Denise Bode, Principal
Denise Bode is a nationally recognized expert on energy policy and one of Washington’s top lobbyists. Denise focuses her practice on policy advocacy, particularly coalition management and development and implementation of public policy strategies, especially at the federal level and before state regulatory commissions. She has testified before Congress and has extensive public speaking experience, including numerous appearances on network and cable television.
Denise has led energy, agricultural, telecommunications, and financial industry lobbying efforts during the 1986 tax reform legislation. As an Oklahoma state commissioner, she led the effort to design and win approval of the FERC for cost allocation of regional tariff for building new transmission. She has managed policy campaigns that have achieved strong energy producer/environmental group support, most recently enacting an extension of the wind energy production tax credit, which included social, earned and paid media, grassroots, and grass-tops work. As CEO of the Clean Skies Foundation, Denise managed a major advertising and earned media campaign regarding the new resources provided by natural gas from shale.
Denise’s experience of more than 30 years in the tax and energy fields is extensive and diverse, including serving as –
- CEO of the American Clean Skies Foundation;
- CEO of the American Wind Energy Association;
- President of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA);
- Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner, where she was twice elected statewide in Oklahoma to a post with responsibilities for regulation of energy production and electric utilities, gasoline stations, and above and below ground storage tanks, as well as telecommunications, environmental, and agricultural activities;
- Tax Counsel in the Washington, DC, firm, Gold and Liebengood, where she was actively involved in the last major tax reform legislation in 1986;
- Legal Counsel to U.S. Senator David Boren (D-OK) member of the Senate Finance Committee, focusing on energy and taxation and staffing the Senate Finance Committee; and
- Energy and Natural Resources Assistant to Governor David L. Boren.
Denise holds a B.A. from the University of Oklahoma, a J.D. from the George Mason School of Law, and a Masters of Law in Taxation from the Georgetown University School of Law. Denise is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association. Her practice is limited to matters and proceedings before federal agencies and courts.
Denise has received numerous awards, including:
- Hearst Newspaper’s Award for Public Service;
- Women’s Council for Energy and the Environment “Woman of the Year;”
- CEO Update Award for Top Association CEOs (selected by peers);
- Washingtonian’s “100 Most Powerful Women of Washington” (twice); and
- The Hill’s Top Lobbyists (twice).
John Bode, Principal
John Bode is an expert in the law and regulation of food and agriculture. He has been significantly involved in every substantial change in federal food law over the past 25 years and every Farm Bill since implementation of the 1977 Act. John concentrates his practice in legislative and regulatory matters. He counsels leading food and agriculture trade associations and companies regarding legislative and regulatory policy advocacy, regulatory compliance and congressional investigations. He has served as lead counsel for several of the nation’s largest food recalls and general counsel for leading food trade associations.
John actively participated in the legislative efforts resulting in the enactment of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (pesticide reform), and 1997 FDA Modernization Act, the Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2002 and the Food Safety Modernization Act. He has lectured regarding developments in food law throughout the U.S. and Europe and delivered a Distinguished Lecture at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists.
Before entering private practice in 1989, John served in three Presidential appointments at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Food and Consumer Services, he was responsible for nutrition issues and almost half of the USDA’s budget. During his tenure at USDA, John testified on behalf of the Reagan and George H. W. Bush Administrations over 70 times and directly oversaw approximately 90 proposed and final rules. He served as a spokesperson regarding food and nutrition policy, appearing frequently on major news programs and in meetings with the editorial boards of the nation’s 25 largest newspapers. Before joining the USDA in 1981, he was on the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and served on the staff of then-Governor of Oklahoma David L. Boren.
John was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was educated at the United States Naval Academy and the University of Oklahoma, receiving his B.A. in 1977. He received his J.D. from George Mason University School of Law in 1983. John completed a non-degree program at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association. John’s practice is limited to matters and proceedings before federal agencies and courts.
Molly Hovermale is an accomplished office manager and executive assistant. She has managed an office of 10 personnel, served as the executive assistant to a senior Member of Congress and two Presidential appointees, and was a committee manager for a major scientific institute. Additionally, Molly has 12 years experience as a legal secretary. She is a graduate of the Katharine Gibbs School.
Robert Swinford joined East Capitol Partners in 2011, performing legal research and drafting regarding food safety, food labeling, FDA enforcement authorities, pesticide and plant pest matters.
Robert was educated at the University of Oklahoma, receiving his B.A degree in 2007 and his J.D. in 2011. Prior to law school, Robert worked as an aide to the C.E.O. of the American Clean Skies Foundation in Washington, DC. Robert was admitted to the bar in 2011 and is currently a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association.
Robert’s practice is limited to matters and proceedings before federal courts and agencies.