Newly Rebranded Advocacy Firm Elevates Team Members Whose Contributions Drive Excellence

WASHINGTON, D.C.— FTP, a leading bipartisan public affairs and government relations firm, announced the promotion of six professionals across practices. The promotions recognize individuals whose strategic insights, product delivery, and internal leadership have strengthened the organization.

”I’m excited to announce the promotions of six colleagues whose top-notch performance has enhanced the incisive counsel and support we provide to clients every single day,” said Robert Mathias, Managing Partner at FTP. ”These professionals represent the next generation of talent at our firm and will help us continue to grow and innovate for years to come.”

Colleen Elson has been promoted to executive vice president on the public affairs team. Elson leads FTP’s field operations, managing complex multi-state campaigns across the country that require precision execution and sound strategic judgment.

Kevin Connolly has been promoted to director on the public affairs team. His breadth across practice areas and steady performance have made him a reliable cornerstone of FTP’s public affairs work.

Elizabeth Monroe has been promoted to director on the public affairs team. Monroe brings exceptional drive and versatility to FTP’s public affairs practice, where she leads media relations efforts on several client accounts.

Lauren Wiggs has been promoted to director on the public affairs team. Since joining FTP last year, Wiggs has taken on a central role managing field teams across some of FTP’s largest accounts.

Claire Vapnek has been promoted to director on the Research and Policy Analysis (RPA) team. Vapnek joined FTP as an analyst in January 2023 and has advanced steadily on the strength of her research and analytical capabilities.

Gerhard Williams has been promoted to manager on the operations team. Williams serves as an operational anchor for FTP, managing IT infrastructure, troubleshooting technology issues across firm facilities, and providing essential event support.

About FTP

FTP is a bipartisan, full-service government relations and public affairs firm based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 2012, FTP offers a comprehensive suite of services – including government relations, strategic communications, grassroots advocacy, and digital strategy. Recognized as one of Bloomberg Government’s top-performing lobbying firms and a PRNEWS Top Elite 120 agency, FTP provides exceptional service to its clients across various industries. For more information, please visit ftpadvocacy.com/.

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Robert Mathias Promoted to Lead Firm
Libby Greer Elevated to Run Government Relations Practice

Washington, D.C. – Forbes Tate Partners (FTP), an integrated government relations and public affairs firm, announced today its first leadership change since the firm was established 13 years ago, with Founding Partners Jeff Forbes and Dan Tate, Jr. assuming new roles. The firm also announced that it will formally change its name to FTP, reflecting the management changes and evolution of the firm’s business model.

Forbes will step into the role of Founding Partner and Chairman, expanding his work with Public Policy Holding Company (PPHC), FTP’s parent company, while also focusing his time on FTP’s long-term strategy and business development activities.

Tate will step away from the firm after a long battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), remaining active in advocating for people impacted by neurological diseases through his board membership of I Am ALS.

Robert Mathias, who joined the firm four years ago, has been tapped to lead FTP. Mathias, who has a long history of successfully leading D.C.-based multi-disciplinary firms, will be responsible for the overall management of FTP, including client service, talent management, and financial performance.

Libby Greer, a longtime FTP veteran, has been promoted to lead the firm’s bipartisan Government Relations practice, which is the firm’s largest revenue center. Greer, who originally joined FTP in 2009, has been a pivotal driver of the firm’s GR strategy and success. She joined FTP from Capitol Hill, where she served as a Chief of Staff.

Michelle Baker, who joined the firm in 2023, will continue to lead FTP’s Public Affairs practice. Baker has spearheaded major campaigns and coalitions in health care, education, food, agriculture, defense, technology, and other industries.

“This is the right move at the right time”, said Forbes. “Rob has been an outstanding addition to our firm. His sharp business acumen, deep market expertise, and positive leadership have been instrumental to our growth and success as a business and the powerhouse we have become. Dan and I are thrilled he has accepted this expanded leadership role.”

“Rob has been an integral part of the management team from his first day,” Tate said. “He has demonstrated a firm grasp on understanding how to move forward in today’s environment.”

Forbes added, “Libby is an exceptional lobbyist and, more importantly, an exceptional person. She has the vision, energy, and passion that are all essential to the firm’s future growth and success.”

Regarding Greer’s promotion, Tate said, “Libby has an uncanny ability to see around corners and understand the political dynamics of the moment. She has helped our clients successfully navigate some of their greatest challenges while maintaining stellar relationships across all our constituencies. I know that she will be a great success in this new role.”

“The best part of this transition is that FTP clients and teams will continue to benefit from Jeff Forbes’ ongoing counsel and mentorship while we look forward to the continued growth and innovation that Rob, Libby, and Michelle will drive,” noted, Stewart Hall, CEO of PPHC, FTP’s parent company. “FTP, core to PPHC’s founding, remains key to our continued success. Today’s announcement makes great sense, and we look forward to an exciting future together.”

The firm, which started solely as a D.C.-based government relations practice, now boasts nearly 100 employees and has multiple service lines including federal government relations, public affairs and strategic communications, state-based advocacy, research and insights, and digital strategy.

As a long-recognized bipartisan leader in government relations, FTP’s work has continued to evolve to meet the advocacy needs of the moment. FTP’s client roster has expanded across the health care, financial services, energy, technology, and infrastructure sectors. Its integrated capabilities reach across federal and state government relations and public affairs, supported by a deep bench of experts.

“Dan and I always knew that the business was bigger than the two of us. The transition to FTP is a simple acknowledgement of what the firm has become: A robust and dynamic organization powered by many, many good minds,” said Forbes. 

“Our single greatest accomplishment has been the talent we have attracted and retained,” said Tate. “Our people have built the firm into what it is today. The new FTP designation is intended to acknowledge the collective talent, skill, and intelligence that has been integral to our success since the firm’s inception.”

Bloomberg Government

By Kate Ackley

Forbes Tate Partners, one of Washington’s biggest lobbying firms and owned by a holding company that trades on the Nasdaq, will rebrand as FTP as the firm restructures its leadership hierarchy Tuesday.

Name partners Jeff Forbes and Dan Tate Jr., who served together in the White House legislative affairs office during the Clinton administration, are stepping away from day-to-day operations at the firm.

Forbes will stay on as founding partner and chairman but is taking on a role with the parent company, Public Policy Holding Co. Tate, who has Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is transitioning out of the firm and will focus on advocacy for I AM ALS, where he is a board member.

Robert Mathias, Libby Greer, and others at FTP are moving up, they shared first with Bloomberg Government.

Washington is fighting over SNAP rules and GLP-1s. While MAHA influencers are pushing “real foodˮ as the recipe to a long and healthy life, other influencers talk safety nets. And outside the Beltway, Americans swap weight-loss tips. Are there parts of food policy they can agree on?

In Washington, the Legislative Calendar and Elections Keep the Partisan Food Fight Simmering

While the menu of topics varied, Beltway food talk
rose and fell with the legislative calendar, spiking
around the consideration and passage of the One Big
Beautiful Bill Act, the off-year November elections, and
the government shutdown. Democrats dominated the
conversation by tying food affordability to tariffs, SNAP,
and inflation, while Republican insiders focused on
tightening SNAP rules.

Democratic Beltway insiders drive the affordability narrative during the spending bill debate and government shutdown.

MAHA Influencers*Dish Out ‘Real Food’ as the Key to Improved
Health and Longevity

For MAHA influencers, the conversation about food is a conversation about health and well-being. Their table talk focuses on diet, personal health, and longevity, and they home in on the new dietary guidelines as a pathway to a longer, healthier life.

The MAHA audience is online, talking about food as health, far outpacing the broader health care policy influencer crowd.

From K Street to Main Street, GLP-1s Reshape
America’s Plate—and the Conversation in Washington

While the general public trades tips on the best
foods and lifestyle tactics for losing weight, Beltway
insiders focus on drugs. GLP-1 costs, coverage, and
access are central to the food and weight loss
conversation in Washington.

Americans around the country are talking about the food they eat and wanting to slim down.

Top Weight Loss Key Words

Health Care Influencer* Food Conversations Focused on Scarcity and Affordability

As MAHA influencers focused on “real foodˮ (whole, nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods), other health care influencers talked about food through a
policy lens.

Health Care Influencer* Food Conversations Focused on Scarcity and Affordability

Methodology

FTP Insights analyzed social media conversations about
food and health among four key audiences: Beltway
insiders (including Members of Congress), MAHA
influencers (see note below), other health care voices,
and the general public.

We investigated the people, topics, and trends that
dominated the conversation in Washington, offering a
sense of where the discourse is and where itʼs going—
and when the conversation inside the Beltway is
completely out of touch with the country as a whole.
*“MAHA influencersˮ include moms, wellness advocates,
physicians, administration officials, and social media
creators who amplify and support the Make America
Healthy Again health agenda.

*ˮHealth care influencersˮ include health care journalists,
senior leaders at major nonprofits and health care
companies, notable physicians, former administration
officials, and other recognized leaders in the health
policy space.

Make Beltway Social Work for You

Beltway Social follows over 20,000 X accounts belonging
to Members of Congress and their staff, key executive
branch personnel, NGO leaders, and other influencers
and boldface names from around the Beltway.
We analyze the people, topics, and trends that are
dominating the conversation in Washington. This index is
a summary of those conversations, plus a comparison
with the broader national conversation.
Youʼll get a sense of where Washington is and where itʼs
going — and when the conversation inside the Beltway is
completely out of touch with the country as a whole.

Britons are concerned about potential tax rises in the upcoming budget which would break the Labour Party’s manifesto commitment to not raise Income Tax, National Insurance, and VAT. The conversation around income taxes skyrocketed on 14 November after Chancellor Reeves backed away from potential rises, with a mix of relief, concern, and criticism of the ‘U-turn’.

The conversation shifted away from the NHS, while taxes and housing remain core topics.

The real-world impact of the shutdown — missed paychecks, lost food assistance, cancelled flights, and higher health care costs — drove the conversation and pushed lawmakers to reach a deal to end the shutdown.

Will lawmakers vote to extend the health care subsidies that lower Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium costs for Americans? Will the government go into partial shutdown at the end of January when some appropriations in this weekʼs deal expire again?

Republican influencers pick up Beltway momentum as SNAP benefits run out and Thanksgiving travel fears grow.

Voices beyond Capitol Hill steer political momentum. California Governor Gavin Newsom commands attention on the left. Prominent Republican influencers and administration officials like Scott Jennings and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent drive the narrative on the right.

As Texas culture takes center stage, the nation is looking to the Lone Star state for its
next big flavor, sound, or storyline.

Redistricting has dominated political discourse inside and outside of Texas,
sparking heated debate and drawing national attention. Beyond state borders,
the fight was seen as a preview and testing ground for potential strategies
nationwide. Other states like California, Indiana, Missouri, and Florida are
looking to follow in Texas’s footsteps.

Other states like California, Indiana, Missouri, and Florida are looking to follow in Texas’s footsteps.

Inside the Beltway, social conversations about the shutdown prevail, followed by discussion of Middle East peace talks. Outside the Beltway, conversation centers around sports and entertainment.

Though the shutdown leads political talk among the public, it hasnʼt yet broken through the pop culture noise. When it does surface in social conversations, Americans echo Washingtonʼs partisan finger-pointing and voice concern for the potential personal impacts it may bring — like missed paychecks, rising costs, and inaccessible services.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Forbes Tate Partners (FTP), a leading bipartisan public affairs and government relations firm, announced its expansion today into the Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) metropolitan area. The firm’s growth in Texas marks a strategic milestone for FTP and signals the increasing influence of the Lone Star State as an economic, political, and cultural hub.

“Our expansion into the Dallas-Fort Worth market is a natural next step as we continue to meet the needs of our clients and focus on issues that matter to them,” said Rob Mathias, managing partner at FTP. “Texas is an economic powerhouse, a policy incubator, and a culture driver. Our presence here puts us at the center of conversations that will shape the future of business and government.”

The DFW market — home to one of the fastest-growing populations and one of the nation’s strongest economic engines — offers significant opportunity for public affairs and advocacy firms. FTP’s new office will offer its integrated suite of policy, insights, communications, and field capabilities, bringing its proven model from D.C. to the heart of Texas and beyond.

“CRH maintains expansive operations throughout Texas thanks to its growing economy and its business-friendly environment,” said Ryan Lindsey, executive vice president, government relations at CRH. “We have worked closely with Forbes Tate Partners to navigate the complex landscape of D.C. – and we’re excited to see them join the DFW community to help business leaders in Texas.”

“It’s exciting to see Forbes Tate Partners recognize the economic might, cultural clout, and policy potential that Texas offers,” said Jim Wilkinson, executive chairman of TrailRunner International. “We look forward to having FTP join us here in Dallas as part of the broader Public Policy Holding Company network to help Texas business leaders navigate the complex landscape of D.C. and build stronger bonds between the Beltway and the DFW community.”

To support work in Texas and beyond, FTP launches the Lonestar Social Index – a proprietary data tool that analyzes how policy, business, and social conversations in Texas drive national dialogue, and how developments in Washington impact the business environment back home. This novel platform provides business leaders with advanced insights and analytics to inform key economic and policy decisions.

“The Lonestar Social Index – along with our strong array of analytic tools – will quantify policymaking outcomes, contextualize conversations, and connect dots for public-sector and private-sector executives,” said Doug Usher, PhD, partner and insights practice leader at FTP. “Our one-of-a-kind insights platform offers decisionmakers a resource to improve business outcomes amid a complex, highly charged, and unpredictable economic and political landscape.”

FTP’s Dallas office expansion has client engagements underway in the health, energy, AI and financial services sectors. A rollout of expanded services and client offerings in additional states is expected by early 2026.

About Forbes Tate Partners:

Forbes Tate Partners (FTP) is a bipartisan, full-service government relations and public affairs firm based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 2010, FTP offers a comprehensive suite of services – including government relations, strategic communications, grassroots advocacy, and digital strategy. Recognized as one of Bloomberg Government’s top-performing lobbying firms and a PRNEWS Top Elite 100 agency, FTP provides exceptional service to its clients across various industries.