|
|
|
Doug Thomas is a Partner at the Watts Partners. As partner, Doug is a member of the senior management of the firm and provides strategic direction to the firm's corporate and government relations clients, including major trade and professional organizations, Fortune 500, mid-size and small businesses, colleges and universities, and health care providers. In 2006, Doug, along with the Watts Partners team, successfully placed appropriations in congressional legislation on behalf of several HBCUs. Doug also worked closely with the staff of several Members of Congress to create the West Africa Caucus and coordinate events with the caucus in an effort to focus attention on the countries of West Africa and educate Members legislative means to benefit the countries. He scored another success by assisting a client, East Army Properties, in winning a $200 million military housing project at Fort Lee. Doug comes to the Watts Partners after serving as Vice President at Jefferson Government Relations where he specialized in appropriations, homeland security, health care, federal procurement and government contracting, and issues affecting small business. Doug was the Staff Director of the Small Business Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives during the 107th Congress (2001-2003) under the chairmanship of Rep. Donald A. Manzullo (IL-16). He directed the committee's legislative and administrative operations and coordinated the committee's policy strategy. From 1995 - 2001 Doug served as the Chief of Staff to Congressman Manzullo. He specialized in a wide variety of issues, especially those related to small business, including regulatory and procurement matters, access to capital, unfair government competition, tax policy, and access to affordable health care. He was instrumental in arranging hearings before the Small Business Committee that resulted in federal agencies ceasing to perform services and manufacture products that unfairly competed against private companies, as well as forcing federal agencies to justify snap audits of private businesses. Doug's contributions to the Fastener Quality Act Amendments helped sustain in-house quality assurance testing of domestically produced fasteners. As a former associate staff member of the House Budget Committee, Doug advised Members of Congress on tax, budget, and business issues and contributed to the crafting of the annual congressional budget resolutions. Doug began his career on Capitol Hill in 1989 as a part of the legislative staff of Rep. Vin Weber (MN) and served briefly as a congressional liaison at the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Prior to his tenure on Capital Hill, Doug proudly served three and a half years on active duty as an officer in the United States Army. Doug holds a BA in Political Science from Wheaton College (IL) and an MA in International Relations from The George Washington University. Doug is married to his wife Tandi, formerly the legislative director for House Speaker Dennis Hastert. They have three children and live in Laurel, Maryland. |
|
