of foreign policy, national security, and global economic development. Most recently, he served as Senior Advisor for the Bureau of International Organizations at the U.S. Department of State, where he acted as a primary liaison between the Bureau and the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

Prior to his time at the State Department, Ketchel was Senior Advisor to the National Security Advisor at the National Security Council in the White House and Special Assistant to the President. He also brings significant congressional experience, having served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Mike Waltz from 2018 through 2025, where he oversaw legislative and policy operations. Earlier in his career, he served as Counsel and Policy Advisor to Congressman Jeff Miller and the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and held leadership roles at the Republican State Leadership Committee and the Republican Attorneys General Association.

“Ballard Partners has established itself as the premier international government affairs firm, and I am excited to join this exceptional team,” said Micah Ketchel. “The ability to seamlessly integrate government affairs across domestic policy, foreign affairs, and trade will be vital for clients engaging in the critical minerals space. I look forward to leading this practice and delivering strategic results for our clients.”

Mr. Ketchel holds a Juris Doctor with honors from the Florida State University College of Law.

WASHINGTON, DC – Ballard Partners, a leading international lobbying firm, today announced that Bernice Glenn Kissinger has joined the firm as a Partner and will lead its newly established office in Honolulu, Hawaii. Kissinger will focus on military and national security issues across the Indo-Pacific region, further strengthening Ballard Partners’ capabilities in this dynamic area.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Bernice Kissinger to Ballard Partners and to open our new office in Honolulu,” said Brian Ballard, President of Ballard Partners. “Bernice’s unparalleled experience and expertise in defense contracting and national security, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, will be an invaluable asset to our clients and our firm. Her strategic insights and deep understanding of the region will be invaluable to our clients.”

Kissinger is a seasoned defense raid-contracting specialist and the architect of U.S.-Allied defense programs. Her work has accelerated contracting processes and the shaping of contract specifications by advising government organizations such as Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane), Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC), its contracting team at Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA), Army Futures Command, Army Contracting Command (ACC) Orlando, and others across INDOPACOM, NORTHCOM, NORAD, CYBERCOM, and SOCOM organizations. She has related expertise in policy working with the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense Acquisition & Sustainment (OUSD A&S) particularly with leadership in Pricing & Controls and Industrial Base Policy (IBP).

Kissinger’s career and work in bilateral and multinational defense technology programs spans Japan, Australia, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan. For example, her work in Japan leverages her decades-long role in a U.S. nonprofit organization established in 1983 by President Reagan and Prime Minister Nakasone and U.S. Congressional request. Through this nonprofit, she has supported Japan’s first and only Government-led Defense Accelerator and its series of cohorts who are successfully securing domestic and international contracts and Japanese funding for U.S. co-production and retrofitting in Japan of drones, munitions, and strategic vehicles.

“I am honored and thrilled to join Ballard Partners and lead their efforts in the Pacific theater,” said Kissinger. “This new role provides an exceptional opportunity to leverage my experience to support our clients’ critical needs in military and national security. The Indo-Pacific is a region of immense strategic importance, and I look forward to contributing to solutions that strengthen our national interests and alliances.”

Bernice received a B.A., magna cum laude, in East Asian Studies from Princeton University (1979–1983), and Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design National Charrette Certificate in 2011. She is a Senior Fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and a regular contributor to the public policy debate.

Her publications include:

• https://www.aspi.org.au/strategist-posts/access-to-northern-territory-can-be-a-military-asset-for-japan/
• https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/opinion-japan-s-emerging-defence-industry-and-dual-use-technology-sector-opportunities-for-australian-industry
• https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/geopolitics-and-policy/16996-forging-allied-industrial-power-j-star-x-and-project-dynamis-join-forces
• https://spacenews.com/op-ed-to-shore-up-u-s-space-dominance-biden-administration-must-boost-japan-u-s-alliance/
• https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/us-alliance-remains-cornerstone-of-japan-s-defense-strategy-new-report-says-1.600684

WASHINGTON, DC – Ballard Partners, a leading international lobbying firm, and Forward Global, a commercial and geopolitical risk advisory and public affairs firm with offices across the U.S. and Europe, today announced a strategic partnership that expands the reach and services of both firms for U.S. and international clients.

As part of the collaboration, Ballard will establish a presence in Paris and Brussels as part of the Ballard Global Alliance and Forward partner Mike Rubino will take on the additional role of Partner at Ballard – an industry first – to launch the joint endeavor. This will ensure seamless connectivity and execution for shared clients, enabling direct coordination of cross-border campaigns and unified strategic counsel on complex international issues.

“Companies today face policy challenges that don’t respect borders,” said Brian Ballard, President and Founder of Ballard Partners. “A tariff decision in Washington ripples through Brussels, and E.U. data-privacy rules directly impact commercial decision-making in capitals across the U.S. and the world. This partnership gives our clients the strategic coherence they need across both sides of the Atlantic.”

The partnership brings together Ballard’s deep government relations expertise and Forward’s strength in risk management, public affairs, and strategic advisory, creating a fully integrated platform to help clients address political, regulatory, and reputational challenges worldwide. Ballard and Forward clients will receive unrivaled strategic advisory counsel that addresses interconnected U.S. and European policy decisions, particularly around trade, technology regulation, and sanctions regimes.

Forward Global brings established operations in Paris, Brussels, London, and Abidjan to complement Ballard’s Washington presence. The partnership also strengthens Forward Global’s U.S. footprint, which includes offices in Washington, Miami, New York, and Los Angeles.

“Ballard Partners is one of the most respected names in Washington, and this partnership comes at a pivotal moment in our firm’s growth,” said John Procter, Managing Partner of Forward Global US. “When a client faces regulatory scrutiny in Washington, Brussels, or London, they need advisors who can coordinate and execute the most efficient and effective strategy to get the job done.”

Rubino’s dual-partner role represents a novel approach to cross-firm collaboration in the professional services sector.

“Most firms talk about international capabilities, but few can deliver truly integrated counsel,” said Rubino. “This structure ensures clients get consistent strategic advice whether they’re navigating Capitol Hill or the European Parliament, and without the typical coordination headaches of working with separate firms. By joining forces, we’re expanding what each firm can deliver and ensuring clients have the expertise and execution they need, wherever they need it.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Ballard Partners, a leading international lobbying firm, today announced the strategic addition of four distinguished lobbyists to its Washington, D.C. office: Thomas Boodry, Grace Colvin, Alison Anway and Scott Wagner. This significant expansion of talent is complemented by the firm’s new, larger footprint in its Washington office, occupying approximately 20,000 square feet.

These new hires bring a wealth of experience and diverse expertise that will further enhance Ballard Partners’ ability to serve its growing client base across various sectors.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Grace, Thomas, Scott, and Alison to our powerhouse Washington team,” said Brian Ballard, President of Ballard Partners. “Their combined experience and deep understanding of the policy landscape will be invaluable to our clients as we continue to navigate complex issues in Washington. This expansion of both our talent and our physical presence in the Homer Building underscores our firm’s sustained growth and unwavering commitment to providing unparalleled advocacy and strategic counsel.”

Meet the Additions to the Ballard Partners Washington Team:

• Thomas Boodry has spent the past decade working in public service and national security. Most recently, he served as Special Assistant to President Donald J. Trump and Senior Director for Legislative Affairs at the National Security Council. Prior to his White House service, Thomas served on Capitol Hill as Legislative Director to Congressman Michael Waltz (FL-06), Legislative Director to Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23), and Legislative Aide to then-Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). In these roles, he advised Members of Congress on appropriations, national security, and foreign policy, and served as Congressman Waltz’s lead staff for his work on the House Intelligence, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs Committees.
• Grace Colvin joins Ballard Partners from The League of Credit Unions and Affiliates, where she served as Vice President of Federal Advocacy and Strategy for the past four years. In that capacity, she represented nearly 400 credit unions across Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Virginia before the White House, Congress and regulatory agencies.
• Alison Anway will now serve clients primarily in the firm’s Washington office. She specializes in health policy and regulatory affairs. Alison began her career in health policy in the office of U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) where, among other things, she served as Legislative Assistant for Healthcare during the entirety of the consideration and passage of the landmark Affordable Care Act (ACA). The education and experience Alison gained during the two-year period culminating in President Obama’s signing of the ACA into law led to her recruitment by Anthem, the largest Blue Cross Blue Shield plan in America, to lead their Public Policy team dedicated to the federal health plan lines of business. In this role, Alison led a policy division committed to providing policy support to Anthem’s Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, Medicaid, and Federal Contracting lines of business. She joins the Washington office from Ballard’s Tallahassee office.
• Scott Wagner will now serve clients primarily in the firm’s Washington office. He is a graduate of Yale, with Honors, and of the University of Miami School of Law. He has served as the Co-Chair of Governor Ron DeSantis’ 2022 Transition Team. Wagner is a member of the Orange Bowl Committee and also serves on the Biscayne Bay Commission and as the Vice Chairman of the Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management District. He joins the Washington office from Ballard’s Miami and Tallahassee offices.

The firm’s expanded space in the Homer Building reflects its continued growth and commitment to providing a best-in-class environment for its team and clients. The additional square footage will accommodate the firm’s growing staff and offer enhanced facilities for client meetings and collaboration.

TALLAHASSEE/RALEIGH – Ballard Partners and Checkmate Government Relations – two leading state-based lobbying and public affairs firms – are proud to announce a strategic partnership. This new relationship joins Florida-based Ballard Partners with North Carolina-based Checkmate, to strengthen both firms in the Southeast.

Through this partnership, Ballard Partners expands its ability to serve clients in the state of North Carolina and complements its existing presence in Florida, California, Illinois, and Massachusetts. By aligning with Ballard, Checkmate will strengthen its operations and broaden its reach in Florida and other important U.S. markets. This relationship will allow both firms to provide seamless, effective government affairs services across major U.S. states and nationally.

“We are excited to partner with Checkmate, a highly respected North Carolina-based firm known for its strategic expertise and deep regional insight,” said Brian Ballard, President and Founder of Ballard Partners. “Checkmate’s strong track record and client-focused approach align perfectly with our commitment to delivering top-tier government affairs and advocacy services. Together, we will be well-positioned to provide clients with expanded capabilities and impactful
government affairs solutions across North Carolina and key markets throughout the United States.”

The Ballard-Checkmate collaboration will empower clients to navigate complex regulatory environments, build strategic relationships with key decision-makers, and explore new opportunities across the United States. Clients will be able to enjoy broader coverage and assistance, as well as benefit from the strategic resources of both firms.

“We’re proud to partner with Ballard Partners, one of the most respected public affairs firms in the country,” said Ches McDowell, Checkmate’s Managing Partner. “This collaboration expands our ability to deliver exceptional results for clients not only in North Carolina, but also in other critical markets nationwide. Together, our firms will offer a powerful combination of regional expertise and national reach, ensuring our clients are well-positioned to navigate and solve the
issues that matter most.”