Lobbying World

• A new government relations firm called Wright Strategies is hanging a shingle in Washington, according to a release from founder Andy Wright. He most recently served as a shareholder at law firm Polsinelli and as managing principal at Dutko Grayling. Prior to that, he worked as the chief of staff to former Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.). He also served as the president of the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association and as vice president of government affairs for the American Insurance Association.

• The Livingston Group hired John Magill, former executive vice president of government relations and special assistant to the president of the Credit Union National Association. Prior to beginning that post in 2006, he served as the chief of staff to ex-Reps. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and G. William Whitehurst (R-Va.). He also served under ex-Rep. J. Kenneth Robinson (R-Va.).

• Justin Rood has left Capitol Hill to direct the Congressional Oversight Initiative, led by the Project On Government Oversight (POGO). Rood joins the organization from the office of Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), where he served as director of investigations on homeland security. Before that, he worked as a senior investigator on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. He’s also been an award-winning investigative journalist and producer with ABC News and Talking Points Memo. POGO will roll out the Congressional Oversight Initiative in the coming weeks. 

• The Assisted Living Federation of America has appointed James Balda as president and CEO, beginning next month. Prior to that, he worked as the senior vice president of innovation and business development at the National Restaurant Association. He also has experience at America’s Health Insurance Plans, the Health Insurance Association of America and the Newspaper Association of America.  

• Jane Campbell has become the director of public policy and advocacy for the National Development Council, a nonprofit that works on economic development policies. She most recently worked as a senior adviser to the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, a role she’s held since June. Before that, she served as chief of staff to outgoing Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and then became a staff director at the Senate Small Business Committee. Campbell was also Cleveland’s first female mayor.