Team Category: Main TRP team page

Greg Lankler joined Thorn Run in November 2019 to lead the firm’s national security and intelligence community practice.  After spending more than 20 years working in the U.S. House of Representatives and liaising with nearly every department of the federal government, Mr. Lankler has dedicated most of the last decade helping large and small defense contractors, startups, Fortune 500 corporations, non-profits, and other stakeholders navigate the often opaque congressional appropriations process.

Before joining the private sector, Mr. Lankler served for more than ten years on the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.  During this time, he managed multiple portfolios including: the research and development, procurement, and special access programs for the Air Force, Central Intelligence Agency, and Special Operations Command; the information technology programs for the Department of Defense, Military Services, and Intelligence Community; and the acquisition programs of the Defense-Wide Agencies and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.  While on the Subcommittee staff, Mr. Lankler served four different chairmen during both Republican and Democrat majorities.

Mr. Lankler’s experience in appropriations matters extends well beyond issues of national security.  He has represented clients with interests before every one of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee’s twelve subcommittees and has a long-standing record of success in achieving client objectives through creative strategies.  His results are evident in funding and report language included in the annual appropriations bills, policy recommendations carried in authorization measures, and program manager priorities submitted annually in the President’s budget request.

Mr. Lankler not only possesses a thorough understanding of the appropriations process, but also a unique understanding of the Members and staffers whose viewpoints, goals, and decisions ultimately determine congressional appropriations and authorizations, federal acquisitions, and national security and domestic policy.  Prior to his time with the House Appropriations Committee, Mr. Lankler worked for Representative Bill Young (R-FL) from 1990 to 2001 and served as his Legislative Director for the five years prior to Mr. Young appointing him to the Defense Subcommittee in 2001.  During this time, he gained an in-depth understanding of the inner workings of congressional offices, the skills necessary to successfully influence individual Members of Congress, and experience advocating on behalf of constituent companies before the various federal departments and agencies.

Mr. Lankler earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Delaware.  He is a frequent guest-lecturer on the appropriations process for Georgetown University’s Government Affairs Institute and has spoken at the Air Force’s Understanding the Business-Acquisition Relationship Executive Seminar for Air Force acquisition personnel.

Chris Lamond brings significant experience in developing, managing, and implementing government relations strategies to Thorn Run Partners. Mr. Lamond has built a career representing clients before federal, state and local governments and brings to Thorn Run more than 25 years of experience working for and with governmental entities.

Chris co-founded Thorn Run Partners in 2010, after a career on and off Capitol Hill. Chris’ government experience includes working for U.S. Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) and the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. Mr. Lamond joined Senator Thompson in 1994 and served on the Senator’s personal staff in a number of legislative roles before moving to the Committee on Governmental Affairs when Senator Thompson became committee chairman in 1997. In 2008, Mr. Lamond also served as an advisor to the Fred Thompson for President campaign and continues to work in a number of unofficial roles for federal and state candidates around the country.

In addition to his position as founding partner at Thorn Run, Chris continues to represent corporate, non-profit entities, and trade associations before Congress. Chris has been an advocate for causes and industries in various sectors, including financial services, technology, transportation, education and health care. Chris’ understanding of the legislative landscape and ability to create effective advocacy strategies have resulted in significant policy achievements for his clients. Beyond his work at Thorn Run, Chris is recognized as a thought leader and has contributed to industry publications, conferences, and panel discussions throughout the country.

Chris received a B.A. in Political Science from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina and currently lives in Washington, DC with his wife and two children.

Daniel joined Thorn Run in January 2017, bringing a diverse professional background in political communications, journalism, and policy. Daniel helps manage the firm’s digital portfolio, including composing online content and managing social media networks. Additionally, Daniel provides crucial support to the firm’s deep healthcare policy practice, helping clients analyze the most recent developments in federal healthcare policy.

Before joining Thorn Run, Daniel worked in the House Daily Press Gallery as a Press and Communications Assistant, where he helped facilitate coverage of floor proceedings for the U.S. House of Representatives. Daniel previously served in the office of U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA), where he assisted with legislative research, district correspondence, as well as media outreach and communications. He has also worked as a Research Specialist for CQ Roll Call, and covered the 2012 Election as a contributing writer for PoliticsPA.

Daniel graduated from the University of Scranton in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

He also earned his Master’s in Political Science at American University, where he completed American University’s rigorous Campaign Management Institute program.

Chris Fish joined Thorn Run Partners in January of 2022. He provides consulting services to for profit companies, consortiums and university clients. His client services are primarily focused on securing government funding to support research and development (R&D) and increasing manufacturing capabilities.

Chris works with clients in numerous technology areas including defense, energy and microelectronics. His work covers clients that are active in R&D capabilities from software, materials, tooling, component parts to end manufactured products. Chris also provides clients assistance with securing government incentives to build out manufacturing and R&D facilities. Government incentive packages can also support enhancements to operational facilities. His expertise also covers working with clients to create and administer consortiums/public private partnerships. These entities also work with Chris to secure government funding to support R&D programs and the manufacturing scale up of these technologies.

Chris has extensive experience working with Congress and the annual appropriations process that provides all government agencies funding for all R&D and manufacturing related programs. His services also include expertise working directly with clients to identify the federal agency programs that can provide clients grant funding for research and development and manufacturing development activity. Chris also works with clients to develop value propositions for funding consideration that are next put forth for appropriate federal agency program office review. He provides extensive assistance to clients developing responses to government grant program solicitations of interest to clients.

During his consulting career, Chris has assisted clients secure over half a billion dollars in government funding and incentive packages. This covers government funding and incentives packages provided by federal, state and local government entities.

Chris has 25 years of experience working in and around the government. Prior to joining the private sector, he served in staff capacities in the United States Senate and held numerous staff positions in the House of Representatives including the position of Chief of Staff.

Chris received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from SUNY Oneonta. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife Maria, and his children Alex and Madeleine.

Catherine Finley has been helping to shape federal and state health care policy for over 15 years. Drawing on her extensive Capitol Hill and state experience, she brings to Thorn Run Partners a unique ability to identify public policy opportunities, develop effective lobbying strategies and achieve success by utilizing her wide network of bipartisan relationships with key decision-makers. Ms. Finley maintains close ties to the Senate Finance and HELP Committees, as well as the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Ms. Finley previously served as Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, where she oversaw committee operations on behalf of Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-OR), during his tenure as both chair and ranking member. As Staff Director, Ms. Finley was the Senator’s lead negotiator on critical health care legislation involving Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. She also led Senator Smith’s health and human services legislative agenda related to the Senate Finance Committee; the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee; and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education. Ms. Finley has also served as Senior Health Policy advisor for Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), where she advised the Senator on all health and human services issues, including development and enactment of the Medicare Modernization Act.

Ms. Finley’s policy expertise in Medicaid and other state health care programs was honed while serving as Legislative Director for Health and Human Services at the Southern Governors Association, where she represented the Southern states before Congress and the Administration on important regional and national health care matters. Ms. Finley was also a Policy Advisor to Governor George W. Bush and a Legislative assistant for the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.

Ms. Finley received her B.S. in Business Economics from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She holds minors in Political Science and International Business.

Yul Edwards has spent over 20 years in legislative, political, and electoral politics, having served four Members of Congress over the span of his career in public service. Prior to joining Thorn Run Partners, Yul served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee and Oversight Committee. In this role, he advised Congressman Davis on tax policy, healthcare, transportation, energy, urban agriculture, the sugar program, environmental policy, and judiciary issues before the Congress. Edwards routinely interacted with the greater Chicago business community, CEOs, senior government officials, and White House staff. On the Hill, Edwards worked closely with Members and staff of the Congressional Black Caucus and managed several Congressional Caucus groups.

As a Hill staffer, Yul worked closely with key staff and stakeholders to assist in passing Rep. Davis’ signature legislative accomplishment, the Second Chance Act, and several provisions in the Affordable Care Act, all while developing strong relationships with key Congressional Committees.

Before joining Congressman Davis, Edwards served as a government relations professional with the firm Fabiani & Co. There, he managed fifteen clients on a broad range of issues including defense, transportation, and regulatory affairs, university programs, and low-tech manufacturing. Before that, Edwards served as Legislative Director for Frank Ballance, Jr (D-NC) where he developed and managed policy outreach and political affairs. Yul was instrumental in securing funding for Hurricane Isabel efforts and expanding the local community health centers’ budgets.

An active member of numerous civic organizations and the founder of a mentoring organization, Yul has served on several national and local boards and has received numerous Congressional staff awards. Yul also enjoys reading historical biographies, mentoring, and local politics. He currently resides in Washington, DC, and is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas.

Alex DelPizzo brings significant experience in developing, managing and executing government relations strategies to Thorn Run Partners. A seasoned practitioner who is respected on both sides of the political aisle, Mr. DelPizzo focuses his representation on serving corporations, national associations, non-profits and local governments in a variety of areas including healthcare, transportation, financial services, clean energy and telecommunications.

As a highly regarded staff person for six years on Capitol Hill, Mr. DelPizzo worked for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee under the auspices of legendary Chairman Bud Shuster (R-PA). Mr. DelPizzo later served as Legislative Director for Congressman Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), a former member of the Energy & Commerce Committee. During his tenure on the Hill, Mr. DelPizzo’s portfolio included healthcare, transportation, energy, telecommunications, appropriations and financial services issues. As Congressional staff, Mr. DelPizzo worked directly on passage of the landmark Air-21 legislation, the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA), the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Energy Policy Act of 2003.

Prior to joining Thorn Run Partners in June 2012, Mr. DelPizzo spent eight years at another government relations firm, Winning Strategies Washington, where he was a Partner. During this time, Mr. DelPizzo led that firm’s healthcare practice and also represented clients on telecommunications, transportation, tax and insurance issues.

Mr. DelPizzo graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Villanova University in Villanova, PA.

Mr. DelPizzo lives in Virginia with his wife, Michele, and their three children.

Elena joined Thorn Run Partners in August 2022 and currently serves as a Senior Legislative Associate, supporting the firm’s health policy practice through legislative and regulatory analysis. In this role, she tracks federal health care policy developments, analyzes regulatory proposals, and prepares policy materials for a range of health care stakeholders. She also assists in coordinating coalition efforts, refining messaging, and developing policy recommendations to support legislative priorities.

Prior to joining Thorn Run, Elena worked as a fellow with The UPS Foundation, where she contributed to the Foundation’s annual Social Impact Report and assisted in partner communications. She also gained research experience as a student research assistant at the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs Research Center, where she supported nonpartisan electoral research through polling and data analysis.

Elena holds dual bachelor’s degrees in political science and advertising from the University of Georgia and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health in Nutrition at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Her passion for health policy stems from her work in pharmaceutical access and patient advocacy, and she is committed to leveraging policy to improve health care accessibility — particularly for individuals with disabilities and rare diseases.

Jim Davenport joined Thorn Run Partners in 2018, providing top tier consulting services to public entities on a broad spectrum of issues. Jim represents a range of government clients, including cities, counties, airports, independent taxing districts, and education entities.

Jim’s wide variety of public entity clients gives him exposure to the entire scale of federal agencies and programs, and he has developed an expertise on an array of federal issues, including transportation, water infrastructure, navigation, energy and environment, public safety and elementary, secondary and higher education. Jim operates strategically and with efficiency, offering his clients meaningful subject-matter knowledge coupled with a determined approach to achieving their objectives.

Jim continues to represent many of the first clients that ever retained him, representing several for more than 20 years. He is an experienced tactician in navigating the federal budget, congressional appropriations process and competitive federal grant opportunities to obtain federal resources on behalf of clients. He also consults and advises clients on legislation, agency rulemakings, and Administration policy to position his clients to take advantage of new opportunities and to protect and prepare themselves from regulatory impacts.

Prior to joining Thorn Run Partners, Jim spent over 18 years as a partner at Alcalde & Fay, representing local government entities from states across the country, including Florida, California, Virginia and Kansas. He has represented corporate clients in the areas of environmental remediation, homeland security and public safety, engineering, and energy. Before joining Alcalde & Fay, Jim served as Legislative Assistant in the office of the late Congressman Gerald B. Solomon of New York.

Mr. Davenport received his B.A in Government at St. Lawrence University, and obtained his J.D. from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.

Mr. Davenport lives in Arlington with his wife, Shari, and their two children.