Lobbying World

• The Podesta Group hired Ariel Gonzalez as a principal. His resume includes serving as the chief of government relations at the American Psychiatric Association and director of federal health and family advocacy at AARP. Gonzalez also works as a pro bono attorney for domestic violence victims and has served as a legal counsel for the elderly through AARP.

• Jake Perry is leaving the lobbying firm Crossroads Strategies after three years to re-launch his own firm, Jake Perry + Partners. Before joining the private sector, Perry served as a senior political adviser to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and led finance operations for the campaigns of former Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.).

{mosads}• Cornerstone Government Affairs is bringing on Camila Knowles to serve as a senior vice president and counsel in the firm’s Atlanta office beginning Oct. 1. She works in the administration of Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) but worked in the federal government as the top staffer to former Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.).

• Gordon Gray, former U.S. ambassador to Tunisia, is joining the Center for American Progress (CAP) as its chief operating officer. He will be managing the operations for CAP and the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the think tank’s advocacy arm. Gray most recently worked as the executive vice president of the U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce, but also has extensive experience in senior roles at the State Department. 

• The Consumer Specialty Products Association has named Beth Ludwick as its vice president of communications and marketing. Prior to that, she worked at PR firm Crosby-Volmer International Communications, the American Association for Homecare and the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

• Stuart Jones, who served as U.S. ambassador to Iraq from 2014 to 2016, has joined the Cohen Group and lead the firm’s Middle East practice. He most recently served as the acting assistant secretary of State for near eastern affairs under Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Jones also served as the U.S. ambassador to Jordan and other senior roles at the State Department and United Nations. 

• Buckley Sandler hired Tina Tchen to lead its Chicago office. She most recently served in the Obama administration as an assistant to President Barack Obama and chief of staff to first lady Michelle Obama. Prior to that, she worked at white-shoe law firm Skadden Arps.