Prominent Hispanic Lobbyist Omar Franco to Participate in State Department International Outreach Program

WASHINGTON, D.C.--(Marketwire - Aug 9, 2012) - Becker & Poliakoff today announced that Omar Franco, the head of the firm's Washington, D.C. office, has been selected to join a team of U.S. dignitaries chosen by the Department of State to participate in its international outreach surrounding the 2012 Presidential Elections.

Mr. Franco was awarded a U.S. Speaker & Specialist Grant by the Department of State Bureau of International Information Programs and will participate in meetings and presentations in Chile and Paraguay scheduled for September 23-October 3, 2012. The program focuses on the 2012 U.S. Presidential Elections and the U.S. Electoral Process.

"It is a great honor to be selected for this important mission to promote greater understanding of U.S. political processes and strong democratic institutions worldwide," said Mr. Franco.

A member of Becker & Poliakoff's Government Law & Lobbying Group, Mr. Franco is one of the nation's most prominent Hispanic government relations consultants and a frequent speaker on issues relating to Hispanic causes and the increasing role Hispanics are playing in national electoral politics. Recently he addressed the Fifteenth Annual Hispanic Law Conference sponsored by the American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he will deliver an address, "Hispanic Politics 2012 and its Effects on Hispanic Leaders in the Business Community," at the Hispanic IT Executive Council Leadership Summit in Falls Church, VA this month.

From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Franco served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. Mr. Franco managed Congressman Diaz-Balart's Washington D.C. and District operations and closely counseled the Congressman in his areas of expertise which include federal appropriations, health care, higher education and issues dealing with the state of Florida.

Mr. Franco serves on the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Lobbyist Association (HLA) and is a member of the Corporate Advisory Council for the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI). He also was appointed lead lobbyist promoting the Smithsonian American Latino Museum on behalf of Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (FNMAL).

About The Bureau of International Information Programs

The Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) is the State Department's public diplomacy (PD) communications bureau, leading the Department's support for U.S. Embassy PD efforts and engagement with overseas audiences. IIP creates and supports the ways and places for the U.S. to have sustained conversations with foreign audiences; provides the products that enable our posts to have those conversations; and manages the infrastructure to support it all. Where innovation, policy, and public diplomacy intersect, IIP programs engage international audiences in sustained, meaningful interaction on the full spectrum of U.S. policy objectives.

About Becker & Poliakoff

Becker & Poliakoff is a diverse commercial law firm with more than 145 attorneys and lobbyists in a total of 15 domestic and international offices. Celebrating its fortieth (40th) year of serving clients, the firm has seven primary areas of practice: Real Estate, Construction Law & Litigation, Community Association, Customs & International Trade, Business Litigation, Corporate & Securities, and Government Law & Lobbying. For more about the firm, visit: www.becker-poliakoff.com, or, www.becker-poliakoff.com/blogs/ to access forums on the latest ideas and opinions on legal matters hosted by Becker & Poliakoff attorneys.