 |
| Brian Ballard |
CBI Acquisitions has hired Trump-connected Ballard Partners to intervene in its squabble with the National Park Services over the Caneel Bay Resort eco-lodge located within the Virgin Islands National Park.
Once the biggest employer on St. John, CBR has been closed since 2017 after it was smashed by two Category Five Hurricanes. Its shutdown has rocked VI's tourism-tied economy.
CBI took over the CBR in 2004. It owns the structures but not the land. The Norwalk, CT-based entity has refused to rehab the facility until NPS extends its lease on the land, which is to expire in 2023.
Established by Laurance Spelman Rockefeller, grandson of industrialist John D. Rockefeller, CBR has hosted luminaries such as Mitch McConnell, Meryl Streep and John Steinbeck.
The Rockefeller family donated the real estate to the NPS.
Brian Ballard, who chaired the Trump Victory organization in Florida during the 2016 presidential campaign, is working the CBI business.
He’s joined by Daniel McFaul, legislative director for ex-GOP Congressman Joe Scarborough and chief of staff to staunch Trump supporter Rep. Matt Gaetz, and Justin Sayfie, ex-commissioner of the Commission of White House Fellows.
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.
