 Lori Otto Punke |
Starbucks has hired LOP Strategies as federal lobbyist for a raft of corporate social responsibility issues.
Lori Otto Punke, who did a ten-year stint at the coffee chain before exiting as director of government affairs in 2015, heads the Mercer Island-based firm.
At Starbucks, she is remembered for helping to launch the company's high-profile College Achievement Plan to send baristas to college for free.
Earlier, Punke was Microsoft's manager of government affairs, dealing with intellectual property, antitrust, tax, trade, cybersecurity and regulatory matters. She also served on the board of the software giant's political action committee.
LOP will advise Starbucks on workforce employment, benefits, training, ethical sourcing, family leave and sustainability issues.
Starbucks spent $8.4M for DC lobbying during the first nine months of 2018 at firms including Monument Policy Group, K&L Gates and Petrizzo Group.
Anne Kierig, who was senior manager of public policy at Amazon, has joined the American Advertising Federation as VP-government affairs. She takes over for Clark Rector, who is retiring after a 37-year run at AAF.
TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, which was established in compliance with the executive order signed by President Trump, has hired Valcour LLC, which has close ties with his administration.
Ballard Partners has signed on gunmaker Sturm, Ruger & Co to advocate on behalf of Second Amendment issues.
Sakura Conservation Strategies has registered Japanese American Confinement Sites Consortium as a client.
Sachs Media has signed on to represent the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund to advocate for public policies proven to reduce tobacco use, which is the No. 1 cause of preventable deaths in the US and the rest of the world.
