Washington, D.C.
Team
Darius Anderson
Widely recognized as one of California’s most effective political strategists with a track record of advising high-ranking political and business leaders, Darius Anderson is the Founder and CEO of Platinum Advisors. Darius has a widely diverse background in business development, government affairs, community relations, charitable activities, and more; plus, he has been the Founder of multiple businesses, including Kenwood Investments and Sonoma Media Investments.
Erik V. Huey
Erik Huey is a senior entertainment, tech, and media industry government and public affairs executive with over twenty-five years of experience. He has been repeatedly listed on The Hill’s Top Lobbyists in DC, Hollywood Reporter’s Top 100 Entertainment Lawyers, and Top 100 Irish American Attorney in the US.
Prior to joining Platinum Advisors, Erik was the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at ESA, where he oversaw the entire federal and state advocacy apparatus for the US video game industry. He regularly briefed industry CEOs and top executives, and oversaw an internal team and a roster of 50 consulting firms. At ESA, he led successive victorious industry campaigns in response to media violence challenges, and coordinated the industry’s IP protection, privacy, cybersecurity, and tax policy efforts. He also helped to orchestrate the video game industry’s historic 2011 US Supreme Court free speech victory. In addition, he worked with US House members to form the Congressional Video Game Caucus, created the Higher Ed Video Game Alliance of over 300 universities, and launched a Webby Award-winning map of the video game ecosystem by state/congressional district.
Prior to ESA, as a partner at Kilpatrick Townsend (and at Venable and Manatt before that), he represented a broad range of entertainment clients on cutting-edge policy issues. He is also well-versed in FCC/telecom policy issues from his time serving in the legal department of BellSouth Corporation, and representing telecom clients.
Politically, he’s a prolific fundraiser and has run voter mobilization and voter protection efforts for the Biden-Harris 2020 campaign, along with the Obama for America and Kerry and Clinton-Gore presidential campaigns.
He has authored four screenplays, is producing a cable television series, and periodically performs with his Americana rock band The Surreal McCoys, whose music is regularly played on Sirius-XM Radio’s Outlaw Country station.
Tony Hobbs
With over a decade of political and policy experience, Tony provides a breadth of tactical knowledge and expertise on a wide range of issues. Tony provides Platinum’s clients with real-time, in-depth analysis and updates on key policy and political discussions in DC and beyond.
Prior to joining the Platinum team, Tony was the Legislative Director in the office of US Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01). There, he directed the legislative efforts of the Congresswoman’s DC staff, formulated and implemented the Member’s legislative agenda, and managed an expansive legislative portfolio including appropriations, energy, labor, and financial services policies. Tony also has extensive experience in the political arena – directing the field efforts for successful congressional campaigns that involved massive voter outreach and volunteer coordination efforts.
When not in D.C., Tony can be found sailing the Potomac River in his small sloop, Rocinante, or hiking in the Shenandoah forests.
Jessica Aune
Jessica Aune is a veteran of numerous Democratic campaigns throughout the country, and most recently served as the Northern California Fundraising Director for the Biden for President campaign and Presidential Inaugural Committee. Jessica has also worked as a senior political advisor and fundraiser for DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison’s 2020 US Senate bid, as well as in campaign strategy and financing roles for current Members of Congress Lauren Underwood, Tom Malinowski, and Haley Stevens. She has also worked in various capacities for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC), Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the House Majority PAC. She is a graduate of George Washington University, and a native of Nashville, TN.
Justin Toy
Justin Toy is a legislative assistant in the Platinum Advisors DC office. As a legislative assistant, Justin works to inform clients on the legislative landscape of Capitol Hill. Justin previously served in the offices of US Senator Dianne Feinstein, US Congressman Jerry McNerney, and Governor Terry McAuliffe. Justin enjoys watching combat sports and trying new restaurants in his spare time.
Tom Foulkes
With over 20 years’ experience as a government affairs professional at the federal, state and local levels, Foulkes has served in various communications, government and political roles on behalf of some of the largest global industries at highly regarded trade associations throughout Washington, DC. Over the course of his career, he has represented restaurant operators, direct marketers, video game developers, and multinational software companies in leading high-profile, multi-jurisdictional issue advocacy campaigns.
Today he leads Platinum’s 50 State Government Affairs Program working to deliver results for our clients in state capitals throughout the United States. Foulkes continues his active role with BSA | The Software Alliance (current Platinum Advisors client), leading their advocacy efforts on behalf of the global enterprise software sector at the state level. Prior to joining BSA, Foulkes served as Vice President of State Government Affairs for the Entertainment Software Association (another Platinum client), where he led all state level legislative and political engagement around the country on behalf of the $90 billion domestic video game industry.
In addition to his role with BSA and Platinum, Foulkes currently serves on the Board of Directors of National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Foundation, as well as the Vice President of the Executive Committee of the State Government Affairs Council (SGAC). He is also a member of the Washington Area State Relations Group (WASRG), as well as a past-Chair of the Media Coalition, and Chair of the Media Coalition Foundation, organizations dedicated to defending the First Amendment.
Foulkes began his career on Capitol Hill in various communications and campaign roles for former United States Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Bryan (D-NV) after graduating from Iona College in New Rochelle, NY with a degree in Political Science.
William Tranghese
A 32-year veteran of Capitol Hill, Tranghese has served as Chief of Staff for Congressman Richard E. Neal, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, since 2016. He began his career on Capitol Hill in 1989 when he joined Neal’s office as Legislative Assistant.
For more than 20 years, Tranghese was Congressman Neal’s Communications Director and spokesperson working with local, state, national and international press on a daily basis. Since the 1990’s he has been the principal staff contact for the bi-partisan Friends of Ireland Caucus working directly with Members of Congress and both the Irish and British governments to help strengthen the relationship between the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom. He has worked at every Democratic Convention since 2000 as a member of the Podium Operations staff helping to coordinate day-to-day logistics of the convention.
In 2007, Tranghese helped establish the Belfast-Beltway Boxing Project, a non-profit organization that helps disadvantaged youths and their Boxing Clubs in the United States and Ireland. He is a native of Springfield, Massachusetts and attended Cathedral High School and Springfield College.
Daniel Sepulveda
Sepulveda served in the Senate as a senior advisor to Senators Boxer, Obama, and Kerry. He served in the Obama Administration at USTR and later as a Senate confirmed Ambassador in the Economic Bureau of the State Department. His policy areas of passion and expertise include digital privacy, trade, telecommunications, technology, and immigration and labor.
As Ambassador, he led negotiations on multiple international treaties and bilateral agreements on telecommunications and technology and served as part of the team that negotiated the first Privacy Shield agreement with Europe.
Over the last five years, Sepulveda has worked at senior levels in both the advertising technology sector and publishing industry developing expertise in digital supply chains and the monetization of data and content. Sepulveda started his career at what was then the National Council of La Raza and is today UnidosUS, the largest Latino advocacy organization in the country.
“Throughout his career, Daniel Sepulveda has built a record and reputation as one of Washington’s most effective political strategists. We are thrilled to welcome him to our growing team.” added Platinum Advisors Founder Darius Anderson.
Sepulveda earned a Bachelor of the Arts degree in History and Political Science from Emory University. He was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow in Public Policy and International Affairs and obtained his Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.
Rob Smith
A Republican operative who originally hails from Oklahoma but now splits his time between Oxford, MS and Washington, DC, Rob represents a diverse client base, including the defense, healthcare, tribal issues, environmental, financial services and transportation sectors.
Rob began his career on Capitol Hill as the military legislative aide to House Armed Services Committee Member, Congressman Joel Hefley (R-CO), where he worked on defense procurement and military construction issues. He later went on to serve as legislative director for Congressman Wes Watkins (R-OK), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, where he focused on trade and tax issues.
Upon leaving the Hill, Rob joined Sun Microsystems, where he represented the company on numerous legislative and regulatory matters, including domestic and international tax, broadband, employee compensation and benefits and accounting and export controls.
Throughout his time in Washington, D.C., Rob has remained politically active. In 2004 and 2008, he served as a professional volunteer in the Official Proceedings Division of the Republican National Committee. In that role, Rob was responsible for the logistics and hospitality of over twenty members of Congress and VIPs. Additionally, he serves on the steering and finance committees for many elected officials and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Club Association.
Rob earned his B.A. from the University of Oklahoma and M.B.A. from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina.
Katy Green
Katy Green is a Legislative Assistant in the Platinum Advisors Washington, D.C. office. As a Legislative Assistant, Katy supports Platinum’s clients by providing issue monitoring in D.C. and abroad, and conducting policy research and analysis. Katy previously served as a legislative intern in the offices of U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. As an undergraduate, Katy studied abroad in Brussels where she served as a trainee to a Czech Member at the European Parliament in Brussels. Katy graduated summa cum laude from Saint Joseph’s University with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Minor in French.