Ballard Partners

Over half of firm’s senior leadership team are women and minorities

Ballard Partners, the powerhouse lobbying firm in Florida and Washington, D.C., proudly announces the promotion of Carol Bracy to managing partner of the firm’s Tallahassee office. In her new role, Bracy will continue to service clients with senior-level political, strategic and policy direction while overseeing all aspects of the office’s day-to-day operations.

An integral member of the Ballard Partners team for more than 10 years, Bracy most recently served as vice president, providing her government relations expertise to corporate, non-profit and public-sector clients on issues such as appropriations, economic development, emerging technologies, commerce, healthcare, education and regulatory matters.

“Carol has contributed significantly to the overall success of our firm over the last decade, and I am pleased to expand her leadership role in our Tallahassee office,” said Brian Ballard, president of Ballard Partners. “Carol’s promotion also represents our continued commitment to championing diversity and inclusion by ensuring broad diversity across our senior leadership team.”

“The expansion of my role at Ballard Partners is an exciting opportunity. I’m honored to be part of a successful organization that values and recognizes diverse talent and hard work,” said Carol Bracy.

Bracy previously served as chief of staff to former Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings under the Bush/Jennings Administration and spent a decade representing Florida’s 67 counties as the interim executive director and legislative director for the Florida Association of Counties. In addition to her policy and legislative work, Bracy also serves as an executive board member of the Tallahassee nonprofit, Alzheimer’s Project, Inc.

To learn more about Ballard Partners’ leadership team, click here.

Ballard Partners, a leading Florida-based lobbying firm, today announced the addition of Jose Felix Díaz (Pepi) as Executive Vice President of the firm.
“We are thrilled to welcome Pepi to the firm, he brings a unique combination of integrity, experience and accomplishment that takes our Miami practice to new heights. He will be a critical asset guiding our clients’ efforts in south Florida as well as assisting our expansion in Latin America,” said Brian Ballard, president of Ballard Partners.
A well-respected name in Miami-Dade County, Diaz most recently served for seven years in the Florida House of Representatives, representing Districts 115 & 116.  During his time in Tallahassee, Jose led the Commerce Committee which oversaw gaming, economic development, regulated industries, and tourism.  He also served as Chairman of the powerful Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation and helped unite his bipartisan colleagues while taking the caucus to a new level of cooperation.
“Ballard Partners is an exceptional institution whose lobbyists deliver unmatched results for their clients,” said Diaz. “I am looking forward to working with Brian and his team in developing solutions that will help our clients meet their difficult challenges.”
Diaz has been serving clients in Miami-Dade County at Akerman LLP, one of the State’s largest law firms, since 2005.  His expertise in land development, procurement, public private partnerships and local government consulting will complement the Miami Office’s already well-established team. Diaz added, “I want to thank Akerman for thirteen wonderful years.”
Diaz earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and his Juris Doctorate from the Columbia Law School. He serves on the Board of Our Kids of Miami-Dade and on the State of Florida’s Constitution Revision Commission. Diaz and his wife live in Miami with their two sons.

Leading Florida-based government affairs firm, Ballard Partners, announces the addition of Katherine San Pedro as partner of the company’s Tallahassee and Miami offices. In her new role, San Pedro will hone her extensive political, public relations and legislative experience to serve clients’ state government and issue advocacy needs.  She is joining the firm as its youngest Hispanic female partner.
“Katherine has a stellar reputation in Florida politics, having forged key relationships with members of the Florida Legislature from her years campaigning and working in the Capitol,” said Brian Ballard, president of Ballard Partners. “Her intricate knowledge of policy analysis, crisis communications and campaign management will be an asset to both our team and our clients.”
Most recently, San Pedro was the External & Legislative Affairs Regional Director for AT&T Florida, where she led the telecommunication giant’s teams in Miami Dade, Monroe, Lee, Collier Counties. Prior to this private sector experience, she served as legislative assistant to Florida House Representative Bryan Avila as well as Florida House Speaker Pro Tempore Jeanette Núñez. A seasoned campaign manager, San Pedro has spearheaded fundraising, operations and strategy for competitive local, state and federal elections throughout South and Central Florida.
Named one of SaintPetersBlog’s 2014 “30 Under 30 Rising Stars in Florida Politics,” San Pedro holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami.

Fort Lauderdale Managing Partner Justin Sayfie
moves to Ballard Partners’ office in the nation’s Capital

Ballard Partners, a leading Florida-based government affairs firm, proudly announces Fort Lauderdale Managing Partner Justin Sayfie’s move to Washington, D.C., where the seasoned government affairs strategist will enhance his focus on the federal government at the firm.
“Justin Sayfie is widely respected throughout the Sunshine State for his in-depth knowledge of the political process and unparalleled relationships with key decision-makers in both Tallahassee and D.C. His contacts and expertise are ideally suited for a full-time position in Washington, D.C.,” said Brian Ballard, president of Ballard Partners. “Since joining our team in 2015, clients across the country have benefitted from Justin’s guidance, and his proximity to the nation’s capital will be a tremendous bonus to our clients and their public policy needs.”
Sayfie previously served as a top advisor to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. He also served in the administration of President George W. Bush as a Commissioner on the Commission on White House Fellowships, where he helped oversee the nation’s top leadership development program. Additionally, in 2005, Justin was appointed by U.S. Senator Mel Martinez as Chairman of the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for the Southern District of Florida, where he led the initial nominating process for Federal Judges and U.S. Attorneys in South Florida.
He appears regularly as a political commentator on CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, and has published Florida’s leading political news site and mobile app, Sayfie Review, for the past 15 years.
Sayfie received his bachelor’s degree in American Government from Georgetown University, and his juris doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami.

Leading Florida-based government affairs firm, Ballard Partners, proudly announces the addition of Rebecca Benn as a partner at the firm’s office in Washington, D.C. Benn brings two decades of experience advising Congressional and corporate decision makers on various aspects of public policy.
“We are pleased to welcome Rebecca to our growing team in the nation’s Capital,” said Brian Ballard, president of Ballard Partners. “From negotiating billion-dollar budget bills in the Senate to advancing Congressional legislative priorities for the largest Eastern freight railroad, Rebecca’s extensive expertise in both the public and private sector ensure our diverse client portfolio will continue to receive the best guidance and advocacy for their issues.”
Ballard Partners welcomes Benn from her position as director of federal affairs for CSX Transportation. During her five-year tenure, she directed all government relations initiatives impacting automation, safety, environmental regulation and security while overseeing federal constituent relations for seven states.
Previously, the seasoned policy strategist guided the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations as a professional staff member for the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies as well as the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies. In both positions, Benn served as the lead Republican negotiator for bicameral and bipartisan billion-dollar federal appropriations bills, in addition to drafting legislative materials and analyzing budget requests.
Benn launched her career in the office of U.S. Senator Thad Cochran as a legislative assistant. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Dartmouth College.

Former U.S. Congressman joins leading governmental
consulting firm’s Washington, D.C. office

Leading Florida-based government affairs firm, Ballard Partners, strengthens its newly-formed Washington, D.C. office with the addition of former U.S. Congressman, Robert Wexler, as Senior Counsellor. In his new role, Wexler will apply his foreign policy expertise while spearheading the firm’s growing international affairs practice.
Wexler currently serves as the president of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace in Washington, D.C., where he draws upon decades of work on Middle East and Israel issues to guide the non-profit group toward its goal of peacefully resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict. Previously, Wexler spent 13 years in Congress, advocating for the United States’ alliance with Israel and traveling on numerous congressional delegations to the Middle East. Working to strengthen the transatlantic alliance and build security with the European Union, Wexler served as Chair of the Subcommittee on Europe, senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of the Middle East Subcommittee.
“Having someone of Robert Wexler’s caliber on our team is a tremendous win for the firm,” said Brian Ballard, president of Ballard Partners. “Having worked with numerous governments in Europe, Asia and the Middle East throughout his tenure as U.S. Congressman and advisor to President Barack Obama, Robert’s three decades of political experience will advance our work for international clients. We are pleased to welcome him to our office in the nation’s Capitol.”
Enhancing his congressional duties, Wexler served as an American representative to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly while co-founding the Caucus on U.S.-Turkish Relations, the Taiwan Caucus and the Indonesia Caucus. As a result of his extensive foreign policy leadership, Wexler has been recognized as one of the “50 Most Effective Legislators in Congress” by Congressional Quarterly and was named to the Forward 50 list as one of the most influential leaders in the American Jewish community. The former Florida Senator holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Florida and a law degree from George Washington University.