Ohio River South Expands to Washington, DC with Two New Hires

Former Department of Energy Public Affairs Lead Andy Beck and Former State Senator Don Balfour Join Fast-Growing, Southern-Focused Firm

WASHINGTON and ATLANTA, Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ohio River South (ORS), a southern-focused public affairs and government relations firm, announces the addition of two accomplished executives to its leadership team. Andy Beck and Don Balfour both join ORS as Executive Vice Presidents, bolstering the firm's reach and relationships for federal and multi-state engagements as it expands to Washington, DC.

"Andy and Don bring tremendous expertise and credibility to the firm. Their experience in public affairs, government relations, and corporate strategy will be tremendous assets to our growing roster of clients," said Howard Franklin, founder and CEO of Ohio River South. "I am confident that they will enhance our ability to deliver exceptional results at every level of government and across a wide array of industries and geographies."

Andy Beck joined Ohio River South as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications. He will lead the firm's communications practice from its Washington DC office. He spent the past 25 years delivering results for public and private sector clients in the nation's capital. Andy held senior roles within the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, where he led national campaigns on transportation, energy and sustainability.

Andy successfully managed multimillion dollar client portfolios and provided strategic guidance to market leaders including Amazon, Google, Pfizer, Ford, and Lockheed Martin. He also led strategic communications for George W. Bush's 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns, helping deliver victories in battleground states, before working as an advisor on President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, where he managed messaging strategies and surrogate outreach.

"Joining Ohio River South affords me the opportunity to collaborate with an exceptional team to help clients achieve meaningful outcomes," said Andy Beck. "I'm excited to apply my experience in public affairs, government relations and political strategy to deliver results that drive success for clients and create positive change for communities and companies alike."

Don Balfour joins Ohio River South as Executive Vice President of Government Relations. He was the longest-serving Republican in the Georgia State Senate, representing Gwinnett County for more than 20 years, where he chaired influential committees like Rules and Reapportionment and shepherded landmark legislation into law, including property tax freezes and eminent domain reforms.

Balfour will lead the firm's multistate practice. He built a national network encompassing dozens of states and every level of government while serving as President of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), chairing the State Suggested Legislation Committee for the Council of State Governments (CSG), and holding multiple posts within the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Additionally, Don served as an executive with Waffle House for over 25 years, where he honed his expertise in business operations and economic strategy.

"My tenure at Ohio River South enables me to continue my life's work of fostering relationships and driving meaningful outcomes across private industry and public policy," said Balfour. "This firm's mission of empowering clients while improving communities aligns perfectly with my passion for connecting public and private interests."

Establishing a Washington, DC office and announcing these new executives represents a major milestone in Ohio River South's evolution, expanding its bipartisan reach and relationships while expanding coverage for its growing roster of clients to the nation's capital. Learn more about Andy and Don's professional accomplishments and backgrounds at: https://ohioriversouth.com/our-team/.

About Ohio River South
Ohio River South (ORS) is an advocacy firm working at the highest levels of the public and private sectors across the American South. Specializing in lobbying, strategic communications and business partnerships, ORS has helped hundreds of clients score legislative wins, drive public perception, and launch innovative P3 projects across multiple southern states. For more information about how Ohio River South builds bridges across sectors and influences hard-to-reach decision makers, visit www.ohioriversouth.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Hyun Shin, Ohio River South
Phone (202) 349-3758
[email protected]

SOURCE Ohio River South