Michael Best Strategies LLC announced today that Lucia Alonzo and Mike Dankler have joined as Principals in the D.C. office. Both government affairs experts have extensive experience in the halls of Congress and in Washington, D.C.
“I am excited to welcome Lucia and Mike to Michael Best Strategies, bringing their talents into the fold further burnishes our credentials and strengthens our expansion efforts,” said Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Board of Michael Best Strategies. Congressman Steve Israel, Michael Best Strategies Board Member, added, “These talented individuals reflect the strong commitment the firm has to diversity and reach on both sides of the aisle.”
Alonzo, a seasoned communicator with expertise in appropriations, tax, and homeland security and defense policy, boosts Strategies’ reach in Democratic circles. Alonzo most recently served as Chief of Staff for Ferox Strategies, a startup bipartisan government affairs firm founded in 2017 that has represented Fortune 50 firms, national non-profits and other startups. She previously worked for the Podesta Group and for Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri.
Dankler, a sought-after authority on trade and tax policy, brings 13 years of experience on Capitol Hill, serving most recently as the Chief of Staff for Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Indiana). During his time with Rep. Walorski, Danker led a successful and innovative campaign to vault her onto the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Once she was there, he helped guide her decision making on important policies like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, as well as towards award-winning, thought-leader status on trade policy. As Chief of Staff, he also navigated the response to the global coronavirus pandemic, including formulating office policies for his staff, troubleshooting urgent constituent needs, and identifying policy areas for Rep. Walorski to focus on.
The Strategies D.C. team continues to be a leading firm in the Beltway and the additions of Alonzo and Dankler further bolsters the deep bench. The impressive group, including recent new hire, partner Tami Jackson Buckner, as well as her partners and Washington D.C. veterans Sarah Helton all of whom have extensive experience and success in representing clients on both sides of the aisle, advocating for their interests before Congress and in the regulatory process.
Alonzo, who received her B.A. from Truman State University, has expertise with appropriations, immigration and border security, defense, transportation and education and workforce issues. Alonzo also serves as spokesperson and vice president of the Hispanic Lobbyists Association, a nonpartisan trade group promoting diversity in the advocacy profession. Alonzo appeared on The Hill’s Top Lobbyists “Hired Guns” list in December 2020.
“I’m thrilled at the opportunity to grow along with Michael Best Strategies,” Alonzo said. “As we enter a new era in Washington, I’m eager to pair my experiences on Capitol Hill with my record supporting the private sector to help Michael Best’s clients achieve their federal relations goals.”
Dankler received his B.A. from the University of Illinois. While working for Walorski, he helped lead successful efforts to obtain structural changes to the Department of Commerce’s Section 232 steel and aluminum exclusion process, fight against the Department of Commerce’s Section 232 automobile tariffs, and push the U.S. Trade Representative to create exclusion processes for its Section 301 China tariffs. Dankler also served for 7 years with former Rep. Peter J. Roskam (R-Illinois), starting as an intern and leaving the office as Legislative Director.
