WASHINGTON, D.C. — Prime Policy Group today announced the addition of Burleigh Leonard to its dynamic team. Burleigh joins the firm as a Senior Consultant and will focus on agriculture, food safety, nutrition, farm credit and trade issues, as well as business development. As a former Special Assistant to President Reagan and as the Executive Secretary for the President’s Cabinet Council on Food and Agriculture, Leonard’s background offers a depth of experience and knowledge that few others can match.
Scott Pastrick, CEO of Prime Policy Group commented, “We are honored to have Burleigh Leonard join our team. As Congress prepares to write the farm bill, his wealth of experience will be invaluable to our current and future clients.”
Burleigh is also the founder, President and CEO of Burleigh Leonard & Company LLC, a consulting firm which provides government relations counseling services to corporate and trade association clients. His breadth of experience traces back to the start of his career serving as Senator John Danforth’s (R-MO) legislative assistant on issues such as international trade, agriculture, energy, and the environment. He soon made his way to the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry where he served as senior professional staff handling issues concerning farm commodity programs, trade, crop insurance, food safety and nutrition.
When Leonard left the White House, he joined the Washington office of RJR Nabisco. He eventually became Vice President responsible for managing federal government relations and dealt with issues relating to the tobacco and food industries such as taxation, advertising, trade and health care.
Charlie Black, Chairman of Prime Policy Group, has worked with Leonard for many years. He commented, “It is with great pleasure that we welcome Burleigh to Prime. Having talent of his caliber in our ranks will help us to continue to solidify our client service capabilities on key issues. No one else in Washington has a command of these issues and an ability to navigate the legislative landscape the way Burleigh does.”
Originally from Missouri, Leonard graduated cum laude from Princeton University, completed post-graduate work at Mansfield College, Oxford University, and earned his JD degree from the Washington College of Law at American University. He currently resides in Arlington, VA with his wife and two daughters.