FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2022
Top Washington Lobbying Firm Elevates Seasoned Policy Advisor To Senior Ranks
Washington, D.C. –– The Alpine Group – a bipartisan, bicameral consulting firm in Washington, D.C. – announced they’re elevating Keenan Austin Reed to Executive Vice President after just 18 months at the firm. In December, Austin Reed was named by The Hill as a “Top Lobbyist.”
A Capitol Hill veteran, Austin Reed spent a decade guiding and advising principals in all levels of government, most recently as the Chief of Staff to Congressman Donald McEachin (VA-4).
“Keenan Austin Reed has already distinguished herself as an incredible difference-maker for our clients. She’s an expert advocate, strategist, and operator, and this promotion is both a recognition of what she has contributed and what she will contribute as she becomes a more senior part of our firm,” said Les Spivey, CEO and Managing Principal of the Alpine Group. “Our work benefits from her knowledge, commitment, and passion, as much as the larger D.C. policy community benefits from championing equitable hiring on Capitol Hill and beyond. She lifts up those around her, and that includes our work at Alpine.”
“I’m honored to have this new platform and continued opportunity to provide thoughtful and senior counsel to Alpine’s clients,” said Keenan Austin Reed. “Washington can be defined by prolonged stasis and rapid change, and I’m eager to guide people who may otherwise get swamped by those forces through to a better, brighter future for them and their work.”
In her role as Chief of Staff to Congressman McEachin, Austin Reed was his top policy advisor: She crafted strategies to elevate his work as a national leader on climate change, environmental justice, and rural broadband. She was an advisor to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and she led the Congressman’s work as the Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, building consensus around the Caucus’ priorities and advancing its agenda with House leadership.
In 2018, Austin Reed co-founded the Black Women’s Congressional Alliance (BWCA), a membership organization of more than 300 bipartisan and bicameral Black women Hill staffers. She has led dozens of professional development briefings, events and webinars to inform staffers about new career opportunities; she’s provided a platform to elevate their profiles to the broader Capitol Hill community; and, she’s pushed growth in diverse hiring in the United States House and Senate. BWCA has been featured in the Majority Leaders Podcast, The Brown Girl’s Guide to Politics Podcast, VICE, Essence Magazine, and Washingtonian. In May of last year, Austin Reed provided expert testimony on equitable hiring practices to the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.
Before serving Congressman McEachin, Austin Reed served during the 2016 presidential election as Hillary for America’s Statewide Political Director in Florida, the largest political battleground state in the country. In that role, she was responsible for all federal, state, and local elected relationships within the state on behalf of the campaign and managed the organization’s largest political staff. Previously, Austin Reed served as Chief of Staff to Councilmember David Grosso of the Council of the District of Columbia City.
Prior to that, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24), managing a portfolio including political outreach, stakeholder engagement, constituent services, and legislation. In 2010, she managed Congresswoman Wilson’s first election to Congress.
A policy thought leader and an expert voice on equity, Austin Reed has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives, serves on the faculty of the Congressional Management Foundation, speaks frequently about the inner workings of Congress and the functioning of our government, and she serves on the following boards: Protect Our Vote PAC (founded/led by Majority Whip Jim Clyburn); Jenkins Hill; Ascend Fund; GlobalWIN, New Leaders Council DC Advisory Board, New Leaders Council Virginia Advisory Board, So Others May Eat Advisory Board, and the Virginia’s People PAC Advisory Board.
A proud Rattler, Austin Reed received her bachelor’s degree and MBA from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), a top HBCU (historically Black college and university), and she is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Contact: Omari Hardy; Omari@SevenLetter.com; (202) 331 – 0110
The Alpine Group is consistently ranked one of the top lobbying firms in Washington, and its staff are recognized both for their policy and political expertise. Consisting of 25 professionals representing years of experience in a variety of senior political capacities, the firm provides strategic advice and implements tactics to help clients successfully navigate the halls of Congress, the White House, and federal agencies.
