mark cowanMark Cowan, a well-traveled public affairs veteran, has opened Cowan Strategies in Alexandria, Va., to counsel companies and foreign entities on government relations, global market entry and business development.

He's the founder of The Jefferson Group, former Cassidy & Assocs. vice chairman and Hill and Knowlton senior VP. He also did a stint as senior partner at Patton Boggs, where he headed business development efforts.

Cowan, a lawyer, worked as an operations officer for the Central Intelligence Agency abroad, country desk officer in its Directorate of Operations and assistant legislative counsel to the Director.

Cowan Strategies has recruited a roster of advisors including Carlos Salinas, former aide to Mexican presidents Vincente Fox and Felipe Calderon; Aaron Manaigo, ex-Bronx district leader and past chairman of the National Council of Black Republicans; David Kim, counselor to Las Vegas-based Rogich Communications on cracking the Korea market, and John Bradley, who as appeared in TV shows "ER," "CSI Miami," "Desperate Housewives" and "In Living Color" plus movies "Independence Day" and "Mars Attacks."