SFA Government Relations Webinar: A View From Capitol Hill: Post-Election Analysis and Looking Ahead to the 119th Congress

Wednesday, November 13
1:00 PM ET
Virtual

Join Structured Finance Association (SFA) for the next installment in our quarterly View from Capitol Hill webinar series, on Wednesday, November 13, at 1:00 PM ET.

Our panel of industry voices will discuss topics including:

• Setting the Stage for a New Administration
• Review of Key Congressional Races
• Senate Banking and House Financial Services Committees Agendas
• What to Expect in the Lame Duck Session

Please note the webinar series is open to SFA Members only.

About Our Speakers

MODERATOR

Leslie Sack
Head of Government Relations
Structured Finance Association

In her role as Head of Government Relations, Leslie Sack is responsible for directing the Structured Finance Association’s government affairs strategy and advocacy outreach to legislative, executive, and regulatory policymakers. She also manages the Structured Finance Coalition and Structured Finance Political Action Committee, leading long-term strategy development for increased growth and activity and maximizing how they support SFA’s policy priorities. Leslie also serves as Executive Director of the Structured Finance Foundation.

Prior to joining the Structured Finance Association, Leslie worked as Director of Government Relations for Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. from 2012-2017. In this role she developed and executed corporate advocacy strategies to ensure policies were created to support energy technologies in the U.S. and foreign markets. She also worked to establish strong bipartisan relationships with federal officials and managed B&W’s Political Action Committee. Leslie previously worked as a Government Affairs Analyst at K&L Gates, a politically appointed Senior Advisor for Policy and Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy, and served as an Assistant Staff Secretary in The White House and a Policy Assistant for the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the Executive Office of the President.

SPEAKERS 

Mike Ahern
Principal
Sternhell Group

Mike brings an extensive background in public policy, strategy, financial services and politics to the Sternhell Group. Prior to joining the Sternhell Group in 2017, he spent 12 years on Capitol Hill, working in both the House and Senate.

Mike worked for Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) advising the Senator on financial services and economic policy. Prior to working for Senator Corker, Mike served as Senior Professional Staff on the House Financial Services Committee, where he specialized in capital markets, FinTech, and housing policy.

Mike began his career in Washington working for Representative Ed Royce (R- CA), eventually serving as his Legislative Director. During his time with Rep. Royce, Mike served as a minority staffer on the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Conference Committee.

Mike has a BS in Economics from UC San Diego and a MS in Finance from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.

Alex Sternhell
Principal
Sternhell Group

With over two decades of experience working on Capitol Hill and lobbying on behalf of some of the world’s largest companies, Alex Sternhell is recognized as a top Washington strategist in helping to shape our nation’s public policy agenda.

Prior to founding the Sternhell Group, Alex served as the Democratic Deputy Staff Director and Senior Policy Advisor for the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs to Chairman Christopher Dodd (DCT). He also served as the Staff Director for the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities and Investment. Additionally, he worked in legislative policy positions for three Members of the House of Representatives.

Alex worked closely with Senate Democratic leadership and the Democratic Caucus while coordinating and managing Committee bills on the Senate floor. Alex has played a key role in drafting and negotiating nearly every major piece of financial services legislation before Congress in recent history, including Sarbanes-Oxley, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, and Gramm-Leach-Bliley. He also developed a reputation as a tough negotiator on legislation involving consumer protection, data privacy, tort reform, bankruptcy reform, and asbestos reform.

In addition to managing all business before the Committee for the Chairman, Alex was responsible for overseeing the staff and budgetary issues. Alex wrote speeches, press releases, coordinated national media interviews, and served as a spokesperson to the press on behalf of the Committee.

Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, from Louisiana State University. He has been regularly named by the Capitol Hill publication “The Hill” as one of Washington’s top lobbyists. He resides in Chevy Chase, Md. with his wife and two daughters.

If you have any questions please email Leslie Sack.