Building America’s Future Announces New President

Former White House Official Marcia Hale to Serve as President for Bipartisan and National Infrastructure Coalition.
Kerry O’Hare Promoted to Vice President, Director of Policy.
Sean O’Shea Joins Coalition as Vice President for Outreach and Development.

Washington, DC – Building America’s Future (www.InvestInInfrastructure.org) today announced that Marcia L. Hale has joined the bipartisan and national infrastructure coalition as President. Ms. Hale will focus on recruitment and mobilization of new state and local leaders to further elevate the need for 21st century infrastructure to the forefront of the public policy debate.

“It’s our pleasure to welcome Marcia to our team,” said Governor Ed Rendell (PA), Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (CA) and Mayor Michael Bloomberg (NYC). “She brings a wealth of strategic policy experience, both in the public and private sectors, and we look forward to working with her as we continue to pursue a new era of investment in infrastructure to enhance our nation’s prosperity.”

Marcia Hale joins Building America’s Future after serving as a Managing Director for McKenna, Long and Aldridge, an international law firm in Washington, DC. Prior, Ms. Hale advised several organizations including the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

During the Clinton administration, Ms. Hale served as Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House, a position she held for four years. In this capacity, she was responsible for coordinating policy initiatives and political outreach involving state and local elected officials.

Ms. Hale began her Washington, DC experience as a Legislative Assistant to US Representative Butler Derrick of South Carolina and several years later was named the Washington office Director for Governor Dick Riley (D‐SC). She has also held senior level positions in government and national campaigns, as well as working at both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC). Page 1 of 3

Building America’s Future’s Staff Directory:

Vice President, Director of Policy ‐Kerry O’Hare

Ms. O’Hare brings nearly 25 years of expertise in policy development and implementation, management, Congressional, state and local governmental relations, coalition building and issue advocacy. She most recently served as Deputy Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), where she provided executive leadership to an agency with more than 2,500 employees and an annual budget of $40 million. Prior to working for the FHWA, Ms. O’Hare served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). While at DOT, O’Hare was part of a select team that implemented the Secretary’s National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America’s Transportation Network. This team worked to educate state and local leaders as well as the business community in targeted states about how to develop public‐private partnerships and innovative ways to address traffic congestion. Prior, Ms. O’Hare served as Deputy Director in the Office of Federal Affairs for Governor George Pataki (R‐NY), Legislative Director for Congressman Peter King (R‐NY), and Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato (R‐NY).

Vice President for Outreach and Development ‐ Sean O’Shea

O’Shea brings more than ten years of experience in the public and private sector working on infrastructure issues. Prior to joining Building America’s Future, O’Shea was as an attorney at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP representing clients with civil and criminal matters and counseling clients on transportation and infrastructure policy matters. Mr. O’Shea served as projects director and legislative assistant for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D‐NY) where he advised Sen. Clinton on the domestic federal appropriations bills; all surface, port, rail, transit and aviation transportation policy; the Northern Ireland peace process; homeland security funding; and the ongoing health and rebuilding needs of New York City following the attacks of September 11, 2001. Mr. O’Shea previously served as a vice president at government relations firm, Cassidy & Associates, advising clients working with the federal government. During the Clinton Administration Mr. O’Shea served in the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs as senior advisor to the cabinet secretary, coordinating between the White House and executive branch cabinet, subcabinet and agency heads.

Press Secretary ‐ Laura Braden

Laura Braden serves as Vice President of Mercury Public Affairs and has extensive experience in public affairs and strategic communications. From 2006‐2008, Braden served as Deputy Communications Director for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, where she executed earned media and surrogate programs on issues like energy, climate change, infrastructure, economic growth and agriculture. Braden previously served as Deputy Director of Operations and Planning for John McCain for President 2008 and the Director of Events for Governor Schwarzenegger’s 2006 re‐election campaign. Prior, Braden was a Senior Account Manager for the Washington, DC based public affairs firm, DCI Group. She conducted strategic communication campaigns for pharmaceutical, political, energy and education clients and Page 2 of 3

directed state grassroots and communications consultants to supplement national earned media campaigns.

Communications Advisor ‐ Lindsay Ellenbogen

Lindsay Ellenbogen serves as Deputy Director and Public Relations Manager for Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Washington, D.C. office. For nearly a decade, Ellenbogen held senior communication roles for Members in both Houses of Congress, including Senators Mary Landrieu (D‐LA) and Ron Wyden (D‐OR). She is an adjunct professor at Fordham University, in New York City, where she is currently on leave.

Policy Assistant ‐ Kenney Elkomous

As a Policy Assistant at BAF, Kenney Elkomous has supported the organization’s congressional relations, membership and media efforts. Prior to joining BAF, he interned at the DC office of Senator Barbara Boxer. Elkomous first came to Washington, DC in 2006, where he served as a Program Assistant at the United Nations Association. There, he actively recruited grassroots membership and lobbied Members of Congress and their staff for increases in the State‐Foreign Operations budget and for a renewed US commitment to the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals.

Building America’s Future (www.BAFuture.org) is a bipartisan and national organization dedicated to bringing about a new era of U.S. investment in infrastructure that enhances our nation’s prosperity and quality of life. Comprised of state and locally elected officials from around the nation, Building America’s Future seeks to advance a new national vision for infrastructure investment that focuses on economic growth and global competitiveness, job creation, and environmental sustainability.