Senior Education Official, Key Hill Staffers Join Expanding Practices

Senior Education Official, Key Hill Staffers Join Expanding Practices

WASHINGTON – Continuing its growth and diversification strategy, B&D Consulting has recruited a former Assistant Secretary of Education and three key congressional staffers. The recent additions include the following professionals:

• Dr. Henry Johnson, most recently the Assistant Secretary of Education for Elementary and Secondary Education, has joined B&D Consulting's nationally recognized education practice as a Senior Advisor to lead the school support services team.
• Robert J. Ehrich, a senior staffer with Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), who most recently handled the Senator's appropriations and Armed Services Committee portfolio, has joined B&D Consulting as a Vice President with the firm's public sector practice.
• Peggie L. Rice, who most recently served as Legislative Assistant for Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), is now an Assistant Vice President focusing on public relations services for B&D Consulting's communications and public affairs practice.
• Josh Andrews, a Legislative Assistant with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA), has joined the firm's insurance and financial services practice as an Assistant Vice President.

"We are building a unique, interdisciplinary consulting business that focuses on key sectors of the U.S. economy. These new colleagues bring critical expertise to help our practice teams meet the evolving needs of our clients," said Dave Zook, B&D Consulting Chair.

Dr. Johnson, who left the Department at the end of 2005, brings to B&D Consulting a wealth of experience in improving school performance that is shaped by more than 30 years of service as a classroom teacher, local administrator and state superintendent of education. B&D Consulting's school support team is led by experts from throughout the education policy arena who offer innovative approaches to achieve sustained improvements in student and school performance.

In addition to Dr. Johnson, senior members of the team include former Congressman Bill Goodling, who chaired the House Education and the Workforce Committee, as well as Rene Islas, a former chief of staff in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, and Dr. Mary Jo Dare, another 30-year education veteran who most recently served as Assistant Superintendent for Academic Affairs for the Indianapolis Public Schools.

Before being nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Dr. Johnson served as the state of Mississippi's Superintendent of Education. He also was the Associate State Superintendent for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and has held a variety of education positions, including classroom teacher, principal and administrator.

As a senior staff professional for Sen. Bayh, Ehrich was responsible for the Senator's Armed Services portfolio and for advising him on key appropriations issues for a diverse array of interests throughout the State of Indiana.

At B&D Consulting, Ehrich provides strategic counsel and government relations support to a number of the firm's local government and higher education clients. He also focuses on developing services for national security and homeland security oriented companies and organizations.

Rice's background in legislative strategy, communications and campaigns makes her an invaluable addition to B&D Consulting's communications and public affairs practice. In addition to her work with Sen. Conrad, Rice played a key role on the re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and provided government relations counsel to private sector clients.

At B&D Consulting, Rice helps design and implement multi-faceted public affairs campaigns throughout the nation with a focus on issues in the health, insurance and energy sectors.

While in Congresswoman Eshoo's office, Andrews worked on several key issues impacting the 14th Congressional District of California, including tax treatment of FEMA flood mitigation grants, the Alternative Minimum Tax's impact on incentive stock options and housing. In addition to the Congresswoman's business and financial services portfolio, Andrews also focused on education, housing and judicial issues.

Prior to his arrival on Capitol Hill, Josh worked for the StateNet Legislative Tracking Service where he focused on issues in the Pennsylvania market.

B&D Consulting is a national advisory and advocacy group founded in 1985. Professionals deliver interdisciplinary services to growth sectors in our economy, including local governments across the nation. B&D Consulting is a division of the international law firm of Baker & Daniels. For more information, visit www.bakerdconsulting.com.