Politico - 11 May 2010
Jarvis makes partner
Aleix Jarvis has been promoted to partner at Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock, a Republican lobbying and consulting shop in Washington.
“He has made remarkable contributions in business development and in client service,” said firm president Mark Isakowitz.
Previously a legislative director for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jarvis joined Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock in 2005. He also worked for then-Rep. Charles Taylor (R-N.C.) and was director of operations for the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. And he worked on Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign and on President George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign.
The Hill – 14 May 2009
Top Lobbyists: Hired Guns
Mark Isakowitz, Fierce, Isakowitz and Blalock. The firm has remained true to its Republican roots and continues to thrive, thanks in large part to Isakowitz’s direction. The firm’s Aleix Jarvis is a rising star, according to one top Senate Democratic aide.
Roll Call – 2 February 2009
The All-GOP Firm: It Ain’t Dead Yet
As the most prominent all-GOP lobby shop left in town, the firm is brazenly keeping its one-party status, bucking the street’s longtime bipartisan trend.
Their formula: Stay small while taking on white-shoe clients along with coalition work in order to maintain steady revenues.
Legal Times – 17 March 2008
All In the Family -- Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock isn't too worried about a Democratic Congress. This GOP shop likes solidarity.
If last year's Democratic takeover of Congress was a signal that Republican lobbying firms needed to look for a new business plan, Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock didn't notice.
“The vision we had for this business was that we would build long-term relationships with our clients as elections come and go,” says president Mark Isakowitz, who describes the firm as “part of the Republican extended family.” Last year’s revenue is evidence that those family ties can make for a full house.
“There is no election scenario where the business community will not have to lobby both sides of the aisle,” Isakowitz says.
The National Journal – 17 November 2007
The New Washington
"Now he's [Kirk Blalock] is a lobbyist with Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock and is also the national chairman for Young Professionals for McCain...
Blalock was motivated to come to Washington to push for core tenets of the Republican Party: lower taxes, less spending and fewer regulations."
The Washington Post – 25 September 2007
Tech Industry Builds Lobbying Machine for Patent Fight
"An alliance that represents tech companies - The Coalition for Patent Fairness - steered a bill [H.R. 1908] it likes through the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House."
The Coalition for Patent Fairness is run by Mark Isakowitz "a veteran of such high-stakes projects" and Elmendorf Strategies' Steve Elmendorf.
The Hill – April 25, 2007
The New Sheriffs in Town
In part one of our annual listing of Washington’s top lobbyists, we highlight the best “hired guns” and corporate lobbyists on K Street. The list is determined through conversations with members of Congress, key aides and lobbyists themselves.
Kirk Blalock, Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock The former White House official represented The Business Roundtable during the debate over rules covering foreign investment in the United States.
The Hill – September 12, 2006
Kirstin Chadwick, one of the best vote counters on K Street
Chadwick, a partner at Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock, has been the lead Republican vote counter on every trade bill to move across Capitol Hill since she left the White House at the end of 2003.
Her talents are such that even House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) respects her counsel.
“Kirsten knows a lot of the members and understands political dynamics in a way that a lot of people who work downtown with a more narrow scope don’t.” Blunt said.
The Hill – May 3, 2006
The Sharpest Shooters on K Street
We highlight the best K Street has to offer from the corporate side and among so-called "hired guns" from lobbying and law firms. The lists are determined through conversations with members of Congress, key aides and lobbyists themselves.
Kirsten Chadwick, Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock
As a legislative affairs staffer in the White House under Nick Calio, Chadwick helped usher deals with Jordan, Chile and Singapore through Congress. On K Street, she's continued vote-counting efforts on trade deals with Australia, Morocco and the Central America Free Trade Agreement.
Center for Public Integrity – Sept. 21, 2005
Lobbying the White House
Not many companies change their names to accommodate a recent hire, but not every employee has the standing of Kirk Blalock. In a town where influence is predicted on who you know, Blalock's connections are a conspicuously valuable commodity. As special assistant to the president, he often counseled George W. Bush and crafted political strategies with now-Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove. And as deputy director of the White House Office of Public Liaison, he coordinated the Bush Administration's outreach to the business community - a role that gave him unique stature along Washington, D.C.'s K Street corridor.
The Hill – Sept. 7, 2005
Marshalling K Street's battalions for CAFTA
In February, House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO), whose job it is to win tough votes, encountered Republican lobbyist Kirsten Chadwick in a Capitol hallway and told her to start organizing a coalition in support of CAFTA.
Congressional Quarterly – May 2, 2005
The Top Lobbyist Whips
Kirsten A. Chadwick: A White House legislative liaison assigned to lobby the House during President Bush's first term, she is now a senior vice president at Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock. At the request of Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-MO, she is heading the lobbyist-whip team seeking to secure a House majority for the Central American Free Trade Agreement.
Roll Call – March 17, 2005
Moving Up
Mike Chappell has been named a partner. "Chappell's excellent political and legislative skills have been matched by his ability to attract and maintain top notch business, and that combination has earned him his partner status," name partner Kirk Blalock said in a statement.
Roll Call – October 28, 2004
In 'Ground Game' Election, K Street Hits the Road
One all Republican lobbying firm, Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock, is shutting down entirely so its lobbyists can hit the campaign trail.
Roll Call – October 23, 2003
Locking Up a Big Title
"[Blalock] has hosted several fundraisers and hopes to become a fundraising "Maverick," the term applied to younger Republicans who haul in at least $50,000 for the re-election effort."
The Washington Post – October 23, 2003
Federal Page
After less than a year on the job, Kirk Blalock is becoming a partner at the very Republican Fierce & Isakowitz and his name is going on the door, Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock. Blalock previously was deputy director of the Bush White House Office of Public Liaison.
Fortune Magazine – August 11, 2003
The Persuader
Who's Got the Juice in Washington? Fierce & Isakowitz.That's who corporate America calls when it needs to get things done on Capitol Hill.
"Fierce, 56, a blunt, old-style politico, helped engineer the GOP's historice takeover of the House."
"Isakowitz has been angling around Washington, working for a Republican member of the House and the National Federation of Independent Business, a well-known Republican farm team, since he graduated from Ohio State University in 1988. He knows a lot of people and has a knack for tactical planning."
National Journal – May 24, 2003
Bush Aides Take the K Street Exit
Blalock had worked with dozens of business lobbyists during President Bush's successful tax-cut effort in 2001, and he spent untold hours strategizing with senior presidential adviser Karl Rove. Dirk Van Dongen, co-chair of the Tax Relief Coalition, praised Blalock for his "ability to think beyond the immediate moment and connect sometimes seemingly unrelated dots in the midst of a fast lobbying battle."
Corporate Board Member – March/April 2003
What Top Lobbyists Can Do For You
Who Ya Gonna Call: Eight Guys With D.C. Juice
Don Fierce, GOP 'Sherpa" Ask any GOP pol to name the most effective lobbyists in Washington, and Don Fierce's name is almost always on the short list.
National Journal – January 18, 2003
Let's Do Lunch!
"And Samantha Poole, the former Blunt staff member who works at Fierce & Isakowitz, represents Greene County, Missouri - her former boss's political stronghold."
The Washington Post – November 1, 2002
On the Campaign Trail, The Washington Lobby
Dozens of lobbyists and political operatives said the number of campaigning lobbyists has increased significantly this election, reflecting a recruitment drive by party leaders and a recognition that spending a few days helping a candidate is a savvy business investment. Take Mark Isakowitz, whose GOP firm of Fierce & Isakowitz is emptying out of Washington this week. Isakowitz and his secretary are headed to New Hampshire, which has competitive races for the Senate and House. One staffer is volunteering in an Oklahoma House race. Another is headed to Texas for the contest to succeed Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Tex.), and a third is helping GOP Senate nominee C. Saxby Chambliss in Georgia. "Increasingly, it's becoming clear fundraising is not enough anymore," Isakowitz said."You have to do your part on the grass roots and be part of the ground game."
Roll Call – January 21, 2002
Blunt 'Understands the Value of Relationships'
Samantha Poole, senior associate at Fierce & Isakowitz. A former top legislative assistant to Blunt, Poole is a key fundraiser and political operative for the Missouri Republican.
Influence – March 7, 2001
Fierce &Isakowitz: GOP Loyalties
Today, Isakowitz is widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable health care lobbyists in town. "Mark Isakowitz has an outstanding reputation," says David Hebert, the chief lobbyist for the nurse anesthetists. "Obviously, he's very hooked into the leadership as well as the key committees, and he has a lot of credibility."
