SENATOR CONRAD BURNS JOINS GROWING INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING COMPANY

Senior Member of the Committee on Appropriations and Commerce Named Senior Advisor at GAGE

Washington, D.C. January 4, 2007 – GAGE Business Consulting and Government Affairs today announced the addition of Senator Conrad Burns who will serve as Senior Advisor to the firm.  Senator Burns will focus on increasing the firm’s visibility and presence domestically and internationally to provide a greater reach of opportunities for GAGE clients. 

As a member of both the powerful Commerce and Appropriations Committees for the United States Senate, Burns brings over 18 years of political and telecommunications experience to GAGE. Praised as “one of the fathers of the modern Internet,” the Senator spearheaded major telecom deregulation legislation, the roll-out of broadband in rural areas, and pushed for new Internet and mobile phone technologies. In 1997, Burns became Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, one of the major regulatory standings in Congress. As Chairman, he positioned himself as the leading telecommunications expert in the Senate. Prior to his leadership on the Subcommittee on Communications, Burns authored section 706 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act and went on to unveiled the “Digital Dozen” proposal for telecom legislation in 1999. During the 107th Congress, Senator Burns pushed his “Tech 7” Agenda, which aimed to bring greater security to the Internet, followed by his “NexGenTen” Tech Agenda introduced during the 108th Congress.  At the start of the 1097h Congress Burns rolled out his “e-Eleven,” Tech Agenda, eleven top priority items to strengthen security and usher reform for 21st century communication

“Conrad’s expertise, knowledge and background as a senior member of the United States Senate will be of great value to our clients.” said Leo Giacometto, CEO and founding partner of GAGE. “Not only does he have in depth knowledge and understanding of the United States Government but through his International travels, the Senator has developed key relationships that will bring the clients of our firm significant opportunities abroad.”

At the start of the 109th Congress, Burns took the helm as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation.  He also served as Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations where he had jurisdiction over all the country’s federal lands and the National Park Service. Other Appropriations subcommittees the Senator served on included, Defense, Energy and Water, Transportation and Military Construction.

“I look forward to joining the talented team at GAGE and I am excited to lend my knowledge of government, telecommunications and the international market to our clients,” said Burns. “I am very familiar with the firm’s tradition for success and I know that I am ready to take on any and all challenges to uphold and further GAGE’s great reputation of providing clients the best for their businesses.”

Additional information on GAGE may be found at http://www.GAGE.cc.

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Located in Washington, D.C., GAGE is a specialty firm focused on providing strategic advice, analysis of current legislative trends, and creative yet practical business-focused solutions for emerging companies and Fortune 500 Corporations.

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GAGE understands the importance of effectively executing strategy and the need to quickly evaluate business plans and objectives in a fast paced market.  Our goal is to ensure you achieve sustainable results that enhance profitability consistently and predictably each year.

Our team is comprised of professionals with extensive experience who have held a variety of management positions both in corporate and government organizations.  From running businesses to running government agencies, we understand the process behind making an effective decision and recognize the critical nature of thoroughly evaluating and assessing all key factors.

GAGE provides a range of consulting services to develop and ensure your strategy for success is thoroughly vetted against the background of the current market and the potential impact of policy makers in the Congress and the Executive Branch.  Some of our services include:

• Establish a viable strategic vision
• Align strategic vision with favorable government policies
• Leverage your resources
• Strategically plan in a structured, objective environment
• Translate strategic planning methodologies into real-world action

GAGE also provides services that are the life blood to all businesses sales. We know how to approach government agencies to make sales. Whether that is at the Federal or State Government level. GAGE specializes in strategic sales.

On behalf of our clients, we operate as emissaries in our nation’s capital to implement your strategies. Your goals are our goals, and the result is success.

The government can be critical to your success.  Regulations, legislation and funding issues can all have a dramatic effect upon the outcome of your business.  It makes sense to supplement your team with professionals who clearly understand the influence of government and government-related activities on your business and who can provide sound, timely and effective advice and action.

GAGE’s Government Solutions Team is comprised of professionals with extensive experience.  Our principals have held federal and state elected office, worked in the military, federal, state, legislative and judicial branches of government, and held various industry positions including former corporate executives who have successfully implemented Government Affairs program for their companies.

GAGE can provide a range of policy-orientated services that are designed to increase business opportunities through positive exposure of your products, services and unique methodology to Congress and the Executive Branch.  Some of our services include:

• Arranging hearings on your issues or Congressional testimony by one of your team.
• Exposure – via briefings and one on one meetings with key members and staff.
• Advocating legislative language to help define government spending and/or policy priorities in line with your unique approach.
• Appropriating dollars for research and development, pilot projects, infrastructure and a host of other goals.
• Securing favorable regulatory rulings from federal agencies.

On behalf of our clients, we operate as emissaries in our nation’s capital recommending and implementing strategies and tactics that span one or more governmental venues in order to help you meet your goals.  Your goals are our goals, and the result is success.

Gage Capabilities

Consulting and Strategic Advice
Business Development
Government Affairs

Expertise

Telecommunications
Agribusiness
Information Technology
Energy and Natural Resources
Homeland Security

From appropriations, investment funding, strategic planning, legislation and firsthand involvement helping private sector firms drive significant revenue in the homeland security space, GAGE members have served various roles and have extensive experience in this field.  GAGE International’s homeland security practice includes:

• A former United States Senator who was member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee overseeing billions in annual funding for Homeland Security programs
• A former United States Marshal appointed by President George H.W. Bush
• A former member of the State Department’s Counter Terrorism Section
• A Managing Principal at one of Washington, DC’s top business development firms running their defense and homeland security practice
• The founder and co-editor of The Counterterrorism Blog, the most respected blog in the field and identified by members of the Congress and the Administration as a premier source of information
• A former senior oversight counsel to the U.S. House of Representative’s Committee on Financial Services

In their role in the public sector, members of GAGE’s team oversaw annual spending by the Department of Homeland Security including the Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection, Customs and Immigration Enforcement, US Coast Guard, Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  GAGE principals also have been active in investigating federal regulation of anti-terrorist financing.  Their roles in the private sector included CXO level positions in both public and private companies that specialized in homeland security technology.

We are committed to our client’s goals and work closely with them to develop and implement a strategy to meet their needs.

Our Successes

• Secured millions in federal appropriations for design manual for an American cutting-edge defense technology company for use in advanced aerospace and ship platforms.
• Organized and secured investment funding for a start-up company whose products are now being purchased by the Department of Defense.
• Developed and implemented strategy on behalf of terrorism victims’ families to persuade Congressional committees to initiate investigation into selected terrorist financing methods and networks.
• Added new section in FY 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Act to enable public to obtain information held by DHS on outdated airline and airport security procedures and equipment.
• Obtained unanimous Congressional approval of changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, enabling parties engaged in lawsuits related to the September 11 terrorist attacks to proceed or settle without additional unjust delays.

Our team has an in-depth understanding of the oversight of the federal oil and gas, coal, carbon sequestration and energy efficiency budgets.  From land exchanges, sighting of Rights of Ways, timber policy, hydropower licensing, water policy, hard rock mining, and technology promotion, GAGE members have served various roles and have extensive experience in this field.  GAGE International’s energy practice includes:

• A former senior Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
• The former Chairman of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee
• A former Director of the Northwest Power Planning Council
• A former senior Interior Appropriations professional staffer

In their roles in the public sector, GAGE team members have overseen the budgets or legislative provisions governing the Bureau of Land Management’s Oil and Gas program, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the Office of Surface Mining, the Department of Energy’s Fossil Energy and Energy Efficiency divisions.  GAGE team members were directly involved in specific permitting concerns, coalition building and legislation as diverse as past Energy Bills to the Pipeline Safety Act.  Through our public sector activities GAGE has developed extensive high-level contacts within the industry to promote and encourage new and exciting technology and products to energy sector leaders.

We are committed to our client’s goals and work closely with them to develop and implement a strategy to meet their needs.

Our Successes

• Obtained several million dollars in earmarks for research and development and startup capital for a variety of energy products.
• Obtained several million dollars to support a client’s role in Silent Camp and other Department of Defense Initiatives.
• Restored over $5 million in reductions to a client’s fuel cell research and development program.
• Inserted a multi-million dollar tax credit into energy legislation to benefit a client’s energy product.
• Expanded a client’s multiple Department of Energy projects to more fully implement them as an on-going DOE Program.
• Provided strategic advice to multiple domestic and international energy companies on projects spanning solar, hydropower, wind, ethanol and biodiesel facilities.
• Provided strategic advice and secured government support for an educational institutions carbon sequestration and emissions research program, including leveraging partnerships with multiple national laboratories.

In their role in the public sector, members of GAGE’s team oversaw policy for key agencies within the department of Commerce including the Technology Administration, National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Technical Information Service and the US Patent and Trademark Office.  GAGE members have served various roles and have extensive experience in this field and with our public policy knowledge, our ties to private sector IT companies, and large systems integrators, our team has the in-depth understanding and the industry contacts to be successful. GAGE International’s Information Technology practice (IT) includes:

• A former Senior Member of the Senate Commerce Committee
• A former Chairman of Geometrix, a 3D facial identity management company
• A former Senior Executive and Consultant for Internet software and service companies including E*TRADE, TradingDynamics, Decisis, IBM, Novell, Dataquest and Software Publishing with Western Interactive
• A former Managing Principal at a business consulting firm in the areas of technology, defense and homeland security practice
• The founder of MediaSourcery and the CEO and founder of Visual Software

We are committed to our client’s goals and work closely with them to develop and implement a strategy to meet their needs.
Our Successes

• Arranged and helped build key strategic partnerships with firms such as Oracle, Intel, HP and others for our clients that are leading to sales opportunities.
• Advised several high-tech startup companies on securing a top-level board of advisors, appropriations, and government contracts.
• Identified and included a number of GAGE clients into teaming agreements for the Networx Contract, a $43 billion GSA telecommunications contract recently awarded to Verizon, AT&T and Qwest.
• Facilitated the awarding of the Networx Contract to Verizon
• Advised several high-tech startup companies on securing a top-level Board of Directors and Board of Advisors that would benefit the companies when seeking sales opportunities.
• Enhanced expedited entry for a high-technology company into the federal government market through federal appropriations. The company is utilizing that expedited entry to gain instant credibility within the federal government market, which is leading to additional federal government sales opportunities.
• Helped secure federal appropriations for a Department of Justice project that would create an offender tracking system.
• Developed and implemented a plan for a client to become a distributor for the next generation advanced mobile and satellite telecommunications provider.

Directions:
• Take Red Line Metrorail to Judiciary Square
• Exit onto 4th St side
• Take D St until it crosses 2nd St
• Turn right and walk through the thoroughfare beside the Department of Labor building
• Building is located next to a restaurant called “My Brother’s Place,? located down the steps from the thoroughfare

Our team has an in-depth understanding of agriculture from a practical, business and policy perspective providing a unique understanding of the critical issues impacting the industry today.  From the promotion of American food and textiles in international markets, rural development, research into production of crops, and conservation programs, GAGE members have served various roles and have extensive experience in this field.  GAGE International’s agribusiness practice includes:

• A former senior member of the Senate Interior and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee
• A former state Director of Agriculture
• A member of the National Association of Secretaries of Agriculture
• A past Director of the Northwest Power Planning Council
• A former member of the Yellowstone County Commission
• A former senior professional staffer on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee
• Members of our team also have been ranchers, representatives for Polled Hereford World magazine, livestock auctioneers, manager of the Northern International Livestock Expo and founder of the Northern Ag Network, which grew to serve 31 radio and TV stations in the western United States.

We are committed to our client’s goals and work closely with them to develop and implement a strategy to meet their needs.

Our Successes

• Developed and implemented a successful legislative strategy and grassroots effort to block the passage of legislation detrimental to the horse industry.
• Developed and implemented the strategy to secure a license for our client from the United States Department of Agriculture to be one of only two certified tests for BSE, otherwise known as Mad Cow Disease, in the United States.
• Secured federal appropriations to develop a program to demonstrate various reforming technologies utilizing agricultural feedstock for power generation.
• Developed strategy behind a legislative action plan to transfer federal authority and water management assets to local irrigators.

Through direct contact with the Federal Communications Commission, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, and our ties to private sector telecommunications companies and large systems integrators, our team has an in-depth understanding and the communication and media industries contacts to be successful.  GAGE International’s telecommunications practice includes:

• A former senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee and Chairman of the Telecommunications Subcommittee.
• The author of section 706 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the “Digital Dozen” proposal for telecom legislation, the “Tech 7” agenda aimed to bring greater security to the Internet, the “NexGenTen? and the “e-Eleven” effort to strengthen security and usher reform for 21st century communication
• The founder of the Northern Ag Network, which grew to serve 31 radio and TV stations across parts of the Western United States
• A former executive from SBC Communications, a Fortune 30 company and leading provider of high-speed DSL Internet Access services
• A former co-Chairman of the Internet Caucus

We are committed to our client’s goals and work closely with them to develop and implement a strategy to meet their needs.

Our Successes

• Identified and included a number of GAGE clients into teaming agreements for the Networx Contract, a $43 billion GSA telecommunications contract recently awarded to Verizon, AT&T and Qwest.
• Included a number of client’s legislative language in a bills that have passed both houses of Congress and were ultimately signed into law by the President
• Facilitated the awarding of the Networx Contract to Verizon
• Secured meetings with the Chairman of the FCC to discuss pending Agency action.
• Ensured our client’s legislative solutions to the funding of the Universal Service Fund was the centerpiece of roundtable discussions with key senators and industry peers.
• Assisted in the development and implementation of a plan to ensure the Federal Communications Commission awarded spectrum for use in a wireless communications network. The awarded spectrum was valued at over $2 billion.
• Secured federal funding for an advanced 9-1-1 communications system.
• Supported our client’s efforts against competing bids to successfully complete the acquisition of telecommunications assets in a multi-state transaction.
• Provided key strategic and political support behind one company’s successful efforts to reorganize critical spectrum.
• Ensured our client’s legislative solutions to the funding of the Universal Service Fund was the centerpiece of roundtable discussions with key senators and industry peers.
• Engineered a Congressional hearing to expose one client’s unfair treatment by a quasi-government agency. Those efforts contributed in producing an agreement favorable for our client.
• Secured our client’s seat on the Board of Directors of the nation’s largest non-profit advocacy group for emergency communications
• Orchestrated a Congressional Letter from key Senators to the Federal Communications Commission on behalf of the United State’s largest Internet Telephony provider.
• Secured the testimony by the country’s largest 9-1-1 network provider in a Senate Commerce Committee Hearing on next generation 9-1-1 services.

Here are some of our current clients: 

AQHA
Core 180
Dancing Zombies 
EuroAsian Cargo 
Expedia 
Gemnet
ImageWare
Invizeon
IP Labs
Silk Way Airlines 
Silk Way Holding 
Vangard Voice   
Vista Life Sciences   
Westlands Water District

Since its founding, GAGE has provided services to a number of past clients, some of whom are listed below:

Giacometto has previously served as a County Magistrate, State Legislator, and was confirmed by the United State Senate as a United States Marshal. Giacometto has also held Cabinet positions for two Governors: Secretary of Agriculture and a member of the Northwest Power Planning Council as well as the Chief of Staff to a United States Senator.

In addition, Giacometto is a former Director of the Tri-State Farmers and Ranchers Cooperative in South Dakota, as the Vice President of Government Affairs of Morrison Knudsen, and an Executive for Washington International both international engineering and construction companies. Giacometto served 23 years in the United States Army and Reserves, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was stationed in Panama on the U.S. Army SWAT Team and later served in the State Department’s Counterterrorism Section, where he was deployed around the world. He is a graduate of the United States Army Military Police Academy and an honor graduate of the Montana Military Academy.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Pepsi Mongolia and Gemnet, a Eurasian telecommunications company. He is on the Board of Advisors of Silk Way Holding, a multinational aviation services company based in Azerbaijan, Vista Partners, a Health IT company, and Essex Innovation Group, a situational awareness and decision support technologies company.

Giacometto also owns a seventh generation ranching operation in Alzada, Montana.

Senator Conrad Burns, Senior Advisor, has recently completed his third term (1989-2007) as a United States Senator from Montana where he was a recognized leader in the areas of telecommunications, aviation, natural resources, energy, defense, and agricultural policy.

Senator Burns brings to GAGE a strong, varied background as he served on the far reaching Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee which had oversight responsibility for such agencies as the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission as well as over the Commerce and Transportation Departments.  He chaired the Sub-Committee on Communications during the most sweeping change in telecommunications history.  Senator Burns has been praised by Yahoo as “one of the fathers of the modern Internet,? and was a strong advocate for broadband in rural areas as well as new internet and mobile phone technologies. Other areas he held jurisdictional responsibility included interstate commerce, regulation of interstate common carriers, including railroads, buses, trucks, vessels, pipelines, and civil aviation.

While Senator Burns was a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, he was responsible for overseeing federal spending for the entire United States Government.  He served as Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee where he had jurisdiction over the Department of the Interior and agencies such as the Office of Surface Mining, Bureau of Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency and the Forest, Minerals Management, National Park, and US Fish and Wildlife Services.  He had oversight over land and water that produces 30 percent of the United States’ energy supply and was a strong advocate for increased domestic production and research in fuel cell technology.

As a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee he oversaw more than $400 billion dollars in annual spending by Department of Defense where he advocated for increase funding on new and innovative technologies.

Senator Burns enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1954, and served throughout East Asia. Following his military service, Senator Burns worked for TWA and Ozark Airlines before becoming a field representative for Polled Hereford World magazine. He was also named first manager of the Northern International Livestock Expo in 1968. From this managerial position, Burns began his career in radio and television broadcasting. In 1975, Burns founded four radio stations known as the Northern Ag Network, which grew to serve 31 radio and TV stations across Montana and Wyoming.

Burns began his career in politics after being elected to the Yellowstone County Commission, serving for two years before running for the United States Senate in 1988.

Burns attended the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture for two years before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps.

A.J. Rehberg, Vice President, is a graduate of Seattle University and brings with him a unique understanding of emerging businesses from around the world. As his degree focused on International Studies, he acquired a keen understanding of a wide range of issues including: National Defense Policy, East Asian Security, International Trade, International Finance and U.S. Legislative Procedure. Prior to joining GAGE, A.J. worked for the US Chamber of Commerce in their west coast grassroots operation working on political campaigns.

Prior to moving to Washington DC, AJ was involved in numerous ventures in Southeast Asia including working as the COO of Namaste Mall, a Nepalese based e-commerce company and as an advisor to an India based knowledge process outsourcing company.

At Gage AJ has focused on medical and emergency preparedness technologies as well handling numerous international business ventures including the establishment of a Mongolia Pepsi franchise and a Eurasian telecommunications company. 

He has an extensive knowledge of USAID, Millennium Challenge Corporation and US Trade Development Agency projects.  As a youth, he participated in the United States Senate Page program has served at multiple national conventions and has vast experience in fundraising, public relations, and event coordination.  Rehberg serves on the Board of Advisors of a social networking and e-commerce web-based company.

Ryan Thomas, Vice President, brings eight years of government experience to GAGE and four years of experience advocating for private sector companies, associations and non-profit entities. Given his familiarity with government affairs and solutions, Thomas is uniquely suited to provide expert analysis on the path to successfully negotiating federal legislation, appropriations and business opportunities with local, state, federal and foreign governments.

Thomas was previously employed by the United States Senate as Senior Legislative Assistant for a Senior Member of the United States Senate, before taking a position on the Senate Appropriations Committee where he served under three chairmen. Thomas has worked directly with members of Congress in the areas of appropriations, transportation, infrastructure, education, energy, environment, Native American affairs, fossil fuel research and development, and small business and natural resource issues.

During his tenure as a professional staff member on the Senate Appropriations Committee for over six years, he was personally responsible for more than $5 billion annually in direct federal appropriations while working with a team overseeing a total of $20 billion in annual appropriations. Thomas has drafted appropriations legislation, committee reports and conference reports, as well as crafted authorizing legislation into law. During his tenure on Capitol Hill, Thomas developed a substantial skill set to aid clients in developing business opportunities with government entities and crafting successful government affairs strategies.  Thomas maintains an extensive list of contacts throughout Capitol Hill, the White House Administration, federal agencies and non-governmental organizations.

Thomas was named one of the “Top 35 Staffers under 35 on Capitol Hill,? by The Hill newspaper in recognition of his outstanding government service.

Thomas graduated from Lewis and Clark College with Honors in Political Science and a focus on International Affairs. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  Thomas lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, son.

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Identifying and successfully securing qualified opportunities is critical to the long-term success of your business.  At GAGE, we create and execute business development plans that focus on utilizing our network of relationships within the federal government and private sector and building relationships and strategic alliances with key leading technology providers and first, second and third tier systems integrators. 

GAGE’s business development team has served as founders, board members and CEO’s of a number of companies as well as having served in a variety of positions with small to medium sized businesses and Fortune 50 organizations.  We understand the processes involved in successfully implementing a business development plan and can provide an end-to-end solution driven by the capability and network base of all our staff members.  Simply put, we provide a force multiplier effect for our client’s investment in business development services including:

• Defining and developing specific product offerings, marketing plans, and select targeted partners to move your solutions into Public Sector Markets
• Identifying, qualifying and assisting in the solution definition of major public sector initiatives requiring our client’s products or services
• Identifying specific technology providers, systems integrators, agencies and programs that have opportunities suitable to our client’s capabilities
• Enlisting support of key Congressional leaders to support sales objectives
• Establishing or enhancing strategic marketing/sales partnerships identifying both domestic and international revenue
• Establishing relationships with major industry associations and private sector companies to identify sales opportunities and gain product endorsements

GAGE is focused on driving client revenue faster than our clients can do on their own and we look forward to helping you exceed your goals.