Politico: Suite Talk: July 31, 2008

Rodney Peele, Anna Maria Schneider and Scott Milburn Photo: Composite image by Politico.com

Drivers wanted?

Driver found: at the Herndon, Va., headquarters of Volkswagen Group of America Inc.

Anna Maria Schneider has become the new director of industry-government relations for the world’s fourth-largest automaker.

The self-described “auto-babe” hails from one of Volkswagen’s top competitors — Toyota Motor North America Inc. — where she most recently served as vice president of government and industry affairs.

She also racked up 13 years of experience at Mitsubishi. She was working there when Mitsubishi unveiled its first car to be sold in the United States, the Hyundai Excel, back in 1986.

Expanding Kountoupes Consulting

By September, Kountoupes Consulting will have increased its staff by some 30 percent. How can it grow so quickly? The boutique firm of two, which launched last year, is adding a third principal.

Lori Denham will join Kountoupes on Sept. 8, three days after wrapping up her duties at the Retail Industry Leaders Association, where she is executive vice president of government affairs and industry operations.

All eyes on Peele

To the 36,000 students, technicians and doctors of optometry who make up the American Optometric Association: Let us introduce to you Rodney Peele, the new assistant director of regulatory policy and outreach for the association’s Washington office.

Until now, eye care has not been Peele’s area of expertise: He has focused on feet. Peele comes from nearly a decade of service at the American Podiatric Medical Association. There, he most recently served as associate director of health policy and practice, primarily focusing on Medicare and third-party payments.

Paper Association gets newspaper savvy

Scott Milburn, the former press secretary for the White House Office of Management and Budget, has been named executive director of the American Forest and Paper Association.

His duties at the paper association will be far more complex then the age-old “paper or plastic” debate. Milburn will take the reins in coordinating press inquires and working with members of the media in promoting forest and paper policies.

BGR doubles work space

Have a meeting with a BGR Holding partner? Better double-check the address.

In November, the heavyweight lobbying firm will relocate a couple of blocks away, to The Homer Building at 601 13th St. N.W., where it will occupy the 11th floor. BGR is now located at 1275 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.

Here’s the 411 on the new place: The office will take up 38,101 square feet, a vast improvement from the 17,017 square feet at the current digs. And after signing a 10-year lease, BGR surely has the time — and the room — to grow.

[Click for More]