Press and Media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Amy Weiss 
September 11, 2014
Amy@WeissPublicAffairs.com

Washington, DC — Jeffrey Gedmin was named Senior Advisor at Blue Star Strategies, LLC, and will work on a variety of client issues including matters in Europe and the Middle East.

Currently, Mr. Gedmin is Co-Director of the Transatlantic Renewal Project at the World Affairs Institute and Journal in Washington, DC and a senior fellow at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. From 2011 – 2014 Mr. Gedmin was President and CEO of the London-based Legatum Institute where he was responsible for the Institute’s strategic direction, budget, board relations and development. 

“We are thrilled to have Jeff join our growing firm,” stated Karen Tramontano, CEO of Blue Star Strategies. “Jeff’s knowledge and experience on foreign policy matters and his strategic approach to problem solving will be of great value to our clients.”

“I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Jeff for many years beginning with our work to expand NATO to include the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. Jeff is smart, strategic and both his previous and current work will not only compliment the work we are doing but also bring greater depth to our ability to achieve our clients’ goals” said Sally Painter, COO of Blue Star Strategies.

Mr. Gedmin served as the President and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Liberty and served as the President and CEO of the Aspen Institute in Berlin. Prior to that Mr. Gedmin was a Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and Executive Director of the New Atlantic Initiative.

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (New York), a member of the National Endowment for Democracy’s Research Council (Washington, DC), a member of the Board of Directors for Turkish Policy Quarterly (Istanbul) and a member of the editorial board of the World Affairs Journal. 

About Blue Star Strategies, LLC

Blue Star Strategies, LLC is an international strategic consulting, public affairs, and government relations firm, based in Washington, DC with offices in Europe and Latin America. We work across sectors representing foreign governments, political parties, and global corporations to help solve their business and policy challenges in the United States and in emerging markets around the world. Our team is comprised of experienced professionals with backgrounds in government, business, and multilateral and nonprofit organizations.

Blue Star Strategies Goes Global

Network Expansion in Brussels, Hanoi, London, and Rome

(April 15, 2014- Washington, DC) - Blue Star Strategies, LLC today announced the inauguration of a global network with four global firms which will strengthen their presence in key international markets – Brussels, Hanoi, London and Rome. Given the complementary and interconnected work of the participating firms, Blue Star Strategies, LLC has tapped Strategis Communications in Brussels, Bay Global Strategies in Hanoi, Insight Public Affairs in London and Cattaneo Zanetto & Co. in Rome to join their network.

“With the firm’s growth over the years and our ability to have smart people on the ground in select countries, this is a win for our clients and potential clients,” said Karen Tramontano, CEO of Blue Star Strategies.

“We are delighted to bring these top notch firms into our network. Their strengths and contacts will enhance our work in these regions,” said Blue Star’s COO Sally Painter.

Strategis Communications based in Brussels, Belgium has been providing a range of globally renowned clients with strategic political, government and public affairs counsel and support services designed to promote and protect their business interests in the European Union and globally since 2006. Nick Blow of Strategis Communications has 20 years experience in European affairs from both in and outside the EU institutions.

"Working with Sally and Karen and their colleagues at Blue Star Strategies is always a great pleasure. Their level of professionalism, commitment and experience are second to none. In government relations, it just doesn't get any better or more fulfilling," said Nick Blow.

He advises clients on broad EU affairs strategy, legislative lobbying campaigns and political aspects of corporate communications. Before entering consultancy, Nick worked at the European Parliament as political advisor to a UK MEP and as a campaign strategist for social and human rights NGOs.

Bay Global Strategies based in Hanoi, Vietnam provides advisory services to help their clients understand and navigate the full business and government environment in Vietnam and beyond. Virginia B. Foote founded Bay Global Strategies, LLC with the goal to provide clients with critical knowledge and strategic planning for doing business in and with Vietnam. With over 20 years of experience in Vietnam and commendations including the President of Vietnam's Medal of Friendship (2007), Ms. Foote provides clients with top notch on-the-ground strategic advisory services, stakeholder engagement, and government relations.

“This is a great opportunity for Bay Global Strategies to be working directly with Blue Star. We have the same goals, passion for the issues and have worked together on several projects. I am looking forward to collaborating with the team on a regular basis, “said Foote.

Insight Public Affairs, named PR Week UK’s Specialist Consultancy of the year is a full service agency in London, England. Core services include: regulation and legislation, reputation management, market access and procurement, media, campaigning, and training and education. The agency was established in 2006, and advises a number of leading companies and organizations in the transport and infrastructure, gaming, life sciences, social care, and financial services sectors on their public affairs and communications strategies. Insight was launched in 2006 by John Lehal, having gained extensive experience running UK and international strategic communications programs. His clients include Betfair, Emirates, International SOS, and Pfizer, and John provides pro bono support to several charities.

“The work of Insight and BSS could not be more complimentary. In Karen and Sally we have found the best in class and the Insight team looks forward to further collaboration with the Blue Star team to further assist our mutual clients as well as ones we have yet to work with,” said John Lehal.

Cattaneo Zanetto & Co. is a lobbying firm based in Rome, Italy that specializes in government relations, regulatory and public affairs with branches in Rome, Milan and Brussels. The firm focuses mostly on multinational companies and international investors. Paolo Zanettoheads the Government Relations and Business Diplomacy practices at Cattaneo Zanetto & Co. Before joining the Public affairs industry, Paolo was in the Italian government service for 10 years, as a policy adviser on many topics, both in Italian and European institutions, and later on as ministerial aide in the Italian cabinet. Paolo is a regular contributor of national newspapers in Italy. He has published a handbook on political marketing (“(E)lezioni di successo”, Rizzoli-Etas, 2003). He has also published a book on the Microsoft antitrust case in the European Union (“Il caso Microsoft e il futuro della concorrenza in Europa”, Rubbettino, 2005). Recently he published a handbook on lobbying and public affairs (“Fare lobby”, Rizzoli-Etas, 2007) together with Alberto Cattaneo.

"Blue Star Strategies' insight and expertise in international affairs and business is extraordinary and it is a great honor working with one of the best strategic planning firms in DC," said Zanetto.

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About Blue Star Strategies, LLC

Blue Star Strategies, LLC is an international strategic consulting, public affairs, and government relations firm, based in Washington, DC with offices in Europe and Latin America. We work across sectors representing foreign governments, political parties, and global corporations to help solve their business and policy challenges in the United States and in emerging markets around the world. Our team is comprised of experienced professionals with backgrounds in government, business, and multilateral and nonprofit organizations.

Contact: Amy Weiss, Amy@WeissPublicAffairs.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Amy Weiss 
June 11, 2013
Amy@WeissPublicAffairs.com

Washington, DC — Jesica Dobbins Lindgren (formerly Seacor) was named the General Counsel at Blue Star Strategies, LLC, and will work on a variety of client issues.

Previously, Ms. Lindgren was a Director and Senior Vice President at ResCare, Inc., a leading U.S. human services company. She handled government relations and business development for ResCare’s Youth Services. She also led ResCare’s international Workforce Services group, with operations primarily in Europe and the Middle East, and was a board member of ResCare’s international subsidiaries.

 “We are delighted to have Jesica join our expanding firm,” stated Sally Painter, COO of Blue Star Strategies. “Jesica’s depth of knowledge in policy, law and philanthropy will be a huge asset to our clients.”

 “I have known Jesica for years – she is smart, strategic and her work at the ILO will compliment the work we are doing with the ILO and governments around the world,” said Karen Tramontano, CEO of Blue Star Strategies.

Ms. Lindgren began her career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Washington, DC. In 1997, she joined the International Labor Organization (ILO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, based in Geneva, Switzerland. She participated in a staff exchange from the ILO to the World Bank’s External and UN Affairs Unit in Washington, DC from 2004-2005 and then served as Deputy Director of the ILO’s Washington Office from 2005 until she joined ResCare in 2008.

Ms. Lindgren co-founded a venture philanthropy organization, Giving Circle, which supports charities offering education, health care, and training programs in developing countries. In 2005, her article, “Learning on the Job” was published in The Economist’s Intelligent Life magazine. 

She received her B.A. from Georgetown University, later receiving a J.D. from American University, where she was editor-in-chief of the international law review and commencement speaker in 1994. She earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, studying international management at their Barcelona, Singapore and Chicago campuses. Ms. Lindgren is also a 2012 graduate of Leadership Greater Washington.

About Blue Star Strategies, LLC

Blue Star Strategies, LLC is a strategic consulting, public affairs, and government relations firm, based in Washington, DC with offices in Europe and Latin America. We work across sectors representing foreign governments, political parties, and global corporations to help solve their business and policy challenges in the United States and in emerging markets around the world. Our team is comprised of experienced professionals with backgrounds in government, business, and multilateral and nonprofit organizations.

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Sally Painter helps launch the board of advisors for the 3rd Annual Muslim-Jewish Conference.

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The Wall Street Journal profiles the global consulting work of Sally Painter as a key figure helping shape the process of NATO expansion.

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Leaders Magazine interviews Sally Painter on her work with Latvia.

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