WASHINGTON, D.C., April 19, 2004 – Holland & Knight LLP announced today that Sophia A. Nelson has joined the firm’s Public Policy & Regulation Practice as senior counsel in the Washington, D.C., office.
Nelson will use her extensive experience in federal procurement and contracting to assist small, emerging and large IT integrators and other companies doing business in the federal sector through strategic and tactical analyses of the marketplace; development and implementation of tactical approaches to bidding and winning government contracts; improvement of overall operations and organizational culture; formation of strategic alliances with team partners; and creation of successful business development processes to drive company revenues and growth.
“Sophia is one of the region’s most prominent and experienced strategists with a strong background in government marketing and procurement,” said Rich Gold, PP&R Practice Group Leader . “She also brings a valuable perspective as former head of a boutique consulting firm specializing in small and emerging markets. We are pleased to have someone of her caliber to complement our thriving Government practice.”
“I am very excited about the opportunity to join a firm like Holland & Knight. One of the reasons I chose this firm is because of its stellar national reputation, top rated federal public policy group, and because of its sound commitment to diversity,” Ms. Nelson said.” At Holland and Knight, diversity is not just lip service as at other shops about town. The firm has won awards and recognition for this commitment and as an African American woman it was something I weighed very heavily upon coming here. Lastly and most importantly though, I can now offer my small and emerging market clients a national platform on which to grow their companies as well as match with their skill sets with large Fortune 500 clients also doing business in the federal markets sector. This will be a key niche that we will develop in the Public Policy & Regulatory group.”
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Nelson was president and CEO of ALN Consulting, Inc. She served as legislative policy analyst in the New Jersey Legislature in 1990, as a special assistant in the Office of The Business Ombudsman in the Whitman Administration (R-NJ) in 1994, as an investigative counsel to the House Government Reform Committee’s 1996-97 Campaign Finance Investigation, and director of Congressional & Public Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from 1998-99. Nelson received her bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University in 1990 and her J.D. from The American University Washington College of Law in 1994. She is a member of both the New Jersey and American Bar Associations; her application to the District of Columbia Bar is pending.
