Chris Cushing is an expert on political organization and strategy. He is particularly skilled in managing corporate transactions that involve complicated issues of public policy and investment.
Chris is the president and CEO of The
Commonwealth Group, a government relations and
corporate consulting firm with expertise and in-depth
understanding of the regulatory and legislative process.
He has also served as an advisor to MarketReach America
companies.
Chris tells us that there are opportunities with the U.S. government for Israeli companies involved in homeland security and other
areas, but they have to know where to look. He recently
wrote to Trendlines’ Chairman, Steve
Rhodes, with the reminder that “the following sites
should be monitored every day for opportunities.”
The
Technical Support Working Group (TSWG)
is the "U.S. national forum that identifies, prioritizes,
and coordinates interagency and international R&D
requirements for combating terrorism." It supports
development efforts in four areas: antiterrorism,
counterterrorism, intelligence support, and consequence
management. As well, they have a bilateral R&D agreement
with Israel. The associated
BIDS website is a tool for disseminating and receiving
data related to active solicitations for the TSWG.
The TSWG solicits proposals in specific areas that
are identified on their website and published
in the Federal Business Opportunities.
The "Solicitations and Teaming Portal" of the Homeland
Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA)
shows active solicitations for a number of areas.
Each solicitation contains links to the relevant
information (items such as an
information pamphlet, proposal registration,
and submission guidelines).
The U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has
opportunities for vendors to the U.S.
federal government. Opportunities
are arranged by agency, for example, Border and
Transportation Security (DHS-BT) or Emergency
Preparedness and Response (DHS-EPR). The site
includes links, information, and FAQs relevant
to potential vendors to the U.S. government.
Federal funding opportunities for
all agencies of the U.S. government — from
the American Cancer Society (ACS) to the U.S.
Navy (USN) — can be found on the FedGrant site.
The site lists nearly 40 adminstrations, foundations,
states, departments, and commissions with opportunities
in a wide range of areas. The site includes
a grant synopsis search feature.
Christopher
T. Cushing has been a strategist in presidential campaigns in the United States and abroad and now serves as a strategic marketing consultant to the top management of Fortune 500 corporations. He has particular skill and experience in managing corporate transactions that involve complicated issues of public policy and investment.
Chris served as a principal advisor to former United
States Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole. From 1985 through
1987, he was a senior consultant to Campaign America,
one of the nation’s
largest Republican multi-candidate political action
committees (PAC). At Campaign America, he was responsible
for managing fund-raising activities on behalf of Republican
candidates nationwide, with particular emphasis on
members of the United States Senate. Prior to joining
Senator Dole’s staff, Chris was director of government
relations for the Boston Capital Corporation, the nation’s
fourth largest owner of multi-family housing. He was
instrumental in the creation of the low income housing
tax credit, the largest federal program to provide
housing assistance to low and moderate income Americans.
Chris holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and in economics from Bowdoin College. An expert on political organization and strategy, he has lectured at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
