Colleen is an executive vice president in FTP’s public affairs practice. She brings more than two decades of experience leading integrated communications and public affairs campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels for a diverse portfolio of clients, including Fortune 50 companies, nonprofit organizations, and trade associations. She oversees FTP’s 50‑state field network, guiding strategy and execution across markets.
Prior to joining FTP, Colleen founded and led Elevation Advocacy, a boutique public affairs firm. Earlier in her career, she served as vice president of public affairs at Capitol Direct Messaging, where she directed issue advocacy campaigns for clients across multiple industries, including AARP and Ford Motor Company.
Colleen’s expertise centers on advancing complex issue advocacy efforts at the state and local level, leveraging grasstops engagement, strategic communications, and targeted voter outreach to drive legislative and regulatory outcomes. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola University Maryland and also studied at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. Colleen lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband and son.
Katie is a director in FTP’s federal government relations practice, where she provides strategic support and advocacy on behalf of clients across transportation and infrastructure, financial services, banking, and technology. As a registered federal lobbyist, she brings clients to Capitol Hill, coordinates meetings with members of Congress and their staff, and advances client legislative objectives through direct Hill engagement.
In her role, Katie coordinates high-level meeting logistics and prepares detailed briefing materials and biographies for client engagements with members of Congress, federal agencies, and trade associations. She monitors congressional hearings, committee markups, and federal rulemakings to identify key opportunities and risks.
Prior to joining FTP, Katie gained experience on Capitol Hill through an internship in the office of Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and in the private sector in Washington, D.C., building a foundation in federal policy that she has carried into her work across multiple client teams at the firm.
Katie holds a B.A. with Honors in Politics and International Affairs and a minor in English Literature from Wake Forest University, where she graduated in 2024. She is originally from Louisville, Kentucky.
Jay is a partner in FTP’s federal government relations practice. He is a senior government relations strategist with over two decades of experience navigating the complexities of Capitol Hill and the federal policymaking ecosystem. He excels at bridging the gap between high-level vision and granular execution, uniquely pairing long-term strategic foresight with the precise tactics necessary to achieve impact.
By blending deep institutional fluency with sharp political intelligence, Jay empowers clients to anticipate policy inflection points and align complex stakeholder incentives. He doesn’t just design roadmaps; he engineers pragmatic, actionable engagement plans that transform legislative challenges into opportunities.
A trusted advisor to senior executives and policymakers alike, Jay is adept at synthesizing volatile political landscapes into coherent, executable strategies. His work is defined by an ability to secure bipartisan consensus, proactively mitigate regulatory and reputational risk, and consistently deliver measurable results in Washington’s most challenging environments.
Prior to joining FTP, Jay was a top legislative assistant for former Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) — handling a broad set of issues before the Commerce, Finance, and Energy and Natural Resources Committees. He served as the director of government affairs at CTIA — The Wireless Association® where he led the group’s Democratic lobbying shop implementing the CTIA’s legislative agenda — which focused on tax, competition, and spectrum issues. Before joining Senator Baucus, Jay served as a leading economist for the Montana Public Service Commission. Here, he concentrated on the economic analysis of the telecommunications, and oil and gas industries.
A third-generation Montanan, Jay has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Montana. He resides with his wife in Washington, DC.
Bob is a partner in FTP’s public affairs and government relations practices. He joined the firm in 2017 after serving two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Illinois’s 10th Congressional District, where he became known for pragmatic leadership, a bipartisan approach to governance, and a commitment to tax reform, health care improvements, and economic growth. A dedicated public servant and small‑business owner, Bob built a reputation as an independent voice in Congress focused on practical solutions.
During his time in Congress, Bob prioritized tax reform to support small businesses and middle‑class families. Drawing on firsthand experience as a business owner, he championed policies that encouraged growth, job creation, and economic stability, supporting legislation to simplify the tax code, reduce burdens on small businesses, and provide incentives for innovation and investment. He also worked to ensure greater financial security for families, advocating for middle‑class tax relief and responsible fiscal policies to reduce the national deficit.
Bob was a key advocate for practical health care reform focused on affordability, accessibility, and innovation. He opposed efforts that would strip protections from individuals with pre‑existing conditions and supported bipartisan efforts to strengthen health care markets, lower prescription drug costs, and expand choices for families and employers, emphasizing patient‑centered solutions and high‑quality, affordable care.
As chairman of the Tuesday Group, a caucus of moderate Republican lawmakers, Bob helped foster bipartisan cooperation in Congress. He worked to bridge the gap between Republicans and Democrats and played a key role in shaping legislation on infrastructure, economic policy, and government transparency. Prior to being elected to Congress, Bob served as investigative counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee and ran a small business. He holds a B.A. from Denison University, a J.D. from Indiana University, and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and lives on the North Shore of Chicago with his wife, Danielle, and their three children.
Tori is a vice president in FTP’s insights and analytics practice. Drawing on a decade of experience in opinion research, government, and public affairs, she is a data-driven strategist who helps clients navigate complex policy, reputation, and business challenges.
Combining quantitative and qualitative research, media analysis, and audience intelligence, Tori uncovers the stories behind the data and translates those insights into effective communications and advocacy strategies. Her work frequently focuses on healthcare and technology issues. She helps clients identify emerging trends, shape narratives, engage key audiences, and make informed decisions in rapidly evolving environments.
Prior to joining FTP, Tori worked at Public Opinion Strategies, where she supported political campaigns, ballot initiatives, and public affairs clients. She began her career on Capitol Hill, and her experience in both research and government gives her a strong understanding of the intersection of public opinion, policy, and advocacy.
A native of Alexandria, Virginia, Tori lives on Capitol Hill with her husband, Nate. Outside of work, she enjoys trying new restaurants and cheering on the Buckeyes. Tori is currently pursuing her M.B.A. from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.
Cindy is a partner in FTP’s federal government relations practice and leads the firm’s Democratic advocacy. She works at the center of Democratic policymaking, with relationships across House and Senate leadership and the Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Senate Finance Committees, where the party’s economic agenda takes shape. She guides Fortune 500 companies, industry innovators, investors, and trade associations across tax, trade, technology, energy, education, healthcare, and life sciences, providing direct access to the centrist Democrats who often decide outcomes in Congress.
As chief of staff to Representative Ron Kind (D-WI), Cindy led legislative efforts on the Ways and Means Committee and helped relaunch the New Democrat Coalition, building its first PAC and recruiting its first executive director. She maintains deep relationships across the New Democrat Coalition—now the largest bloc in the House and a pro‑growth center of gravity in Democratic politics—and is a leading fundraiser for the party, raising for committee leaders, front‑line members, and Midwestern candidates at the center of the fight for the majority.
Previously, Cindy served as vice president of legislative strategies at the Campaign to Fix the Debt and held senior roles at several government‑relations firms. She began her career on Capitol Hill in the office of Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI).
Adam is an analyst on FTP’s research and policy analysis team, covering federal legislative and regulatory developments across trade, AI, energy, and elections. He authors memos and briefings for Fortune 500 clients and co‑produces the firm’s newsletter suite, including a weekly “Week in Review” on policy developments, a biweekly AI policy newsletter, a monthly trade brief with Tori Smith, and a quarterly policy overview with Trevor Hanger. He also provides overnight coverage of Senate vote‑a‑ramas.
Adam contributes to client research programs across the firm, including a large ongoing project for a healthcare client and issue‑specific work for a global entertainment company. He also created the first firmwide intern AI education program, developing curriculum on the responsible use of AI in workflows.
Before joining FTP, Adam served as student body treasurer in Florida State University’s Student Government Association and founded a political transparency organization. He also interned in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Florida State Senate.
Michelle Baker is a partner and leads FTP’s public affairs practice. She counsels senior corporate, association, philanthropic and nonprofit stakeholders on high-stakes policy, reputation and advocacy challenges. She brings a wide-angle view of today’s complex policy and communications environment and designs integrated initiatives that move opinion, influence decision makers and deliver results.
Michelle leads major campaigns across healthcare, education, food and agriculture, defense, technology and other highly regulated sectors, with healthcare as a core focus throughout her career. Her experience spans health systems, biopharmaceutical companies, government agencies, payers, professional medical associations and nonprofits, as well as coalitions advancing work on heart disease, cancer, pharmaceutical safety, vaccinations, addiction and emerging public health threats.
She has held senior roles across leading firms, including serving as chief of staff at Ketchum, where she launched key new services for healthcare and corporate communications. Her public affairs leadership also includes running the health practice at Weber Shandwick/Powell Tate and serving in senior roles at Signal Group and Chandler Chicco Agency/Syneos Communications.
An advocate for family caregiving and memory care, Michelle serves as chair of the Board of Trustees of Arts for the Aging (AFTA), the board of the Wendt Center, and previously served for ten years on the board of the Caregivers Action Network (CAN).
