Kevin H. Koonce, Senior Director of Government Affairs

Kevin Koonce is an original member of Sorini, Samet & Associates, where he manages various client projects in the legislative and trade negotiations arena. He represents major U.S. corporations and trade associations before the U.S. Government and the Congress on international trade issues and legislation.

Koonce advises clients on a wide range of trade issues including customs classification to agricultural standards, textile and apparel rules, and trade agreement negotiations. Prior to joining SS&A, Mr. Koonce served as Vice President of Government Affairs for the American International Automobile Dealers Association, where he represented the association before Congress and the Administration on tax and trade issues, and was responsible for a $365,000 budget and staff.

Mr. Koonce also served as Legislative Director and Counsel to U.S. Senator Judd Gregg, where he advised the Senator on legislative and procedural matters including but not limited to policy goals and parliamentary procedure. He developed legislative strategies and coordinated legislative staff and managed banking, tax, and trade issues for Senator Gregg.

Mr. Koonce also worked for the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) as Special Textile Negotiator where he advised Ambassadors Zoellick and Huntsman on textiles, including WTO obligations and the successful launching of a new WTO round or negotiations. Prior to USTR, he was the Legislative Assistant for Trade, Tax, and Textiles for U.S. Senator Jesse Helms for six years. He advised Senator Helms on international trade, drafted floor statements related to textiles and trade, organized Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the effects of NAFTA, and staffed the conference committee during passage of the Trade and Development Act of 2000. He represented Senator Helms at international trade summits including the 1998 APEC Summit in Kuala Lumpor and the 1999 WTO Ministerial in Seattle.

Mr. Koonce has extensive international experience. He studied at the Goethe Institute and interned for General Electric Technical Service (GETSCO), both in Frankfurt, Germany. While an undergraduate student he spent a semester in Spain. He is conversant in German and Spanish.