Blood, Paper, & Bed: How to Mitigate Risk Doing Business with the U.S. Federal, State, and Local Governments

September 2020

Abstract

Building a corporate brand and promoting corporate interests involves more than just producing and selling the best products and services—it also requires a company’s active involvement in a nation’s democracy. Active involvement includes executing a layered strategy that advances communication with and educates the government—U.S. federal, state or local—about the company, its products, its industry, and how government actions or regulations may affect it. In turn, the government devises its policies and laws, balancing public interests with the need to nurture innovation. In addition to its twin roles as author and enforcer of laws and public policies, the government is also a major consumer of goods and services. For example, in fiscal year 2019, the federal government spent $597 billion on government contracts for goods and services. Meanwhile, the state, local, and education government contracts market is valued at approximately $1.5 trillion annually. Given the financial opportunities that these government markets present, companies competing for these contracts will seek every legal advantage—including starting, solidifying, sustaining, and leveraging relationships with government officials and employees.

Authors

Garret Scronce

Political Compliance and Operations Analyst , Koch Companies Public Sector, USA

Garret Scronce serves as a Political Compliance and Operations Analyst at Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC. He oversees the design and implementation of leveraging technology and data to mitigate political law risks. Additionally, he helps to manage the 350 plus U.S. federal, state, and local lobbying registration and reporting process across the Koch enterprise. Mr. Scronce earned a B.A. in Political Science from Allegheny College, in Meadville Pennsylvania.

Jenny Kim

Deputy GC & VP, Public Policy, Koch Companies Public Sector, USA

Jenny Kim is the Deputy General Counsel, Political Law & Vice President, Public Policy for Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC, which provides services to Koch Industries, Inc. and its affiliates. She leads and oversees political law compliance for the United States, including federal and state, as well as Canada and the European Union. She also leads public policy portfolio, which includes criminal justice and rule of law reform. She serves as a board member of Due Process Institute and Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN), and as an advisor to Safe Streets & Second Chances reentry initiative. In 2019, Corporate Counsel and InsideCounsel honored her with the Women Influence in Power & Law award. In 2018, DCA LIVE named her as Top Corporate Counsel in the DC area. Before joining Koch in 2008, Ms. Kim was a senior associate at Miller & Chevalier Chartered, and an associate with Crowell & Moring, LLP. Previously, she was a Presidential Management Fellow at The White House Office of Counsel to the President and Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency. Ms. Kim earned a juris doctorate from Boston College Law School and a bachelor’s degree from New York University. She is a member of the bar in New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Companies

Koch Companies Public Sector

Based in Wichita, Kan., Koch Industries, Inc. is one of the largest private companies in America with estimated annual revenues as high as $115 billion, according to Forbes. It owns a diverse group of companies involved in refining, chemicals, grain processing and biofuels; forest and consumer products; fertilizers; polymers and fibers; process and pollution control equipment and technologies; electronic components; commodity trading; minerals; energy; ranching; glass; and investments. Since 2003, Koch companies have invested more than $70 billion in acquisitions and other capital expenditures. With a presence in about 60 countries, Koch companies employ more than 100,000 people worldwide, with about 60,000 of those in the United States. From January 2009 to present, Koch companies have earned more than 930 awards for safety, environmental excellence, community stewardship, innovation, and customer service.

Koch Companies Public Sector

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