Clark Hill Government Group to be Led by John Van Fossen

Lansing/Grand Rapids, MI

– Clark Hill PLC announced today the Government Group will be led by seasoned government relations professional

John Van Fossen

, formerly the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Van Andel Institute, a private cancer research institute in Grand Rapids.

“We are pleased to announce that John Van Fossen has been named the new leader of our firm’s Government Affairs Group,” Clark Hill CEO

John Hern

said.  “John is a seasoned government affairs professional and his background and experience will add to the strong foundation built by his predecessors.  As head of our Government Affairs Group, he will be responsible for managing all day to day operations, strategic initiatives and political activities for the group.”

The Government Group serves clients in a variety of industries, at the local, state and federal levels, in matters including legislative and regulatory issues, government procurement and appropriations, campaign finance, lobbying and ethics laws, building coalitions and recommending courses of action to create the most efficient, effective and comprehensive legal and lobbying strategies.

Van Fossen has been working in government relations for 15 years, in federal, state and non-profit capacities.  Prior to joining the Van Andel Institute in 2004. Van Fossen served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Pete Hoekstra, (R-MI).  As Chief of Staff, Van Fossen was responsible for advising the Congressman on all political and public policy matters, developing the office’s legislative agenda and strategy, and managing the day to day operations of four congressional offices in Michigan and Washington, D.C.   During his tenure with Congressman Hoekstra, Van Fossen worked as the primary staff liaison for the Congressman to the House Budget Committee, House Education and Workforce Committee, House leadership offices, Republican Study Committee, the executive branch, local and national labor unions, education reform groups and city, county and state governments.

Van Fossen has also served for the past 3 years as a Vice President for a federal public policy and governmental advocacy firm where he served as a key advisor and advocate for several clients in Washington, D.C.

Van Fossen has more than fifteen years of experience working in local, state and federal governments, as well as the non-profit sector, and he has developed an extensive background in organizational leadership, project management and governmental advocacy.  Van Fossen began his career in local government focusing on city management and economic development where he was responsible for overseeing a wide variety of commercial and industrial development and redevelopment initiatives, including the construction of a 1.2 million square foot regional mall and the successful revitalization of several Brownfield sites.

Van Fossen received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Masters in Public Administration from Western Michigan University.