Experienced. Accomplished. Relentless.
Mark Kadesh
President
Mark Kadesh, President of Kadesh & Associates, has extensive legislative and political experience and insights gained from his distinguished public policy career, including sixteen years working on Capitol Hill. For seven years he served as Chief of Staff to Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who praised Mr. Kadesh in possessing both "book smarts" and "street smarts" (Washington Post, 2007). He previously served as Legislative Director for Senator Feinstein, handling and gaining in-depth knowledge of issues ranging from tax, commerce, environmental regulations, transportation, water, energy, finance, trade and appropriations. Mr. Kadesh also served as Campaign Manager for Senator Feinstein's 2006 Senate Re-election Campaign.
Prior to working for Senator Feinstein, Mr. Kadesh served as Chief of Staff to Representative Jane Harman (D-CA) and as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY). He also served as a public policy research associate at the Urban Institute, a Washington, DC-based public policy think tank.
As a federal advocate, Mr. Kadesh has spent the past decade effectively advocating for California public and private sector interests. Mr. Kadesh has consistently been named a top lobbyist who has "mastered the art of working Capitol Hill's hallways" by Members of Congress and key Congressional aides and lobbyists. He has distinguished himself as "a real pro" who has a "reputation for effectively working both sides of the Capitol and one of the most powerful delegations" while fighting for Golden State interests (The Hill). He's led Kadesh & Associates to be ranked in the top 15 out of nearly 2,000 federal lobbying firms in the nation (Bloomberg Government)
From San Francisco, Mr. Kadesh is a Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brandeis University and received a Master's degree in public policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Mr. Kadesh resides on Capitol Hill with his wife and two children.
Contact Mark at [email protected]
Dave Ramey
Principal
Dave Ramey is a Principal at Kadesh & Associates. His impressive career in public service has included over three decades of experience as a senior staffer in the House of Representatives. He served nearly twenty years as Chief of Staff to Representative Ken Calvert (R-CA), Chairman of the California Republican Delegation, where he capably administered the office's political, legislative, and communications functions. Mr. Ramey coordinated Rep. Calvert's duties on the Appropriations Committee where Calvert serves as Chairman of the Interior Subcommittee and a senior Member of the Defense, and Energy & Water Subcommittees. Prior to serving as Chief of Staff to Representative Calvert, Mr. Ramey served as his Legislative Director where he oversaw the office's legislative and budget affairs.
From 1985 to 1993, Mr. Ramey served as Senior Advisor on Foreign Policy and Defense Issues for the House Republican Conference; Policy Committee; and Research Committee -- all under the Chairmanships of Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-CA). Through Mr. Ramey's tenure in the House of Representatives, he has gained considerable expertise related to the full range of public policy issues affecting the California delegation including water, defense/space, transportation, energy, Native Americans, endangered species and the Interior
Prior to departing Congress, Mr. Ramey led the California Republican Administrative Personnel group and he currently serves as President of the bipartisan California State Society. Mr. Ramey graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1984 with a B.A. in International Relations and received his Masters of Arts with Highest Distinction from the Naval War College in National Security and Strategic Studies.
Contact Dave at [email protected]
Christian Kierig
Principal
Christian Kierig, a Principal Consultant at Kadesh & Associates, is highly knowledgeable of the internal workings of the appropriations process and with issues unique to California and Western States. For eight years, he served as Legislative Assistant for Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) where he was responsible for handling the Senator's membership on the Senate Appropriations Committee. As the Senator's key appropriations advisor, he was responsible for coordinating funding requests for infrastructure projects and programs. This position included working directly with California counties and cities to advance their local agendas through federal funding.
Mr. Kierig was also heavily involved in shaping transportation policy and coordinating federal responses to California's natural disasters. He brings valuable skill and institutional knowledge to the firm. Mr. Kierig holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Occidental College and a Master's of Business Administration from Pepperdine University.
Contact Christian at [email protected]
Ben Miller
Principal
Ben Miller is the newest Principal at Kadesh & Associates, joining the firm after more than seventeen years as a trusted advisor for California House Democrats. Most recently, Mr. Miller served as the chief of staff for Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) where he opened the Congressman's freshman office, secured key committee assignments, and led the Congressman's team in developing and carrying out an ambitious legislative agenda. Mr. Miller served as Representative Huffman's primary political and policy advisor for eight years.
In his role with Representative Huffman, Mr. Miller oversaw the policy and communications strategy for a very active Member of the California delegation who serves as Chair of the Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee and as an active member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. As a seasoned policy veteran, Mr. Miller is highly regarded for his policy knowledge and strategic acumen. He has worked closely with committee and leadership offices, and engaged with state and local governments as well as industry and outside advocates to build coalitions. He has considerable experience developing effective legislative strategies that have led to successful outcomes in a wide range of policy areas including water, energy, natural resources, infrastructure, transportation, and tribal policy.
Mr. Miller began his Capitol Hill career in the office of Congressman George Miller (D-CA), taking on positions of increasing responsibility and ultimately serving as Legislative Director and Deputy Chief of Staff when Representative Miller served as a member of the Democratic Leadership and as the Chair of the Education & Labor Committee. In addition to overseeing and coordinating a broad policy agenda, Mr. Miller served as Congressman Miller's top aide on natural resources, water, environment, and energy policy, and regularly organized California and San Francisco Bay Area delegation efforts on projects of regional and statewide importance.
Mr. Miller graduated from Pomona College in 2003 with a B.A. in History. He lives in Virginia with his wife and two children.
Contact Ben at [email protected]
Joyce West
Public Policy Contracts Manager
Joyce West, Kadesh & Associates' Public Policy Contracts Manager, is responsible for the firm's compliance with administrative contract requirements and providing administrative and logistical support for meetings, reporting and budgeting. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. West was a health policy consultant with a Washington, DC-based firm, The Lewin Group, and served as the Policy Research Director for the American Psychiatric Association Foundation.
She has over twenty years of experience in managing public policy grants and contracts. Ms. West has a Bachelor's degree in Policy Analysis and Economics from Cornell University and a Master's degree in public policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
Contact Joyce at [email protected]
