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Gov Business Review: Specials Magazine
From the ocean floor to low Earth orbit, CSS supports scientific work that is often unseen but broadly consequential. For nearly four decades, the employee-owned company has contributed to some of the United States’ most critical research, monitoring, and response efforts. Today, CSS is a trusted partner to more than two dozen federal agencies and a growing portfolio of commercial clients, including Blue Origin. Its teams conduct coral reef mapping, forecast environmental and climate risks, manage space-based experiments, and support chemical and biological emergency responses. Across environmental science, public health, and space exploration, CSS maintains a consistent mission: ensure science is operational, reliable, and serves the public good. That breadth reflects a company that has expanded steadily without losing coherence. CSS was founded on a shared belief by Jolanda N. Janczewski, Ph.D., MPH and W. Dennis Lauchner that scientific rigor must be paired with practical judgment. They defined this philosophy as Scientific Minds, Common Sense Solutions, a principle that continues to guide CSS’s approach to applied research and operational support. From Ocean Depths to Earth’s Orbits CSS was founded in 1988 as a safety consulting firm supporting government projects. Over time, its scope expanded in response to evolving scientific needs, extending from deep ocean environments to orbital research platforms. This progression was driven by adaptability, technical curiosity, and long-term collaboration with client agencies. CSS operates wherever U.S. government science is conducted at scale. For NOAA, the company supports both the wet side and the dry side of environmental research. On the wet side, CSS has led decades of coral reef mapping and monitoring in the Caribbean and beyond. These efforts integrate remotely operated vehicle footage, diver-based observations, and satellite data. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are applied to rapidly screen and analyze video datasets, enabling continuous assessment of shallow and deep sea coral health critical to fisheries, coastal protection, and ecosystem stability.
Top Issue Advocacy Campaigns Service 2025
This December, Gunster Strategies Worldwide celebrates its 20th year at the forefront of international issue advocacy. Over the past two decades, the firm has played a central role in some of the most historic and consequential political moments of the modern era. Discretion is typically the norm for Gunster Strategies — but silence was impossible in moments such as Brexit, the defeat of Mayor Bloomberg’s 16-ounce soda ban in New York City, and a remarkable string of referendum and ballot initiative victories across the United States. The firm’s excellence has not gone unnoticed: Gunster Strategies and its colleagues have twice been honored with national awards for “Best Public Affairs Campaign of the Year,” reflecting its unmatched ability to design and execute winning strategies. During these years, the company expanded its global footprint, opening offices in Washington, London, Cairo, Tbilisi, and California. Its work in elections across Egypt, Europe, and beyond —combined with the cultivation of a world-class team of specialists — has cemented the firm’s reputation as a global leader in advocacy, public affairs, and strategic communication.
Top Town Manager 2025
Josh Harrold has served as Town Manager of Black Mountain since 2018, leading with vision and collaboration to strengthen community services and long-term growth. Overseeing operations from public safety to infrastructure, he drives strategic initiatives, builds vital partnerships and fosters a high-performing municipal team. He ensures the town thrives while navigating challenges like storm recovery and community development. Through this article, Harrold highlights how effective town leadership combines team cohesion, strategic initiatives and community engagement to deliver tangible results. He emphasizes integrity, presence and patience as core principles that drive both internal teamwork and public trust. AT A GLANCE: • Strengthening Municipal Teams – Initiatives like lunch-and-learns, team exercises and cross-department engagement build cohesion, skill development and forward-focused performance. • Community-Centered Infrastructure – Projects including stormwater utility, greenways, sidewalks and Montreat College partnership support sustainable growth and improve quality of life. • Enhanced Public Services – Bringing sanitation in-house, achieving police accreditation and expanding parks, recreation and event programs deliver measurable community impact.
ennifer Callaway is a seasoned public servant with a law degree and a master’s in Public Administration, dedicated to building thriving, resilient communities. She began her career immediately after graduate school, drawn to local government by the tangible impact one can have on people’s lives. Over the years, Jennifer has served at the state level, with a tribal government, and in several California communities from northern California down to the Central Coast, gaining experience across performance management and finance, communications, public works, and administration. As Town Manager of Truckee, Northern California, she oversees a dynamic local government organization, including land use, community development, planning, building, code enforcement, public safety, public works, infrastructure, housing, sustainability community engagement, economic development and administrative functions. Known for her collaborative and humble leadership style, Jennifer embraces servant leadership and empowers her team to deliver meaningful results. Her focus on transparency, inclusion, and strategic planning ensures that Truckee continues to grow as a connected, resilient, and vibrant community where residents feel heard, valued, and proud to call home. Below is the conversation that we had with Callaway.
Elvin Hardwick’s journey into public service began long before he became Somerset’s Town Manager. Raised by civil servants and inspired by early experiences in youth government, he discovered a calling to strengthen communities through leadership and collaboration. Today, he continues that mission while pursuing his Doctor of Public Administration at the University of Baltimore. AT A GLANCE: • Balanced and Transparent Governance – Combines fiscal discipline, community engagement and strategic foresight to ensure long-term sustainability and operational excellence. • E-Governance Leadership – Introduced AI-powered smart search and digital engagement platforms, earning the 2024 Maryland Municipal Achievement Award for Excellence in E-Governance. • Commitment to Sustainability – Advances eco-friendly initiatives such as solar energy, LED infrastructure, stormwater management and curbside composting for every household. Through this article, Hardwick highlights how balanced governance drives transparency, sustainability and community innovation. He also emphasizes the importance of collaboration, trust and patient leadership in creating lasting local impact.
CXO INSIGHTS
Emergency Management the Network Specialist
Pabel Troche, Interim Fire Chief, City of Roswell
Creating New Alternatives to Address Violent Crime and Invest in Youth Workforce Development
Dan Keashen, Director of Public Affairs, Camden County
Planning Today to Support the City of Tomorrow
William M. Johnson, Assistant City Manager, City of Fort Worth
The Future of Urban Management: Leveraging Technology for Smarter, More Sustainable Cities
Dan Hoffman, City Manager, City of Winchester
Safeguarding Economic Security through Innovation in Trade Remedies and Environmental Enforcement
Eric Choy, Executive Director for Trade Remedy Law Enforcement Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
IN FOCUS
The Expanding Strategic Role of Government Affairs Firms
Government Affairs firms bridge the gap between the private sector and government, facilitating regulatory navigation, policy influence, and stakeholder engagement, essential for strategic corporate success in regulated environments.
Redefining Public Sector Excellence Through Scientific Integration
Governments worldwide are increasingly integrating scientific evidence into policymaking, shifting toward data-driven approaches to improve efficiency and adaptability in addressing societal challenges.
EDITORIAL
Strengthening Public Policy through Smarter Strategy
Government businesses are instrumental in helping organizations understand policy shifts and administrative priorities, offering practical direction that keeps leaders aligned with national goals. It shares industry perspectives, regulatory updates and practical analysis that enable organizations to see how public institutions operate and respond to changes. With supportive context and accessible insights, businesses can plan while staying connected to the evolving policy environment.
Science-based solutions unite research and real-world application to handle complex challenges in fields like healthcare, energy and technology. These approaches help organizations raise efficiency, meet compliance needs and adopt innovations responsibly. By relying on evidence-backed strategies, companies can build more innovative pathways that support daily operations and the expectations of the communities they serve.
Government affairs firms add essential guidance by helping organizations interpret legislation, follow regulatory changes and engage constructively with policymakers. Their knowledge allows clients to anticipate shifts, adapt plans and express their priorities with confidence. In a fast-changing environment, these firms turn complicated policy landscapes into advice that helps organizations remain steady, proactive and ready for new opportunities.
Issue advocacy campaigns further strengthen this ecosystem by helping organizations communicate priorities and reach audiences that matter. Through purposeful messaging, storytelling and outreach, campaigns build awareness, encourage engagement and support informed choices among stakeholders. By shaping conversations around vital issues, they enhance public understanding and invite broader participation.
In this edition of the Govt Business Review, we explore the recent developments that continue to shape the future of policy engagement and organizational strategy in the years ahead.
The edition spotlights CSS, an employee-owned scientific and technical services firm that delivers mission-critical solutions for federal agencies.
We hope this edition of the Govt Business Review helps you find the right partner for your business requirements.
