Former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry Joins Ballard Partners as a Partner in its Washington, Tallahassee and Jacksonville Offices

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Former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is joining Ballard Partners, one of the top government relations firms in the United States, as a Partner in its Washington, Tallahassee and Jacksonville offices.

“Lenny’s exemplary stature as a leader in our state and nation is rare and we are especially honored to have him join our firm,” said Brian Ballard, the firm’s President and Founder. “Given his extraordinary relationships and experiences, Lenny will be an invaluable advocate for the firm’s clients in Washington, Tallahassee and Jacksonville.”

Winning both his first campaign in 2015 and his re-election campaign in 2019, Curry served as Mayor of the City of Jacksonville from 2015 to 2023. Prior to his service as Mayor, Curry was elected as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. He also previously served as Jacksonville Housing Commission Board member, a Commissioner of the Florida State Boxing Commission, a Junior Achievement Board member and a Jacksonville Symphony Association Board member.

“I am delighted to be joining Brian and the outstanding team at Ballard Partners, and I am looking forward to contributing to the firm’s continued growth and success across the country,” said Curry.

From 1994 to 2002, Curry practiced as a Certified Public Accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, the world’s largest accounting firm, where he was a Senior Manager in the Jacksonville office. In 2002, he became a job creator when he co-founded a Jacksonville based professional services firm, ICX Group Inc. (ICX), providing finance and accounting consulting, executive recruiting and staffing services. 

Curry is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of The University of Florida.

Terry Miller and Elaine Sarlo Barraco Join Ballard Partners’ Fort Myers Office

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Terry Miller is joining Ballard Partners, one of the top government relations firms in the United States, as a Partner in its Fort Myers office. Elaine Sarlo Barraco is also joining the Fort Myers office as a Senior Associate.

“Terry’s success and reputation in Southwest Florida adds a significant new dimension of expertise to our Fort Myers team led by Managing Partner Dane Eagle,” said Brian Ballard, the firm’s President and Founder. “With Terry and Elaine joining Dane in Fort Myers, our presence and capability there is second to none.”

As founder of a Southwest Florida based political consulting and public affairs firm, Miller has assisted corporate clients in traversing the intricate web of government and public relations and has navigated dozens of political campaigns at all levels of government. These experiences have helped him build relationships with officials at the local, state, and federal levels and earned him the accolade of one of the most influential people in Florida politics in 2022. Miller also has extensive corporate experience in the private sector and previously worked in the Florida House of Representatives.

“I am honored to join Ballard Partners and I look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued success in Southwest Florida,” said Miller.

Sarlo Barraco is experienced in developing and executing community relations strategies for corporate clients and coordinating campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels. Previously, Elaine served as the Southwest Florida Regional Director for U.S. Senator Marco Rubio. She has served on the Lee County Conservation Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee and the Metropolitan Planning Organization Citizens Advisory Board.

Jenny Busby Joins Ballard Partners as a Partner in the Jacksonville and Washington Offices

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Jenny Busby, former Head of Government Affairs for Transportation Policy at Siemens, is joining Ballard Partners, one of the top government relations firms in the United States, as a partner in its Jacksonville and Washington, DC offices. 

“We are delighted to have Jenny join our firm in Jacksonville and Washington,” said Brian Ballard, the firm’s President and Founder. “Her extensive experience in Congress and Jacksonville city government will be especially valuable to our firm and its clients in both offices.”  

In her role as Director of Government Affairs for Transportation Policy at Siemens, Busby supported the Siemens Mobility business and contributed to state and local infrastructure implementation efforts. Prior to joining Siemens, Busby worked in the Public Policy & Regulation group at the law firm, Holland & Knight LLP, in Washington DC, where she was a Public Affairs Advisor supporting clients in the transportation, local government, and emerging technology space.  

“I am honored to join Ballard Partners and I look forward to working with Brian and the outstanding team of professionals at the firm,” said Busby. 

Before working at Holland & Knight, Busby served as Executive Council Assistant and Campaign Manager for Jacksonville City Councilman and former Mayor Tommy Hazouri. She also served as Legislative Assistant for United States Congressman Al Lawson, Director of Operations for Florida gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham, Assistant to the Chair of the Florida Democratic Party Allison Tant and as Legislative Aide to Florida State Senator and Minority Leader Nan Rich.

Busby grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and graduated from Florida State University.

Lai Mohammed bags international advocacy job

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Lai Mohammed gets new appointment after leaving Buhari’s govt

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Ex-minister Lai Mohammed gets international lobbying job

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Nigeria: Lai Mohammed Gets New Appointment After 8 Years With Buhari

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Ballard Partners Opens Nigeria Office in Further Expansion of Firm’s Work in Africa

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In The News

~ Honorable Minister Lai Mohammed Named Managing Partner ~

Ballard Partners, one of the top government relations firms in the United States, is opening its first office in Africa in Abuja, Nigeria, the nation’s capital. Honorable Minister Lai Mohammed, the immediate past Nigeria Minister of Information and Culture, will serve as the Managing Partner of the Abuja office and the firm’s satellite office in Lagos, the nation’s financial center.

“Opening our first African office in Nigeria expands our firm’s international footprint to three continents and builds upon the important work we have done on behalf of African nations and companies in Africa and the U.S.,” said Brian Ballard, the firm’s President and Founder. “We are honored to have former Minister Lai Mohammed join the firm as our Managing Partner in Nigeria. He has a long record of public service and is one of the most respected officials in the country. His outstanding reputation and exceptional experience will be invaluable to our firm’s clients.”

Mohammed has been the voice of national progressive politics and governance for the last twenty-five years. For the last eight years as Minister of Information and Culture between 2015 and 2023 Minister Mohammed has served as the spokesperson, reputation manager and information management strategist-in-chief of Africa’s most populous country and biggest economy. He is the first two term Minister of Information and Culture in the history of Nigeria. In 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari conferred Mohammed with one of the nation’s highest honors, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) for service to the country.

Since the advent of Nigeria’s fourth republic in 1999, Mohammed played key roles in the political life of his country as Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Executive Governor of Lagos, National Spokesperson for the Opposition for over a decade (2005-2015) and as a candidate for the Governorship of Kwara State in the 2003 General Elections.

“I am very pleased to join Ballard Partners and to open the firm’s first office in Africa,” Mohammed said. “Ballard Partners has an impeccable reputation internationally and is well known for its success representing African countries and American firms in Africa. The opportunities in Nigeria are substantial and I look forward to helping the firm’s clients achieve their objectives.”

Minister Lai Mohammed graduated with second class upper honors with dual degrees in Modern European Languages (majoring in French) and Law. He was then called to the Nigerian bar in 1986. The Minister has also been awarded several diplomas in different parts of the world including Diplomes d’Etudes Francaise 3ieme Degree in both Dakar, Senegal and Vichy France.


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