Charles L. Merin

Mr. Merin serves as Managing Director of Prime Policy Group and joins the firm from its predecessor, BKSH & Associates Worldwide. Mr. Merin was a founding partner of one of the two firms that merged in 1995 to create BKSH. He possesses 40 years of Washington experience, beginning with service as a congressional staffer in 1969. A campaign veteran, he began his career as a lobbyist in 1976.

Mr. Merin has established himself as the premier lobbyist for hospitality industry interests in Washington. His many travel and tourism-related clients include: the United States Travel Association; the National Restaurant Association; Dunkin’ Brands, Inc.; Marriott Corporation; the Coca-Cola Company; the International Franchise Association; Loews Corporation; as well as the Association of American Medical Colleges. His efforts have created greater cohesiveness among—and a more effective framework for unified lobbying on behalf of—this burgeoning industry.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of Business for Diplomatic Action, an initiative begun in 2001 to improve American business diplomacy. BDA seeks to sensitize American companies to rising anti-Americanism around the world and to enlist the business community in specific actions aimed at addressing the issue. He is also a member of the Board of America’s Trust, a non-profit, non-partisan public policy organization that aims to bridge partisan and other divisions in order to better address the challenges facing the United States.

Mr. Merin is an expert in building legislative coalitions and helping clients forge effective, long-term relationships on Capitol Hill. He is perhaps best known for his close affiliation with the Blue Dog Coalition, an alliance of more than 50 pro-business, conservative House Democrats whose votes have become coveted. In 1999, the Blue Dog Coalition made Mr. Merin an honorary Blue Dog in recognition of his role as a counselor since their inception in December 1994. National Journal has recognized him as one of Washington’s leading Democratic lobbyists, in part a reflection of his closeness to this key bloc of Democratic House votes. Prominent political analyst Charlie Cook once described Mr. Merin as “one of Washington’s more perceptive lobbyists.”

Mr. Merin formerly represented labor, senior citizen, and business trade association interests. During the last two years of the Carter Administration, he was principal liaison between the public and private sectors on a Social Security study conducted under Congressional mandate by the then-Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in international relations from the George Washington University and has partially completed doctoral work in the field.