Media Contact: Ashley Eiler, (202)333-4444

Washington
,
Dec 2, 2008
 –
Today Olive, Edwards & Cooper, LLC, a government relations firm named by The Hill as one of Washington’s Top Homeland Security firms, announced that it had changed its name to “Catalyst Partners.” The new firm identity goes beyond mere formality to reflect the firm’s expanding expertise and the culmination of a year-long period of growth during which several prominent homeland security experts joined the firm.

“The past year has brought about exciting growth for our firm,” said David Olive, Founder and Principal at Catalyst.  “With several new senior homeland security additions to our roster—all deserving of their own names on the shingle—we decided our firm name should describe what we do rather than who we are. Every person in our firm contributes to our clients’ successes, and we want our name to reflect how we work with our clients.”  

Catalyst Partners’ new members in 2008 include:
•    Randy Beardsworth, who oversaw the long-term vision for the Department of Homeland Security as the  Assistant Secretary for Strategic Planning, joined Catalyst Partners in early 2008 and has a background in a broad range of transportation, aviation and border security issues.  
•    Dr. David McWhorter also joined the Catalyst team, bringing years of scientific research experience to help guide the firm’s clients through the SAFETY Act approval process. 
•    Vance Taylor, a critical infrastructure specialist, joined Catalyst this past spring to share his experience in water security in both the public and private sectors with clients. 

These experts join Olive, who has worked on homeland security and defense business development matters since 2001, and add to the firm’s depth provided by Rich Cooper, who came to Catalyst in 2006 from the DHS Private Sector Office and at NASA; and Francois Begin, who joined the firm in 2007 from Alion Science and Technology where he served as Senior Program Manager and Director of Business Development. Combined, Cooper and Begin have in excess of 40 years of business development know-how in both domestic and international markets.

“Our team has decades of experience in homeland and national security. Each member brings a specialized, deep understanding of the challenges our nation faces and the difficult waters homeland security businesses must navigate,” Olive continued. 

Catalyst Partners offers expertise and experience in a variety of practice areas, including public affairs, government relations, business development, homeland defense and security, transportation and aviation, business risk mitigation, critical infrastructure and SAFETY Act consulting.

As part of its roll-out, Catalyst Partners launched www.catalystdc.com. Please visit the site for more information on the expertise and services offered by Catalyst Partners.

About Catalyst Partners
Catalyst Partners, L.L.C., is a Washington, D.C., government relations and public affairs firm whose clients include Fortune 100 companies, major trade associations and small businesses. In 2005, the firm was named by The Hill newspaper as one of the most influential homeland security consulting firms in Washington.