Mark D. Magana, Executive Director of the National Latino Coalition on Climate Change

As one of the top Latino lobbyists in Washington, Mark D. Magana has amassed well over fifteen years of high-level governmental, legislative and policy experience in the nation's capital. Mr. Magana most recently founded Hispanic Strategy Group, a one stop Government Relations, Public Affairs and Communications consulting firm focused on serving and building strategic relationships with the Hispanic community. Hispanic Strategy Group works both with policy-makers in Washington, DC as well as organizations and legislators on a national level. Mr. Magana represents and has represented some of the most prominent companies and Hispanic organizations in the country through Hispanic Strategy Group, as a founding partner of Vel

Prior to opening up a private practice, Mr. Magana was tapped to serve in the White House as the Special Assistant to President Clinton for Legislative Affairs. He was President Clinton's primary legislative lobbyist to multiple House Committees and provided strategic and political advice to the President and senior White House staff on Administration policy and message. Mr. Magana also coordinated the lobbying and legislative efforts of associated Departments and Agencies.

Additionally, Mr. Magana worked for House Congressional Leadership. As the Senior Policy Advisor to the Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Rep. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Mr. Magana assisted the leadership with Caucus Meetings, Issue Task Forces and special Member requests. Mr. Magana worked with the Vice-Chair to achieve consensus within the caucus on legislative policy and priorities and to ensure that Members had the tools to communicate and implement them effectively. Among other things, he directed the Caucus' efforts to insure a fair and accurate Census 2000 count.

As Federal Legislative Representative for a major municipality, Mr. Magana represented the City of Los Angeles in legislative and administrative matters before the Federal government and Congress. As such, he was responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing legislative strategies in conjunction with the Los Angeles Congressional delegation, City Council, Mayor, municipal departments, and other organizations.

In 1996, Mr. Magana was appointed by President Clinton to represent the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) before Congress. As a Political appointee, Mr. Magana was responsible for advancing the legislative agenda of the President and the Secretary. He briefed and advised House and Senate Members and Committee staff regarding HHS legislation, regulations, policy and strategy. Mr. Magana was critical in the legislative fight over the future of Medicaid, Medicare and Welfare.

From 1992 to 1996 Mr. Magana served as the Legislative Assistant to Representative Jim McDermott. He staffed the Congressman at his Ways and Means committee meetings, hearings, and markups. He also developed and implemented legislative and political strategies for the Congressman's single payer health care reform bill. Mr. Magana's portfolio included: Health Care, Welfare, Education, Housing, Community Development, Immigration, Labor, Latin America, Hispanic Caucus, and Urban Caucus.

Mr. Magana came to Washington, DC in 1990 to work for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed officials (NALEO) where he conducted research on education, immigration, naturalization, voting, and health and authored research papers on issues of naturalization and the Latino vote. He represented NALEO on numerous advocacy coalitions on issues of concern to Hispanics.

Mr. Magana graduated from Pomona College in 1990 with a combined degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.