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Lori Denham

Partner, Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid

With more than two decades of policy and political experience, Ms. Denham is a consulting, Capitol Hill, campaign and trade association veteran. She has extensive experience on a wide range of policy issues including health care, trade, tax and labor policy.

Prior to joining Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid, she spent nearly five years working as Executive Vice President for the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), a trade association representing the world's largest and fastest growing retail and consumer products companies. In her leadership capacity at RILA, Ms. Denham directed the association’s federal and state government affairs strategies, policy development, and external communications. In addition to working extensively with company executives and the CEO-led Board of Directors, Ms. Denham developed and managed an array of coalitions, issue advocacy campaigns, consultants and political strategies.

Prior to RILA, Ms. Denham worked in the California Congressional delegation for more than 13 years with Congressman Cal Dooley (D-CA) in a variety of roles including Legislative Director and Chief of Staff. Ms. Denham’s portfolio included a wide range of issues including technology, trade, health care and regulatory reform. She played a key role in the founding and policy development of the New Democrat Coalition, now the largest coalition of centrist Democrats in Congress.

In addition to her Congressional work, Ms. Denham managed a re-election campaign for Congressman Dooley and served as Chief of Staff to Elizabeth Edwards, then wife of Vice-Presidential Candidate Senator John Edwards, during the 2004 Kerry-Edwards campaign.

Ms. Denham is a graduate of the University of California at Davis and holds a master’s degree from the George Washington University.