Founded by Brian Ballard, Ballard Partners has established itself as a leading public affairs firm thanks to the skills and experience of its more than 50 bipartisan government affairs consultants. With a team comprising former ambassadors, top government staffers, business leaders, and lawyers, Ballard Partners has built a reputation for regularly exceeding the expectations of clients.
Ballard Partners, which Brian Ballard continues to lead, also relies on the expertise of several former elected officials. From mayors to legislators, these professionals draw on their deep relationships in government to help everyone from Fortune 500 firms to local tourism boards achieve their policy aims.
Among the former elected officials employed by Ballard Partners are two former members of Congress. Let’s learn more about each.
Jeff Miller
Over more than 15 years in the House of Representatives, Jeff Miller used his position to advocate for and improve the lives of veterans nationwide. The former chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, he now leads Ballard Partners’ Veterans Practice Group.
A Republican who represented Florida’s 1st Congressional District, Miller showed a willingness to reach across the aisle to work on behalf of veterans. His accomplishments include negotiating with Senator Bernie Sanders and the Obama administration to pass the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. A landmark $10 billion piece of legislation, the act expanded healthcare access for veterans by allowing them to seek care from private-sector providers.
Along with his leadership of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Miller was a senior member of both the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In 2016, the Trump campaign called on Miller to serve as a veterans affairs surrogate and to author a policy paper that outlined reforms to enhance the healthcare and benefits of veterans.
Prior to being elected to Congress, Miller served for three years as a member of the Florida House of Representatives. A Sunshine State native who holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, he gave back to his community early in his career as a deputy sheriff.
Robert Wexler
Robert Wexler’s career has been defined by his commitment to bringing stability to the Middle East. A highly effective member of Congress for seven terms, he now serves as president of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace in Washington, DC.
Wexler was elected to Congress in 1996 and joined the legislative body early the following year. Over his tenure representing Florida’s 19th district, he became known for his tireless advocacy for Israel and for his efforts in pursuing a just end to the Arab-Israeli conflict. In 1998, President Clinton invited him to the signing of the Wye River Memorandum, a landmark agreement that some observers at the time believed would resolve the conflict. He was the only House member invited to attend.
Recognized by Forward 50 as one of the American Jewish community’s most influential leaders, Wexler was later tasked by Barack Obama to advise the then-senator’s 2008 presidential campaign on matters related to the Middle East and Israel. In 2012, Obama again called on him to deliver a speech at the Democratic National Convention explaining the president’s policies on Israel.
Along with his expertise on Middle East issues, Wexler was a member of committees, subcommittees, and caucuses that worked to strengthen bonds with the European Union, Turkey, Taiwan, and Indonesia, among other nations. Today, as a member of the Ballard Partners team, he draws on his relationships in Israel and elsewhere to serve as co-managing partner of the firm’s Tel Aviv office.