The Partners

Kerman Maddox, Partner

A graduate of the University of Southern California’s Intergovernmental Masters Program and the Coro Foundation Public Affairs Institute, Kerman Maddox has extensive experience in strategic planning, media relations, community outreach and public affairs consulting. Formerly based in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, Maddox has worked with numerous elected officials, legislative and governmental agencies, and public interest groups. He served as a legislative aide for former Assemblywoman and current Congresswoman Maxine Waters, a special assistant under former Mayor Tom Bradley and a National Finance Committee Member for Barack Obama.

He has served as a consultant and advisor for leaders such as: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, former State Controller Steve Westly, City Controller Laura Chick, Inglewood Mayor Roosevelt Dorn and Rev. Cecil Murray of First AME Church to name a few. Kerman served as the chief strategist for former Chief of Police Bernard Parks campaign for City Council and currently serves on the National Finance Committee for the Barack Obama for President Campaign.

Kerman has worked on numerous outreach programs to increase minority participation in enrollment, employment and contracting opportunities with governmental agencies and private businesses. In fact, when the Staples Center began construction of their Arena, Maddox was recruited to help identify qualified minority and women contractors who could assist in the development of Staples Center Arena in downtown Los Angeles.

Maddox formerly served as the Chairperson of the Open Access Alliance, an organization dedicated to making sure the Internet and the information highway was available, affordable and accessible to all consumers, but especially those in low- income communities.

In addition to his numerous accomplishments in public affairs, Maddox teaches political science at the Unruh Institute for Politics at the University of Southern California and for the Los Angeles Community College District. He also serves as the chairperson of the Political Action Committee at First AME Church in Los Angeles, is a life member of New Frontier Democratic Club and serves on the board of directors of the African American Summit on Violence Prevention.

Maddox formerly served as the Emmy Award-winning co-host of the PBS public affairs program “Life & Times”. In 2001, he was given the outstanding community service award by First AME Church. In 2002, he was recognized by the NAACP as a positive male role model and in 2003 the California Democratic Party recognized him as Democrat of the Year. Kerman currently provides political commentary for KCAL/KCBS and KTLA Television stations in Los Angeles.

Julie Chlopecki, Partner

Julie Chlopecki has more than 19 years of experience in government affairs and the private sector. Ms. Chlopecki provides strategic advice and counsel to numerous clients, including Bombardier Total Transit Systems, the Clean Water Council, Edgewater Industries, Lennox School District (Los Angeles), Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), Optical Society of America, Piedmont Municipal Power Authority, P.J. Dick Corporation, The Salvation Army, Santa Rosa County (Fla.), Skanska USA, Solebury Township (Penn.) and Virgin America. She works to influence the outcome of federal legislation, including appropriations, energy and transportation.

Ms. Chlopecki is active in both state and national politics, serving on the steering and finance committees of key members of Congress and the U.S. Senate.

Previously, Ms. Chlopecki spent eight years as a Senior Consultant at Ann Eppard Associates, Ltd., an Alexandria, Va., government relations consulting firm. While there, Ms. Chlopecki represented the interests of dozens of corporations, associations and public entities, including the Airline Owners and Pilots Association, the American Beverage Institute, Comarco Wireless Technologies, Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall, Federal Express, GTE, the Mills Corporation, Outdoor Advertising Association of America, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, the Port of Corpus Christi, Union Pacific, United Airlines and U.S. Maglev Development Corporation.

During her tenure, Ms. Chlopecki worked to affect the outcome of annual appropriations legislation, the National Highway System Designation Act (NHS), the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), the Aviation Investment and Reform Act (AIR-21), comprehensive energy and tax legislation and a host of other issues.

Prior to her work at Ann Eppard Associates, Ms. Chlopecki was Vice President of Suntex International, Inc., a product development company that specializes in educational products, and created the “24 Game” and “24 Challenge” math programs. Ms. Chlopecki developed marketing strategies and coordinated international affairs, corporate communications and government relations efforts to promote the company’s line of educational products. In this capacity, she worked daily with congressional, government, business, professional sports and media leaders to advance issues.

Before entering the private sector, Ms. Chlopecki served seven years on Capitol Hill as a senior staff member of Rep. William F. Clinger (R-Pa.). Part of Ms. Chlopecki’s Hill duties involved handling an array of policy issues, including defense, foreign affairs, energy and transportation. In addition, Ms. Chlopecki gained diverse political skills through work on election campaigns for Rep. Clinger in 1986, 1988 and 1992; the Tom Ridge for Governor Committee in 1994; Dole/Kemp in 1996 and Bush/Cheney in 2000.

She has worked in Great Britain’s House of Commons as a researcher and has been part of two Washington book-writing teams. She also served on the Board of Directors of the nonprofit organization Schools Around the World; is a former member of The Ripon Society’s National Executive Committee, has participated in the U.S. Congress / German Bundestag Exchange Program and a number of foreign exchange programs and international conferences.

Ms. Chlopecki is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and holds a degree in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs.

John Ek, Managing Partner

John Ek has over 18 years of government and lobbying experience at the federal, state and local level. He was an aide to Congressman Glenn M. Anderson when the Congressman served as Chairman of the Public Works and Transportation Committee. John then went to work for the Southern California Rapid Transit District as their Federal Representative managing the Federal Legislative program for the largest Mass Transit Agency in the country. While at the RTD, he was responsible for obtaining funding for the MTA Gateway Center which now houses the MTA headquarters and also obtained funding for RTD’s nation leading alternatives fuel program providing the first of its kind funding from the federal level for RTD’s fleet of alternative fueled buses.

Building upon his experience in government and transportation, John worked for the trade industry group for the US Airline Industry, the Airline Transport Association. Representing this group at the state and local government level from the Mountain Time Zone west to Hawaii, he used his legislative know how and strategy to pass legislation supporting the growth of the airline industry in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Hawaii as well as defeated tax increases in both Montana and Hawaii. John also lead the industry to victory in its battle against increased landing fees and attempts by the City of Los Angeles to divert revenue from the Airport to the City’s general fund in violation of Federal Law. John has spent the past six years as a contract lobbyist representing companies, public agencies and non-profits at the City and County of Los Angeles. His transportation background has lead to him being the lead consultant at Los Angeles World Airports and the Port of Los Angeles.

A resident of San Pedro, Mr. Ek spends many hours giving back to his community. He is the President of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Los Angeles Harbor, President of the Port of Los Angeles Charter High School Foundation, sits on the board of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and on the Boards of the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles, The Manny Mota Foundation, and the Central City Neighborhood Partnership. John and his wife Esther have three children, Sergio, Pilar and Mia.

Rick Taylor, Partner

A highly respected political campaign consultant, Rick Taylor is known for his enthusiasm, expertise, and tough, no-nonsense approach to problem solving. Mr. Taylor is one of California’s leading experts in direct mail and the strategic utilization of free and paid media.

Mr. Taylor has helped to elect numerous candidates to public office at the local, state, and national levels. In addition, Mr. Taylor has managed many successful initiative campaigns and ballot measures. In 1995, when Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan decided to seek passage of a package of eight city charter amendments intended to reform local city governance, he selected Mr. Taylor to manage the political effort. Although the amendments were defeated numerous times before, the initiatives received overwhelming approval under the masterful and highly effective campaign designed by Mr. Taylor.

Mr. Taylor has been recruited by L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky to run the some of the most difficult campaigns, often requiring two-thirds majority support from voters. Measure B was one such exceptionally notable campaign in Los Angeles County. The county measure required supermajority support to raise sales taxes in order to save the county’s failing health care system. While most pundits agreed the measure was destined failure, Taylor crafted a nearly flawless campaign that resulted in a phenomenal win, ultimately securing the necessary funding to protect the county from widespread hospital closures.

Rick Taylor has executed a number of successful public relations campaigns for clients in the public and private sectors. His connections to key political, business, civic, and community leaders have enabled him to garner support for projects and help his clients to realize their goals.

In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Taylor is committed to helping organizations that promote youth empowerment. He has volunteered as a sports coach at Venice High School, his alma mater. He serves on the Board of Directors for Children of the Night, a Los Angeles-based, non-profit organization that provides shelter and support for runaway and troubled youth.