Janet Kopenhaver

Janet Kopenhaver, President of Eye on Washington, has over twenty years experience in the public policy and government relations field. She founded her consulting firm – Eye on Washington – with the aim of creating a highly efficient and results-oriented company to assist organizations in ways specially designed to fit their needs.

Throughout her career, she has developed numerous contacts both on Capitol Hill and in U.S. Federal Government Agencies, including the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and U.S. Department of State. Among her many areas of expertise are: lobbying of legislators and Administration officials; grassroots development and management; public policy strategic planning; drafting newsletters, background papers, action alerts, and other materials; monitoring and analyzing legislative and regulatory developments; arranging and preparing attendees for meetings with Members of Congress and Administration officials; and writing public policy releases.

Janet has been serving as the Washington Representative and Chief Lobbyist for a number of trade and professional organizations since founding Eye on Washington. She also serves as a regulatory consultant to an organization involved in the alternative fuel and energy sector.

Prior to starting Eye on Washington, Janet served as Vice President for International Trade and Government Relations for a manufacturers' trade association, and concurrently as Executive Director of an affiliated Canadian organization of manufacturers. In these roles, she organized and directed the association's government relations and grassroots programs.

Before working in the association field, Janet was employed in the federal Government for five years. She served at the U.S. Department of State and in the congressional office of Mr. Michael DeWine from Ohio, who now serves as a United States Senator.

Janet earned an M.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University, and a B.A. in International Affairs from American University. She also is a member of many professional organizations, including Women in Government Relations, American League of Lobbyists, and Women in International Trade. As an active member of these organizations, Janet has developed numerous professional relationships that allow her to call on a multitude of peers on any issue for information, guidance and contact information.

Pamela J. Slater

Pam Slater currently works as a freelance lobbyist and international trade consultant. In the recent past she served first as the Legislative Director, and then the Executive Director, of Consumers for World Trade (CWT). In this capacity Ms. Slater lobbied to reform the U.S. sugar program, eliminate the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (aka the Byrd Amendment), resolve the U.S.-Canada softwood lumber dispute in a manner that was not harmful to consumers, as well as eliminate and/or reduce duties on consumer items such as apparel, footwear, and food.

Prior to joining CWT Ms. Slater served as Director, Trade Policy, Europe at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Slater worked with member companies to draft the Chamber's positions on U.S.-EU trade issues and communicate them to Congress and the Administration.

Ms. Slater also served as the Executive Director of the Washington International Trade Association (WITA), Washington 's largest network of international trade professionals.

Ms. Slater has a B.A. in Economics and French from Albion College and an M.A. in International Relations and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies ( SAIS ).

Josh Zahn

Josh Zahn has spent his entire professional career working in the public policy and government relations field, including over 20 years involvement with political campaigns at the federal, state and local levels.

Zahn is Principal of Zahn Public Affairs, a communications and public affairs consultancy based in Springfield, Missouri. The firm has worked in a variety of sectors, including energy & alternative fuels, environment, agriculture, education and international trade.

Prior to establishing his own firm, Zahn was Vice President of State Relations at The Hawthorn Group, LLC, a communications and public affairs firm based in Alexandria, Virginia. While there he helped establish and managed Intercept, Hawthorn's national public affairs network. Zahn developed Intercept into a network of state government affairs professionals, providing strategic & communications counsel designed to meet specific client needs, including managing on-the-ground local political intelligence gathering and analysis in communities ranging from large metropolitan areas to rural towns. The network was regularly utilized to build multi-state coalitions that supported national issue campaigns.

Zahn previously served on the staff of United States Senator John C. Danforth (R-MO), where he headed Danforth's Springfield office before joining his Washington staff. As state office director, he served as the primary regional liaison, spokesperson and representative to constituents and regional media.

Earlier, Zahn worked at the Missouri Division of Professional Registration where he served as assistant to the Director of the Division. In this capacity, he was the lead liaison to state Licensing Boards and the Missouri Legislature.

Zahn began his government relations career on the staff of then-Secretary of State of Missouri, Roy Blunt (R-MO), who now serves as Majority Whip in the U.S. House of Representatives. While at the Secretary of State's office, Zahn served as a primary liaison to the public in the Corporations Division.

Zahn received his M.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University and his B.A. from the University of Missouri. He is a member of the Washington International Trade Association, the Washington Area State Relations Group and the Public Affairs Council.