News
David A. Johnson Appointed to Department of Conservation and Recreation
Richmond, Va. (May 19, 2010) — David A. Johnson today announced that he will be leaving Advantus Strategies to serve as director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Johnson joined the Advantus team in September 2009 as consulting director in the firm's Environmental and Energy Practice Group.
"David has made a significant impact on the practice area and the clients we serve, and he will be missed," said Daniel "Bud" Oakey, Advantus Strategies CEO and managing director. "We recognize this is a great opportunity for David, and this appointment is a reflection of the impact David has made on environmental public policy over the years and most recently with our firm's clients."
Oakey noted that Johnson brought to Advantus a unique combination of engineering skills and public policy expertise. "He understands the issues and has the technical expertise to recommend solutions," Oakey said. He added that the firm's clients should expect a seamless transition as Johnson established processes and inspired an approach that Advantus will continue to model.
Johnson has over three decades of environmental and industrial experience, working in both private and governmental entities. He served as Chief Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) from 1998-2002, and pioneered Virginia's efforts on the Air Deposition and Water Quality Improvement Committees to establish innovative water quality criteria for the Chesapeake Bay under the EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program.
Johnson was a key leader in helping shape Virginia's landmark state wetlands program spearheaded the effort to establish a partnership with the Department of Defense and the DEQ to promote pollution prevention actions at Department of Defense installations throughout the Commonwealth and across all military departments. Additionally, he was a leader in transforming DEQ into a national role model in the area of pollution prevention and environmental innovations, and led the initiative to establish Virginia's Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP).
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Advantus Strategies, LLC Adds John Paul Woodley to Team
Richmond, Va. (August 5, 2009) – Advantus Strategies announced today that it has named John Paul Woodley, Jr. as a consulting director of the firm.
“John Paul’s unique skills and capabilities will help to expand our business-to-government consulting services outside Virginia,” said Daniel “Bud” Oakey, Advantus Strategies CEO and managing director. “Woodley will focus on expanding Advantus’ federal practice in Washington, D.C. and on supporting and expanding the firm’s multi-state practice with an emphasis on the environmental and energy sector,” Oakey said.
Woodley recently left the Department of Defense, where he supervised the Army Corps of Engineers as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. He has also served as Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of Defense (Environment), Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources, and Deputy Attorney General of Virginia for Government Operations.
“John Paul’s experience in managing every aspect of natural resource and environmental policy, regulation and enforcement will afford Advantus clients unique insights and strategies for coping with complex environmental management issues,” Oakey said.
Advantus Strategies recently acquired Crockett-Hooks, LLC, positioning Advantus to expand its business-to-government consulting and association management services in the environmental and energy communities. The acquisition enabled Advantus to establish its Environmental Practice Group, a key element of the firm’s strategic plan to offer enhanced consulting services to government and industry.
“John Paul brings an exceptional combination of leadership and technical capabilities gained through extensive experience in several senior government positions,” said Robert G. Crockett, principal of Advantus’ Environmental Practice Group. “This experience will ensure that our activities are strategically conceived and well executed to take full advantage of those abilities.”
Advantus Strategies is an acknowledged Virginia leader in advising companies on how to successfully manage their business interests with government. The firm is also a leader in association management. The Advantus Environmental Practice Group provides comprehensive services that include regulatory permitting and compliance, issues management, legislative and regulatory affairs, and environmental management system consulting and strategic communications planning.
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Advantus Strategies, LLC Acquires Crockett & Hooks, LLC
The Crockett & Hooks acquisition will better position Advantus to expand its core business-to-government consulting and association management services in the environmental and energy communities.
Richmond, Va. (July 16, 2009) – Advantus Strategies announced today that it has acquired Crocket & Hooks, LLC bringing decades of high-level experience to Virginia’s largest independently owned government consulting services firm. Robert G. Crockett will serve as the Principal of Advantus’ Environmental Practice Group under the Business-to- Government Division of Advantus Strategies. Charles Hooks will serve in the group as a consulting director. The additions of Crockett and Hooks provide Advantus more than a half century of experience in the areas of environment, energy, and manufacturing.
“The integration of Robert Crockett and Charles Hooks into Advantus comprises a key element of our strategic plan to offer enhanced consulting services to government and industry,” says Advantus Strategies president and managing director Daniel “Bud” Oakey. “Their experience, dedication and knowledge will allow Advantus Strategies to not only serve our current clients, but to eventually grow beyond the borders of the Commonwealth.”
Experienced in government, regulatory and public affairs, Robert Crockett serves as Principal of Advantus Strategies Environmental Practice Group. Most recently he was a partner with Crockett & Hooks, LLC, a company that provided public, regulatory and legislative support on environmental, land use and community impact issues for companies, municipalities and associations. For nearly two decades he worked for MeadWestvaco, where he served as director of state government affairs prior to serving as the company’s director of communications. He monitored and advocated the company’s public policy issues on energy, air, water and waste regulations, land use and tax policy. Crockett has lobbied actively in Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, among others. He has served on the transition teams for two Virginia governors and has served in leadership positions on numerous boards and commissions, including the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Manufacturer’s Association. He served as a Trustee for the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Virginia Waste Management Board.
Charles Hooks brings extensive experience in public relations, issues management, employee communications and marketing communications. He established Hooks Associates in 1980 and built the company into one of the leading public relations firms in Central and Western Virginia. An experienced writer and manager, he has provided communications counsel and services to companies and organizations on a regional and national basis.
Advantus Strategies is an acknowledged Virginia leader in advising companies on how to successfully manage their business interests with government. The firm is also a leader in association management. The Advantus Environmental Practice Group provides comprehensive services that include regulatory permitting and compliance, issues management, legislative and regulatory affairs, and environmental management system consulting and strategic communications planning.
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