The Team

Richard Sullivan

Partner

Richard Sullivan is a partner with State Federal Strategies. Sullivan brings 30 years of a unique combination of policy, legislative and political experience to representation of the nation’s leading corporations and National Associations before Federal and State governmental entities. Sullivan has served in various leadership roles in the Democratic Party and with his broad background in both public policy and electoral politics; Sullivan has had tremendous success in representing corporate and business interests. Sullivan has led federal and state legislative initiatives on technology, financial services, health care and energy related issues. Numerous of his successful advocacy efforts have been highlighted in leading print outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Washington Post.

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Missy Edwards

Strategic Partner

Ms. Missy Edwards, the founding principle of Missy Edwards Strategies, has more than two decades of professional experience in Washington D.C. government relations, electoral politics and public affairs. Ms. Edwards has significant experience crafting and executing government relations and communications strategies that have helped shape federal public policy over the past 20 years. She has successfully provided strategic policy guidance to some of the country’s top elected officials, corporations and trade associations on a wide range of issues.

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Scott Freda

Scott has 20 years experience working in the public affairs arena. Working on business development, lobbying, and financial and political management; Scott has represented law firms, corporations, labor unions and political campaigns.

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Steve Rao

Steve S. Rao is a native of Charleston, West Virginia, and serves Of Counsel to State Federal Strategies. He advises technology companies on sales and business development strategy for state and local governments. He also works with companies offering artificial intelligence, data/analytics, contact tracing, managed services (contact centers) and cyber security services to state and local governments.

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Doug Heyl

Doug Heyl has spent over thirty years creating strategic messaging for public affairs and political campaigns at the local, state, and federal level. Mr. Heyl has given strategic advice and produced award winning advertising for candidates, corporations, attorney groups, universities, nonprofits, and unions across the country.

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Bill Petty

Bill Petty is a seasoned political strategist with over two decades’ experience in environmental advocacy, the private financial sector, and Presidential electoral politics.

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Darren Peters

Strategic Partner

Darren Peters is the Founder and Managing Partner for the DC-based public affairs, event management and business development consulting firm, Peter Damon Group (PDG). A Washington DC veteran, Peters previously served as the Director of Federal Government Affairs for Entergy Corporation where he provided strategic advice on issues relating to tax/finance, cyber security and retirement pensions.

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