Ab Basu has worked for the biotechnology and chemical industries for the past 18 years, often planning strategies in support of risk-based policies to regulate new and cutting-edge technologies. He has directly managed issues in almost every state in the country.  States Strategies works through an extensive partnership of professionals in most states and many localities.

Ab Basu has been quoted in national newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post and the NY Times, and many other local and regional news outlets.

Dr. Carolyn Orr has operated a diversified family farm for over three decades, which produces cattle, forages, shrimp and produce in a hydroponic greenhouse. For the last 18 years she has served as the Executive Director of State Agriculture and Rural Leaders, working with elected officials from across North America on agriculture and rural development policy and legislation. Previously, Dr. Orr was Professor and Chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department of Berea College, Berea, Kentucky, where she taught college students how to farm, both in the classroom and as the only labor on 2500 acres of diversified farm and forest. She holds certification for ISO 14001 Environmental Management System auditing, and has worked as a private consultant with the Kentucky Divisions of Water and Conservation, developing and presenting training programs for Kentucky livestock producers in Nutrient Management Plans and CAFO regulations. A Certified Professional Animal Scientist, Dr. Orr holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, a M.S. from the University of Tennessee and a B.S. from Ohio State University.

For nearly 30 years, Randy has built coalitions & consensus for clients on a broad variety of issues. He has created programs to empower farmers, workers, patients, small business owners and appropriate community and civic leaders to communicate with elected officials in a constructive and meaningful manner in order to demonstrate broad-based support for clients’ positions.

As a starting point, Randy specializes in harnessing a client’s business relationships and turning them into the constituent human faces that helps an elected official understand how his or her vote impacts the lives of ordinary people in their home district.

Over the past few decades, Randy has worked in over 30 states on both federal and state issues ranging from taxation to patients-rights, regulatory acts & international trade.

Sarah Fiedler Thorn has over 20 years of corporate government affairs experience managing a broad range of issues in the states and nationally. Her policy expertise includes biotechnology, seed, crop protection, grain, biofuels, environment, international trade, and general business issues. Sarah also has experience partnering on successful economic development projects. 

Sarah provides clients strategic advice and delivers practical assistance in implementing outreach and advocacy projects. Based in Des Moines, Iowa, her clients include large corporations, small businesses, associations, and non-profit organizations.

Prior to starting her consulting business, Sarah worked for DuPont Pioneer in their government affairs group. Much of her work at the company was focused on biotechnology acceptance in the states, at the national level, and in Canada. Earlier in her career, she worked in Washington, DC for a member of Congress and for a national agricultural association.

Jim Brown is an experienced public policy expert adept at driving legislative and regulatory solutions to emerging complex issues through coalition consensus building. Prior to his work with States Strategies, for over a decade Jim led Capital One Credit Card & Banking’s state and local government affairs team interaction with policy makers nationwide. He particularly focused his own efforts on Capital One’s government and community affairs needs in California and other western states. During his time with Capital One Jim worked extensively on privacy, evolving digital technology, cyber-security, data breach and tax issues. Jim also served 10 years as General Counsel and Washington Director of The Council of State Governments (CSG). While at CSG Jim was the primary intermediary between various state elected officials and their federal counterparts working in Congress and the President’s administration in Washington, D.C. Jim graduated cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science. He earned his law degree at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri, and is licensed to practice law in Illinois and the District of Columbia. Jim spent his youth growing up active in 4-H and FFA on a family farm in Illinois. Following college and law school Jim pursued his career in Washington, DC before moving to Northern California where he lives today.