Premier California Lobbying Firm Launches Vectis DC

LOS ANGELES and WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognizing the power and prestige of California as a global economy and as home to the largest Congressional delegation in the country, two high-ranking former California members of Congress and other Californian leaders from diverse backgrounds?including, a former coastal city Mayor and the grandson of a legendary California Latino leader in Congress?have launched Vectis DC, a Washington, DC based governmental affairs and lobbying firm focused on delivering results for California businesses.

Under the tagline: CA 55 & 5^th, many of Vectis DC's founders are part of Vectis Strategies, a successful and growing California-based public relations and public affairs firm founded more than five years ago. The firm has distinguished itself by working for Fortune 100 companies to start ups as well as nonprofits and universities.

Former House Majority Whip Tony Coelho (D-Modesto) and the former Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittees on Energy and Water, and Military Construction, Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad) anchor the firm and are joined by Don Polese, David Herbst, Michael DiVirgilio, Rick Olivarez and Caroline Thompson.

"California has a rollercoaster political history ? even before Ronald Reagan and Jerry Brown. Understanding how California operates, what drives businesses and how that contributes to America's success is the secret sauce Vectis DC brings to an overly complicated political landscape," says Olivarez who is the managing partner of a large law firm based in Downtown Los Angeles and is a senior partner of Vectis DC. Olivarez has a multi-generational view of California politics as the grandson of the late Congressman Edward Roybal, the first Latino elected to the U.S. Congress from California since the 1880's. 

The firm's focus on California is reflected in a client roster of well-known Golden State companies and organizations: Parsons Corporation, the Rose Bowl Operating Company, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, The Aerospace Corporation, LA BioMed, Learn4Life, City of Escondido, Mount Saint Mary's University/Los Angeles, California Pacific Airlines and Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, among others.

Vectis has tackled complex issues ranging from Army Corps permitting for a Malibu beach replenishment project, significant appropriations work earlier this year within two critical Pentagon programs, and work with Congress and the Department of the Interior on behalf of five Southern California Native American tribes helping them achieve settlement of a century old water rights dispute.

"Vectis DC connects companies and organizations that are part of the world's 5^th largest economy with Washington, DC.  We are bi-partisan in our work, driven by our ethics and known for being fearlessly innovative in the solutions we provide clients," said Polese, the firm's Managing Partner who brings 30-plus-years of Capitol Hill and Congressional staff experience to Vectis DC. The firm's office is on M Street in the Navy Yard section of Washington D.C., with a view of Nationals Park.

With 55 members, California has the largest Congressional delegation, which currently includes 2 House leaders, 2 full Committee Chairs, 2 full Committee Ranking Members, 9 Subcommittee Chairs and 15 Subcommittee Ranking Members. At least one Californian serves on every full Committee in the House of Representatives. California's global economic impact is $2.7 trillion annually, ranking 5^th if it were an independent country.

In addition to Packard, Coelho, Polese and Olivarez, Vectis DC also includes DiVirgilio, the former two-term Mayor of Hermosa Beach, CA and District Director to former Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Venice); Thompson, a former senior policy advisor for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and Herbst, the co-founder of Vectis Strategies, who has served as both a Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County Commissioner. Bios on firm partners can be found at www.vectisdc.com

"As Vectis Strategies continues to grow, spinning off Vectis DC, led by Don and Michael makes great sense, for existing and future clients. Vectis DC creates a level of focus that better articulates our value in DC ? where we can work with existing lobbying firms or in-house teams to "carve out" California. No firm knows the Golden State better than Vectis DC," said Herbst, founder and managing partner of Vectis Strategies and a founding partner of Vectis DC.

Contact: (202) 827-9792
Don Polese
Michael DiVirgilio  

SOURCE Vectis Strategies