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MUR
IEL BOWSER
MAYOR
November 6, 2025
The
Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1- 523.01) , and pursuant to section 2 of the Commission on African-
A
merican Affairs Establishment Act of 2012, effective March 14, 2012 (D.C. Law 19 -106; D.C.
O
fficial Code § 3-1441), I am pleased to nominate the following individual:
Ms. LaKeitha Anderson
Oglethorpe Street, NW
Washington, DC 20011
(Ward 4)
for appointment as a public member of the Commission on African-American Af fairs , filling a vacant
seat formerly held by Melanee Woodard, for a term to end July 8, 2028.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-m entioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel B owser
Mayor
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~!::
at the request of the Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF TH E DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To confirm the appointment ofLaKeitha Anderson to the Commission on African-American
Affairs.
RESOLVED , BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the "Commission on African-American Affairs LaKeitha Anderson
Confirmation Resolution of 2025".
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
LaKeitha Anderson
Oglethorpe Street, NW
Washington, DC 20011
(Ward 4)
as a public member of the Commission on African-American Affairs, pursuant to section 2 of the
Commission on African-American Affairs E stablishment Act of 2012, effective March 14, 2012
(D.C. Law 19-106; D.C. Official Code§ 3-1441), filling a vacant seat formerly held by Melanee
Woodard, for a term to end July 8, 2028.
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
Lakeitha Anderson1
LAKEITHA ANDERSON, MBA
Summary of Qualifications
More than 15 years of substantive experience in government relations and external
affairs. Fortune 500 corporate strategic planning experience and interaction with
executive level management. Ability to develop coalitions of diverse stakeholders.
Serve as company/industry representative and convener of policy makers and
corporate leaders.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Director, Eli Lilly and Company
Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber & Schreck
December 2024 – Present
Director, Government Relations
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
May 2024 – December 2024
Policy Director, Government Relations
Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber & Schreck
December 2020 – May 2024
Notable Accomplishments: Lead major Fortune 500 companies through all phases of
strategic engagement with third party organizations and brand management and CEO-
level congressional testimony.
❖ Advise companies on Executive-level Congressional engagement. Develop policy
recommendation for corporate outreach into the Federal/State government affairs
arena.
❖ Manage White House and Executive Branch relationships for corporate clients
❖ Host Congressional and State Candidate meetings and PAC fundraisers
❖ Lead lobbying engagement with Democrat Congressional Members, including the
Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Progressive Caucus.
❖ Advise business leaders on key areas of opportunity to prioritize and implement
transformation strategies.
❖ Serve as the subject matter expert nationally to enhance corporate client
reputation with diverse third party organizations.
❖ Lead engagement with non-traditional third- party stakeholders to implement
diverse programming initiatives.
❖ Fundraise on National levels for Democrat policymakers.
Lakeitha Anderson2
Director, Federal Government Relations
RAI Services Co. ▪ Washington, DC
November 2008 – December 2020
Notable Accomplishments: Lead the Government Affairs team to successfully achieve
positive business impacts from the recent Tax Reform Bill. Change the company’s
reputation in an ever-changing political environment. Create out-of-the box
programming with non-traditional allies.
Government Relations
❖ Lead efforts with outside allied groups to ensure that potential legislation and
regulatory actions do not result in an unfair competitive environment.
❖ Responsible for establishing relationships on Capitol Hill and the Administration to
advance outreach efforts in support of policy and political priorities.
❖ Develop advocacy strategies to defeat or minimize the impact of federal regulatory
or legislative actions that impact the company's ability to manufacture and market
its products.
❖ Establish non-traditional avenues for senior executives to engage with Members of
Congress and State Legislators on key issues.
❖ Strategic positioning for the company to be proactive on emerging policy issues
that impact the industry, e.g. NAFTA, excise taxes and regulatory rules.
❖ Activate supply chain and distribution partners in government affairs outreach
efforts, i.e, letter writing campaign, corporate fly-in, Congressional HQ tours
❖ Host Congressional and State Candidate meetings and PAC fundraisers
External Relations
❖ Represent company at strategically selected conferences and events that enhance
RAI’s brand and reputation as an industry leader.
❖ Collaborate with other departments to develop creative and effective
communication and branding that influence the perceptions of RAI.
Third-Party Stakeholders
❖ Serve as the subject matter expert nationally to enhance RAI reputation with
diverse third party organizations.
❖ Build support for inside the beltway brand reputation initiatives to defeat
coordinated attack campaigns against the company and industry.
❖ Spearhead out-of-the box ideas with key stakeholders and non-traditional allies
that are important to developing transformative partnerships.
❖ Through the creation of “Menthol Panels” actively bringing thought leaders and
corporate partners to engage in dialogue on unintended consequences of product
bans.
❖ Lead engagement with non-traditional third- party stakeholders to implement
diverse programming initiatives.
Director, Federal Inter-Government Relations
The City of Dallas ▪ Washington, DC
June 2005 – October 2008
Lakeitha Anderson3
Notable Accomplishment: Elevated the city’s government relations practice and
increased the funding levels of various appropriation and grant projects.
❖ Managed appropriation requests and grant funding of over $700,000
❖ Monitored state/local and federal legislation to advocate on issues that affect the
city’s objectives. Developed strategic proposals for Members of Congress
❖ Interacted with corporate leaders and government officials to promote the city’s
legislative priorities, i.e., TXU, Mary Kay Cosmetics and State Legislators.
❖ Managed activities relating to advocacy groups and political organizations.
Manager, Congressional Relations
The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding ▪ Washington, DC
June 2004 – June 2005
❖ Managed donor-based budget and implemented fundraising presentations to major
corporations.
❖ Instrumental in diversity coalition building efforts among the Congressional Black
Caucus, Hispanic Caucus, Hispanic Conference, Asian Pacific Islander and Jewish
Congressional groups.
❖ Primary lead on major congressional questionnaire project in collaboration with
Columbia University titled “Diversity on Capitol Hill”.
❖ Built coalition with other ethnic-based organizations to strengthen diversity in the
business community.
Government Relations Assistant
Stewart Partners ▪ Washington, DC
August 2002 – June 2004
❖ Organized corporate fly-in and legislative roundtables, diversity councils.
❖ Attended congressional hearings and reported on issues.
❖ Managed fundraisers and other political events in addition to PAC contributions.
❖ Developed Government Affairs initiatives for clients such as: Toyota, Verizon, Federal
Express and Wal-Mart.
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
RON KIRK FOR U.S. SENATE (TX) ▪ Dallas, TX
April 2002 – November 2002
❖ Managed voter education and registration drives.
❖ Scheduled, coordinated and advanced fundraisers in Texas and DC.
❖ Organized and deployed celebrity and political campaign surrogates.
CROWELL & MORING, Washington, DC
Senior Paralegal, Litigation/Government Contracts, Jan. 2001- Aug. 2002
❖ Assisted in government bid protest cases and review of agency reports.
❖ Researched various areas of law and prepared legal memorandums.
❖ Managed various large complex litigation cases.
Lakeitha Anderson4
Other Experience
1997- 2002
❖ Worked on complex products liability matters through all trial phases.
❖ Worked in the Texas House of Representatives for State Representative Helen
Giddings
❖ Worked in the Texas Senate Finance Committee
Education
GEORGETOWN- McDonough School of Business▪ Washington, DC
Executive MBA, 2014
UNIVERSITY of North Texas▪ Denton, TX
BA, Political Science, 1996
Professional Boards ▪ Advisory Affiliations ▪ Civic Organizations
Congressional Black Caucus Institute, Board of Directors (CBCI) ▪ Texas State Society,
Board of Directors ▪ Congressional Black Caucus Foundation- Corporate Advisory
Council (CBCF) ▪ Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute, Board of Directors (CHLI)
▪ National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL)-Corporate Roundtable ▪ National
Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators- Board of Business Advisors ▪ CALIBR Global
Leadership Network, an ELC affiliate organization ▪ Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. ▪
The Links, Inc. ▪ The Black Academy of Arts & Letters, Inc., Board of Directors
E
xecutive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
L
aKeitha Anderson
M
s. LaKeitha Anderson has over 15 years of experience in the political
and government affairs arena. She is currently a Director at
GreenbergTraurig and member of the Mayor’s Commission for Women.
Ms. Anderson, a native Texan, began her career as a Legislative Assistant
for Texas State Representative Helen Giddings. She continued her
political career by next working in the Texas Senate where she worked
on legislation ranging from education enrichment and school finance to
economic development. Most notably she was a member of the “Read to
Succeed” education task force assembled by then Governor George Bush.
Shortly after leaving Texas, she later worked on the U.S. Senate campaign
of former City of Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk in both Dallas and Washington,
DC.
Ms. Anderson has worked for the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, a diversity driven non-
profit organization headed by hip hop mogul Russell Simmons; to working as a Government
Relations Assistant for the lobbying boutique, Stewart Partners, LLC. Most recently, she worked
as the Federal Government Relations Coordinator for the City of Dallas.
Ms. Anderson is a member of the Texas State Society Board of Directors, where she is Chair of
the Sponsorship Committee and a member of the Black Tie & Boots Presidential Inaugural Ball
Finance Committee. For many years she served on the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s
Corporate Advisory Council. Right now, she currently serves on the National Black Caucus of
State Legislators’ Executive Committee and a member of the Metropolitan Baptist Church Public
Policy Ministry. She is very active in various social and professional organizations, such as The
Links, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and Calibr, an ELC organization.
A Ward 4 resident, Ms. Anderson earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from
the University of North Texas and her Executive Master of Business Administration from
Georgetown.
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Kimberly A. Bassett, Steven Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: June 4, 2025
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of a resolution appointing Philip Pannell, Jacqueline
Stallworth, Yolanda Young, Kristin Shymoniak, Rashida Taylor, Dr. Denise
Wright, Jalelah Ahmed, Lakeitha Anderson, Ben-James Brown, and Wanda
Henderson as public members of the Commission on African-American Affairs
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced Resolutions and
found them to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Kimberly Ulan, Associate General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at
202-727-2292, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth Cavendish