Harriet James Melvin, a seasoned government and public affairs professional, joined Thorn Run Partners in January 2015. She brings over 20 years experience providing federal legislative counsel to a diverse group of leading corporations, coalitions and trade associations. Her experience includes representing a wide range of industries and policy issues including retail, telecommunications, intellectual property, transportation, anti-trust, labor, travel and financial services.
 
With her extensive experience in the public policy arena, Harriet is a results-oriented, legislative advocate with experience working in a bi-partisan manner. She represents clients before Congressional leadership, House and Senate committees, the Administration and federal agencies. Prior to joining Thorn Run, Harriet founded and ran The Capitol Group, a boutique federal government relations shop. Previous to that, she served as a partner for ten years at Quinn Gillespie & Associates, a leading bi-partisan government relations and public affairs firm.  
 
Harriet’s keen ability to reach across party lines and significant background in devising and implementing legislative strategies is reflected in accomplishments such as securing passage of the Reauthorization of the Satellite Home Viewer Act, establishing liability protection after 9/11 for the World Trade Center, shepherding legislation resolving the Libya/Pan Am 103 families compensation, passage of the PRO-IP Act, the defeat of the Resale Price Maintenance Act, approval of the News Corp./DirecTV merger and passage of the Internet and Broadband Deployment Act in the House of Representatives.

Melvin’s professional experience also extends to public affairs. Her expertise includes “inside the beltway” corporate positioning integrating strategic planning, CEO involvement, key employee advocacy, philanthropic giving and political action committee counsel. Harriet has a skilled understanding of the private sector serving previously as the Director of Federal Government Affairs for Circuit City Stores and CarMax and also as a Legislative Representative for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s largest small business advocacy organization. She began her Washington career on the staff of Rep. Charles Hatcher of Georgia.
 
Harriet is active in political circles serving as a founder and executive committee member of the Government Relation Leadership Forum. She was also an executive committee member of WIN, Women Impacting the Nation, a national women’s initiative focusing on increasing female voter turnout. She is also a member of VIEW PAC (Value in Electing Women) where she has served on its Executive Committee. Melvin served as an appointee of President Bush to the Presidential Review Board, which made recommendations for governmental employees to receive the Presidential Rank Award. Melvin has also served as an instructor at the National Republican Congressional Committee’s (NRCC) Campaign School and has provided legislative and political advice as a member of NRCC’s prestigious “House Incumbent Retention Group.” She was named one of the “Rising Stars under 40” by National Journal.
 
Melvin is a graduate of the University of Georgia and serves on the Board of the University’s School of Public and International Affairs.