With the inauguration coming up and many exciting changes under way in Washington D.C., we thought it would be appropriate for this version of the newsletter to focus exclusively on Washington D.C. We've included information about the Capital Public Affairs team in Washington D.C., a special look at the 15th annual Capital Public Affairs Dinner at the Palm Restaurant, as well as a complete listing of the New Jerseys congressional delegation's committee assignments. We hope you find this month's newsletter informative and useful. Please don't hesitate to call us at 609-514-2600 if there is an issue we can help you with in the nation's capital. -Steven E. Some, President - Capital Public Affairs

We'd like to introduce you to the Capital Public Affairs team in Washington D.C. We've been moving issues in New Jersey and Washington for 15 years, but many folks haven't yet met our team in the nation's capital. Here an introduction to Ian Pfeiffer and Zina C. Pierre.

Ian Pfeiffer - Prior to establishing Ian Pfeiffer Government Relations, and joining Capital Public Affairs, Ian Pfeiffer served as Legislative Director to Representative Bob Filner (D-CA). In this capacity, Ian managed the Member's legislative operations with a focus on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Among his duties, he coordinated a bi-partisan California delegation strategy to secure state policy initiatives and projects related to surface transportation. This responsibility provided Ian with a comprehensive network of relationships within the California congressional delegation and across Capitol Hill. This also provided Ian a strong liaison network with a number of state and nationwide associations involved in transportation policy.

In addition, Ian also served as the staff associate to Representative Filner when he served as Ranking Member to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

Prior to his position with Representative Filner, Ian managed the appropriations process for Representative Mark Udall (D-CO). In this role, he reviewed appropriations requests, worked with local elected officials to ensure proper vetting of project requests and worked with Senators and House Committee on Appropriations members to facilitate project request funding decisions.

Zina C. Pierre - Zina Pierre is President and CEO of the Washington Linkage Group, Inc. (WLG) located in Washington, DC. WLG is a government relations and strategic consulting firm specializing in public and nonprofit advocacy, political and policy development, media relations, corporate affairs and international trade.
 
Ms. Pierre has an extensive background in government relations at the federal, state and local levels of government. She served eight years in the Clinton Administration with her last commissioned officer position as Special Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs. In that role, - the Honorable Pierre served as President Bill Clinton's liaison to the nation's mayors and county officials in the Executive Office of the President and was one of the highest ranking women in the White House. 
 
Prior to her position in the White House, Ms. Pierre worked successfully to help create public-private partnerships with local government and the business community to hire more than 200,000 former welfare recipients while serving as director of the President's Welfare to Work Initiative for the U.S. Small Business Administration. Before SBA, she held the position of director of communications for the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau where she developed public relations strategies for working women, as well as organized multi-city summits to educate women on their workplace rights. Ms. Pierre began her political appointment as speechwriter and public affairs specialist to the Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Personnel Management where she produced and moderated a live nationally televised talk show.   
 
Previous to her eight years in government, Ms. Pierre worked for more than ten years in the television broadcast industry as a writer, field producer, and production assistant with networks such as USA Today Television Show, Fox Channel 5 News, America's Most Wanted, Sports News Network and News Channel 8. 
 
Ms. Pierre has also conducted communications and advocacy training for the: DNC, ACLU, SEIU, NAACP, National Urban League, Children's Defense Fund, Catholic Charities, New Jersey and Maryland Democratic parties, State Legislators across the nation through the Center for Policy Alternatives and the National Conference of Black Mayors.