The diverse team at Smith Dawson & Andrews brings insight and strategic thinking that comes only from decades of experience in the legislative, political and communications arenas. We provide premium service while adhering to the highest ethical standards. Our team approach takes advantage of each member's expertise to deliver comprehensive solutions and best-in-class results in an effective and collaborative manner.
Each member of SDA’s team is wholly committed to solving your problem and representing your best interests. While the political climate, current issues and party control may change, effective, personal representation does not. Over the past three decades, we have achieved results for our clients regardless of the party occupying the White House or in control of the Congress; we are fully bipartisan. Our experience and expertise in a wide variety of arenas provides you with a unique benefit. SDA is sought after for its highly personalized service, government and public policy experience and commitment to each client's success.
James P. Smith
Jim is the President of Smith Dawson & Andrews and serves as the firm's chief strategist. He oversees a diverse range of clients, with particular emphasis on business development, health care, technology, trade and transportation. Before co-founding SDA in 1981, Jim served in government and public affairs positions at the White House and in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Commerce and with the State of Illinois.
Involved in many key legislative battles on Capitol Hill, Jim has been active in every major transportation debate in Congress over the last 35 years. His knowledge of federal agency and congressional policy and practice, along with his long-term, bipartisan relationships with key decision makers, make Jim an effective advocate for client interests.
A native of Illinois, Jim is a Director and Officer of Home Star Financial Group and Home Star Bank, an independent privately held community bank serving Kankakee and Will Counties and a partner in Smith Development Corporation, which among other things, redeveloped the former State of Illinois Manteno Mental Health Center into the multi-business commercial center, Illinois Diversatech Campus.
Jim has held a number of positions in various civic, religious and nonprofit organizations in the Washington, D.C. area including Member of the Board of Trustees of Gonzaga College High School; President of the Board of Directors of the Barker Foundation, a non-profit adoption agency, and a Member of the Board of Trustees of the De Sales School of Theology.
Jim is a graduate of Colorado State University.
Gregory B. Andrews
Greg joined Smith Dawson & Andrews in 1984. He came to the firm with an extensive background in public affairs, government service and political activity, and provides strategic client counsel and senior level advocacy to key legislators and government officials. Greg has worked successfully with clients for over two decades on budget and appropriations issues, numerous transportation, energy and health care authorization bills and on regulatory and policy issues with both the Congress and the administrative agencies. He specializes in transportation, aviation, water resources, homeland security, energy and health care issues.
From 1977 through 1980, Greg served in several roles in the U.S. Department of Transportation, including Congressional Liaison Officer in the Office of the Secretary, Special Assistant to the Federal Highway Administrator and as a member of the Secretary's Urban Highway Decision Group. Greg is active in a number of national associations in the aviation field, including the two major airport trade associations--the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), as well as the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA), where he serves on the Public Affairs Committee.
Greg is a graduate of Mankato State University in Minnesota.
Michael Alvarez
Michael has enjoyed a fast-paced career closely associated with local, state, and federal government activities in the State of Illinois. He joined SDA in 2009 to assist clients at the state and federal levels.
Prior to his consulting work, Michael was a Senior Advisor to Senator Barack Obama, providing strategic and political counsel to the Senator and his staff and serving as liaison to various constituency and ethnic groups. He also was responsible for communicating and negotiating with city, state, county and federal elected officials on a variety of initiatives. Prior to his position with Senator Obama’s office, Mr. Alvarez served as the Deputy Director for Community Relations and, subsequently, Regional Manager, for the Illinois Department of Employment Security in Chicago. Michael was elected a Commissioner of the Chicago area Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in November 2010. Michael’s specialties include infrastructure, labor and water issues.
Michael has an undergraduate degree in Communications and a Masters degree in Corporate and Managerial Communication, both from Northwestern University.
Kirk A. Bailey
Kirk is an attorney with a background in legislative staff positions and public service. He joined SDA in 2000 and now serves as Special Counsel and as senior consultant/editor for SDA’s website. Kirk’s expertise is in federal and state spending, transportation, education, juvenile justice, environment and natural resource issues, lobbying ethics, civil rights and administrative law.
Prior to joining SDA, Kirk advised the Hamilton Fish National Institute on School & Community Violence, lobbied for the University of Oregon, and served on the Lane Transit District Board of Directors under appointments by two successive Oregon Governors - Barbara Roberts and John Kitzhaber. Kirk has worked for legislatures in Alaska, Hawaii and Oregon as well as the U.S. Senate.
Kirk is a graduate of the University of Oregon, where he completed degrees in Political Science and Law, and is a member of the Oregon State Bar and American Bar Association.
Ronald Bonneau, ENP
Ron brings a comprehensive knowledge of the public safety arena to SDA, where he focuses on providing direct support to clients that work with or market to public safety organizations.
Ron is the former Executive Director of SouthCom E9-1-1 Center, in Matteson, IL, where he built a new combined and consolidated 9-1-1 center, implemented Phase II wireless 9-1-1 and began the process of SouthCom joining an existing interoperable 800 MHz radio network. Prior to SouthCom, Ron served as a Riverdale, Illinois police officer for twenty seven years, retiring with the rank of Captain. He spent his last ten years in Riverdale managing the support services division, which included computer services, records, dispatch, 9-1-1 and investigations.
Ron recently completed a term as National President of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and since 1995 has appeared at 9-1-1 events throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as in Europe and Asia. He is the author of numerous articles in trade publications and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and Reader's Digest.
Ron was awarded a Master of Arts from Western Illinois University and completed his undergraduate studies at Northern Illinois University. Ron also holds Emergency Number Professional (ENP) certification from NENA.
Judith Burrell
Judith has over 30 years of experience in Washington D.C. She has served as assistant executive director of the United States Conference of Mayors as well as a New York City Congressional lobbyist. As a member of the senior management team for U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Peña, she led negotiations on the conformity rules for the transportation and clean air laws that exist today.
In more recent years, Judith was Chief Marketing Officer for the Transportation Division of ACS Government Solutions, a Fortune-500 technology integrator for electronic toll collection, transit smart cards, commercial truck inspections and motor vehicle registration. Judith brings a strategic development focus and a rich stakeholder network to SDA clients and extensive background in the local regional approach to federal policy. Her specialties include economic development, energy, the environment, livable communities, small business telecommunications transportation and workforce development.
Judith is a graduate of Brown University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She is a former member of the Washington D.C. taxi commission and currently volunteers with the Medical Care for Children Partnership in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Mary C. Cronin
Mary joined SDA in March 2010 after a career spanning federal, state and county government. Mary assists SDA clients with policy and funding goals related to K-12 education, higher education, tariffs and trade, and ways communities can benefit economically from investments in energy sustainability, transportation and infrastructure, housing and land use policies.
Most recently, she was Director of the bipartisan Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition (NEMW), where she managed a number of Congressional task forces, coordinating common policy interests among more than 70 Members of Congress representing 18 Northeast and Midwestern states. Mary promoted policies and programs important to the manufacturing sector, brownfields clean-up, economic restoration, wastewater infrastructure financing, housing and assistance for low income families and underserved communities, fossil fuel and renewable energy technologies and transportation initiatives.
Prior to her service on Capitol Hill, Mary was Assistant Director of Government Relations for the Fairfax County (Virginia) Public Schools, the nation’s 12th-largest school system, and Legislative Director to the Assistant Majority Whip in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Mary graduated from Saint Michael’s College, holds a Master of Science in Public Affairs from the University of Massachusetts, McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, and is a 2011 candidate to receive a Master of Arts in Strategic Security Studies from the College of International Security Affairs at the National Defense University. She is a member of the Women in Government Relations and Women in International Trade professional societies.
Robert Gaines
Bob joined Smith Dawson & Andrews in 1992 and represents cities, counties and public agencies throughout the United States on issues primarily relating to funding for municipal services and public projects, transportation, land use, endangered species and the environment.
In July 1995, Bob was appointed by President Clinton as Commissioner on the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). In addition, he has served on several governmental boards and commissions including the New York State Department of Taxation & Finance Task Force on Insurance Industry Taxes, the Iowa Governor's Task Force on Leaking Underground Storage Tanks and the City of Chicago Task Force on Infrastructure.
Bob received his law degree from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, IL, and is a member of the Illinois Bar. He graduated from the University of Illinois and has done post-graduate study at The John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Brett Garson
Prior to joining SDA in 2007 as Associate Counsel, Brett worked for the American Road & Transportation Builder’s Association (ARTBA) and clerked in both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government. His familiarity with federal programs and understanding of emerging priorities on Capitol Hill, in the Departments and within the executive branch are very beneficial to SDA and its clients.
In addition to transportation, Brett’s expertise includes the budget process, economic development, international trade and customs issues, water, sewer and utility issues and campaign finance and ethics law. He also has a strong ability to analyze and communicate the impact of federal laws, regulations and pending legislation on client interests.
Brett is a graduate of the University of Michigan, graduated cum laude from American University-Washington College of Law and is a member of the Maryland and D.C. bars.
Brian Hannigan
Brian has a broad public affairs background, with experience in public relations, government relations, grassroots advocacy and media relations in the public and private sectors. At SDA, Mr. Hannigan has focused on health care and higher education issues.
Prior to joining Smith Dawson & Andrews in 2007, Brian served as a departmental deputy director in the administration of former Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner and as communications director for the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority and the City of Alexandria, Virginia. As managing director in the Washington office of Hill & Knowlton Public Affairs, Brian successfully managed the grassroots advocacy campaign to enact the Credit Union Membership Access Act. Brian previously served as external relations director at PhRMA, a major trade association that represents leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, and was a consultant to Pfizer. Early in his career, Brian served as Appointments Secretary to the Governor of Illinois.
Brian is a graduate of Saint Louis University.
Kathryn R. Lunney
Kathryn (Kit) joined SDA in 2009 and brings to the firm wide-ranging experience as an executive and lawyer in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Kit was Deputy General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Commerce, an Intergovernmental Liaison Officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation and Maine’s first State Court Planner. She has complemented her government service as a General Counsel in the private sector, as Senior Vice President of an international nonprofit and as a Consultant on strategic and organizational issues in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Africa.
Kit is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, received her law degree from Boston University, attended Stanford University’s Program for CEOs and Senior Executives in Small Publicly Held Companies and is a member of the Maine Bar. She serves on the Advisory Board for First Book, an international nonprofit that provides access to new books to children in need in the U.S. and Canada, and was co-director of Book Relief, which brought more than five million new books to the Gulf Coast after the 2005 hurricanes.
Jailyn Mayrant
Jailyn joined the firm in 2007 as an Administrative Assistant. Jailyn has a broad administrative background, having previously worked in the administrative field for both the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Jailyn attended Frostburg State University in Maryland.
Bill served as Conrail’s Vice-President and Washington Counsel for 18 years before joining SDA in 2000, where he continues his work on transportation issues and also focuses on climate change, energy and environmental matters.
Bill assisted Conrail in shifting from a government-owned, money-losing corporation to a privately held, highly successful company that was sold in 1998 for $10.3 billion. During his tenure, Bill worked on the issues of economic and safety regulation, tort reform, taxes, environment and competitive equity, both in the regulatory and legislative arenas. Prior to joining Conrail, Bill served as committee counsel with the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Bill is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, an honors graduate of George Mason University Law School, a member of the Virginia and Washington, D.C. bars and has completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.
Ray Warner
Ray joined SDA in 1999 after a career spanning military service, the private sector and a range of U.S. government positions. Ray started his career at AT&T and later was senior vice president in the international defense and transportation sector at DGA International Inc. At the U.S. Department of Transportation, Ray was Congressional liaison for what is now the Federal Transit Administration, Director of Congressional Relations and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs.
At SDA, Ray provides action-oriented Washington reporting and representation with expertise in business and government issues relating to aviation and aerospace, rail, transit and automotive transportation. He brings a unique understanding of the interplay of multiple levels of political, legal, commercial and technical issues and interests in the U.S. and international defense and transportation sectors.
Ray is a graduate of the College of William & Mary. He has served the College in various fund raising and advisory capacities and is currently an Advisor on the Board of Advisors of The Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy.
Amy R. Williams
Amy has a diverse business background and manages the daily operations at Smith Dawson & Andrews. Prior to joining SDA in 2000, Amy worked as Payroll Administrator/Accountant at The Trane Company and Business Manager at Merrill Gardens Assisted Living Facility. She brings to the firm experience in accounting, payroll, human resource functions, marketing and information technology, as well as a strong administrative background.
Amy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Kent State University in Ohio.
TOP
Ron Willis
Dr. Willis has been affiliated directly and indirectly with Smith Dawson & Andrews since 1994, adding his experience in the fields of higher education, public finance, pension funds and city management to the firm’s expertise.
Ron formerly served as Senior Vice President at Performance Communications Group in Illinois and as Assistant Vice President for Government Affairs at The George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, D.C. where he secured more than $60 million for the University. Prior to joining GWU, Dr. Willis served as a congressional aide and then as Staff Director for the House Committee on the District of Columbia. Dr. Willis was the chief negotiator on the legislative package that funded and restructured the District’s $3.7 billion unfunded pension liability.
Ron is a graduate of The University of Maine and has a Master's Degree and a Doctorate in Education Policy and Higher Education Administration from The George Washington University.
TOP
Douglas G. Wright
Doug has worked with SDA since 1991, partnering on a variety of projects relating to water, transportation and land use planning and policy.
Doug's public service career spanned more than two decades and provided him with a broad background in public policy, project planning, development and financing. He held policy level positions with local governments, in Portland, Oregon as Chief Transportation Planner and City Planning Director, and in San Francisco as Deputy Mayor and Director of the Embarcadero Transportation Program, worked closely with both Oregon and California state governments and served in the Carter Administration as Associate Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Upon leaving public service, he established his own consulting firm, Douglas Wright Consulting, located in San Francisco.
Doug served ten years on the Board of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and five years as a member of the San Francisco City Planning Commission.
Doug holds a BBA in Business Administration and an MA in Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of Iowa.
The SDA Team
Website Design by DBSDC
