Home - Atlas Crossing

Our mission at Atlas Crossing is to identify risks and create business opportunities by providing strategic counsel to our clients. Our savvy, bipartisan team possess decades of extensive experience crafting policy campaigns and merging them with robust communications programs and political outreach.

Our mission at Atlas Crossing is to identify risks and create business opportunities by providing strategic counsel to our clients. Our savvy, bipartisan team possess decades of extensive experience crafting policy campaigns and merging them with robust communications programs and political outreach.

Our mission at Atlas Crossing is to create a roadmap for clients to navigate the halls of Congress and the Administration.

Atlas Crossing provides a unique understanding for moving policy, with a proven track record of executing coalition strategies, successful legislative and advocacy campaigns, and winning political campaigns.

Our mission at Atlas Crossing is to create a roadmap for clients to navigate the halls of Congress and the Administration.

LEARN MORE

What We Do

Public Affairs

Strategic Communications

Coalition Management

Political Intelligence

Events

LEARN MORE

Who We Are

Sean Joyce

Founder & CEO

Sean Joyce founded Atlas Crossing in his basement on Capitol Hill with the mission to create a top-tier public affairs firm that crafts successful policy campaigns by merging them with robust communications programs and effective political outreach. Five years into his journey and many incredible clients later, Atlas Crossing continues to grow and has been named a ‘Top Performing Lobbying Firm’ by Bloomberg Government for multiple years. Over the past 15 years, Sean has established a noteworthy career in Washington, DC combining legislative expertise, crisis communication skills, coalition management, and corporate client experience. Sean has earned a reputation in the public affairs space as a thoughtful and effective advocate with long-standing relationships with key players in Congress. Prior to starting Atlas Crossing, Sean served as Chief of Staff for Chairman Patrick McHenry (NC-10). During his time with Congressman McHenry, he oversaw the nexus where politics and policy met communications and stakeholder outreach. Sean honed his legislative successes when McHenry was tapped as the Chief Deputy Whip by Majority Whip Steve Scalise (LA-1). During his time on Capitol Hill, Sean held various Senior Staff positions for Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (PA-9), including Legislative Director, Communications Director, National Security Advisor, and Campaign Manager. Sean has extensive experience managing national advocacy campaigns and continues to serve as an outside advisor to many Members of Congress. Committed to impactful advocacy, Sean Joyce also currently serves as the Executive Director for the Shippers Coalition, comprised of 80+ companies, including agribusinesses, chemical companies, transportation services, shippers, retailers, beverage companies, and aggregates like Procter & Gamble, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Coca-Cola, American Chemistry Council, Tyson Foods, International Paper, Anheuser-Busch, PepsiCo, The Home Depot, Niagara Bottling, National Cattleman Beef Association, and Dairy Farmers of America, to name a few. Sean lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife, Natalie, and their two children, Genevieve and Jameson.

Alex Bolton

Senior Vice President of Government Affairs

Alex Bolton serves as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Atlas Crossing, bringing over a decade of experience across various levels of government and political campaigns. Most recently, Alex served for four years as Chief of Staff to Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), where he successfully guided the Congresswoman’s steering bid to secure a seat on the prestigious House Ways and Means Committee. His focus on tax, trade, and tariff policy positioned him as a key contributor to some of the committee’s most pressing legislative conversations. Prior to his work on Capitol Hill, Alex gained extensive campaign experience, including key roles with the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and political operations across the country. His strategic acumen and diverse skill set have made him a trusted resource for Members of Congress, caucuses, and committees. Alex resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Erin.

Jennifer Belair

Senior Vice President of Government Affairs

Jennifer Belair serves as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Atlas Crossing. With over 15 years of experience working in Congress and the federal government, Jennifer brings a wealth of knowledge in legislative strategy, appropriations, and parliamentary procedure. Before joining Atlas Crossing, Jennifer served as Staff Director for the House Rules Committee. Her leadership in this role focused on shaping and enforcing legislative procedures critical to the House of Representatives’ operations. Before her time as Staff Director for the Full Committee, Jen held was the Staff Director for the Committee’s Rules and Organization of the House Subcommittee under then-Chairman Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14). She has also held positions as Parliamentarian for the House Financial Services Committee and Deputy Parliamentarian for the House Judiciary Committee, providing strategic counsel across a wide range of legislative and procedural issues. Jennifer’s prior experience includes serving as a Legislative Director for Congressmen Doug Collins (GA-09) and Pete Sessions (TX-32), focusing on policy development and advancing key initiatives for the respective Members of Congress. Jennifer received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Communications from Texas A&M University. Jennifer lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband and their three children.

Adam Howard

Senior Advisor

Adam Howard is an accomplished leader who understands the intersection of politics and global policy. For over 20 years, he held senior roles in the House of Representatives, Senate and international stage, his expertise spans national security, geopolitical risk, and technology integration. Most recently, Adam was the Staff Director of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a member of the Gang of 8. As Staff Director, Adam negotiated and passed several National Defense and Intelligence Authorization bills that included creating the Intelligence Community Innovation Unit along with other acquisition and modernization improvements. After the 2024 election, Adam had the privilege of serving on President Trump’s NSC transition team where he oversaw cyber, intelligence and other issues. Before serving as the lead Intelligence staffer in the House of Representatives, Adam worked for six different Members of Congress in authorizing and appropriations roles, including ten years as Chief of Staff. In addition to his Congressional roles, Adam was the United States Secretary to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from 2016-2019. As Secretary, he was charged with negotiating NATO policy proposals and reports with other Member countries. Some of his successes include expanding technological interoperability, increasing cyber threat awareness and advocating for increased defense spending amongst member nations. In his role representing the United States overseas, Adam has visited over 60 countries meeting with world leaders advocating for America’s interests. These engagements have resulted in increased national security partnerships, technology cooperation and intelligence sharing. Adam has a BS from Indiana University and a Masters in Public Policy from the American University. He has been a guest lecturer at several universities including Harvard and National Intelligence University. Adam resides in Washington, DC with his wife, two daughters and no pets.

Alexis Oberg

Vice President of Government Affairs

Alexis Oberg serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs at Atlas Crossing. Alexis develops and executes legislative strategies to help our clients tell their stories to Members of Congress, their staff, and Administration officials. She has a strong understanding of how to build clients’ brand awareness and advocate for their policy priorities. She provides strategic counsel on a wide range of legislative and regulatory issues, which includes appropriations, financial services, education, technology, homeland security, and transportation. Alexis joined Atlas Crossing in 2019 from Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s Administration, where she worked in his policy office for half a decade, most recently as his Policy Advisor. In that capacity, she advised the Governor on a range of policy and legislative issues and represented his interests before state agencies, the General Assembly, and various boards and commissions. In 2022, Alexis was named one of The Hill’s Top Lobbyists. Alexis is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, with close ties to the southeastern Congressional delegation. She holds a bachelor’s of science in Political Science and International Affairs from the University of Georgia and a master’s of Public Administration from Georgia State University.

Chris Eddowes

Vice President of Government Affairs

Christopher Eddowes brings nearly a decade of high-level strategy and policy making experience to Atlas Crossing as the Vice President of Government Affairs. Chris advises clients across a range of issues including health care, biotechnology, data science, sustainable technologies, and tax. He develops legislative strategies, leads engagement with Capitol Hill, and offers tactical counsel tailored to fit every client’s initiatives. Chris’s deep knowledge of the legislative process enables him to provide strategic counsel to all Atlas Crossing clients. Prior to his time at Atlas Crossing, Chris served as Senior Advisor for Congressman Lloyd Smucker, where he managed a portfolio that included a broad area of policy issues including appropriations, energy & environment, national security, agriculture, and trade issues. Additionally, Chris managed the Transportation and Infrastructure portfolio during Congressman Smucker's tenure on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In these roles, he crafted policy solutions to address issues raised by constituents and industry stakeholders. Chris frequently worked across the aisle with House and Senate offices, Democrat and Republican leadership, and executive branch counterparts to identify and achieve strategic policy and regulatory outcomes. Prior to his roles on Capitol Hill, Chris worked on a successful congressional campaign in Pennsylvania as the Grassroots Director. Chris lives in Maryland with his wife Elizabeth, and their English bulldog, Bode.

Josh Lyon

Legislative Assistant

Josh Lyon joins the Atlas Crossing team as a Legislative Assistant. In his role, Josh provides research and analysis on proposed legislation and federal policy and evaluates the impact of current events for our clients across the board. Josh's keen research abilities provide support to all of our clients at Atlas Crossing. Previously, Josh worked for Congressman Rob Wittman, Chairman of the House Armed Services Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, Congressman Mike Turner, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, former Senator Mike Enzi, and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. This experience allows Josh to navigate several different policy areas, making his policy and research knowledge invaluable to our clients. Josh graduated from George Mason University with a BA in Government and International Politics.

Zach Howell

Senior Advisor

Zach Howell has spent more than a decade working in public policy and politics, with experience across multiple disciplines, including communications, legislative strategy, campaign strategy, and organizational leadership. Zach spent more than 8 years on Capitol Hill, serving multiple Members of the House of Representatives handling a portfolio that spans the policy spectrum, including in transportation, homeland security, financial services, data privacy, and foreign affairs. Zach joins the team from Marriott International, where he served as Director of Federal Government Affairs, helping to guide the company through the challenges posed by the current economic and public health crisis. Before leaving the Hill, Zach most recently served as Legislative Director and then Chief of Staff to Congressman John Katko, and previously held roles in other offices as a press secretary, communications director, and legislative assistant. Through this varied experience, Zach has developed strong relationships across party lines and has thorough hands-on experience crafting legislative initiatives and communications strategies, building relationships, and providing sound guidance in challenging political environments. Prior to his time on Capitol Hill, Zach worked on a presidential campaign, serving on the ground in Florida and New Hampshire, and served as the elected leader of a nationwide youth political organization.

Brad Gentile

Senior Advisor

Brad Gentile has spent nearly fifteen years decade in public service and has developed strong relationships throughout Washington on both sides of the aisle. Most recently, Brad served as Chief of Staff for Congressman John Katko (NY-24) , Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee. While Brad was Chief of Staff, Congressman Katko was recognized as the most productive first-term legislator in 27 years. Prior to that, Brad served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Congressman Chris Gibson and as a Legislative Assistant to former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner. Throughout his time in Washington, Brad has served as a policy and political advisor to members of Congress, where he crafted, negotiated, and helped pass numerous policy initiatives. Gentile brings a wealth of policy expertise in the cybersecurity, financial services, tax, and transportation and infrastructure sectors. Brad advised Congressman Katko and committee staff on transit security issues, in addition to serving as the principal contact for industry stakeholders and coalitions. Gentile has extensive experience in overseeing content, media training, strategic communications, speech writing, and media relations.

Holly Lay

Director of Operations

Holly Lay serves as the Director of Operations at Atlas Crossing, where she oversees internal coordination, staff logistics, and strategic planning to ensure seamless execution of firmwide priorities. She brings a wealth of experience from Capitol Hill, having most recently served as Director of Operations and Scheduling for Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger in the U.S. House of Representatives. In that role, she managed the Congresswoman’s schedule, coordinated travel and events, and facilitated engagement with constituents, advocacy groups, and policy stakeholders. Holly began her career on Capitol Hill as a District Intern and went on to serve as a Staff Assistant and Legislative Correspondent, roles in which she crafted vote recommendations and shaped constituent communications. Her experience is further complemented by grassroots and campaign work at both the federal and state levels. A native of East Tennessee, Holly holds a Master of Science in Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy from American University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Milligan University, where she graduated with high honors and was recognized with multiple academic awards.

Darby Albanese

Operations and Client Relations Associate

Darby Albanese serves as an Operations and Client Relations Associate. In her role, Darby provides strategic support across client initiatives, helping to turn policy ideas into actionable legislation and regulation through effective communication, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. Before her time with Atlas Crossing, Darby served as a Federal Judicial Intern for the Honorable Mark A. Kearney at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where she contributed to judicial writing, research, and courtroom programming with a focus on reentry and relapse prevention initiatives. Previously, she worked as a Legal and Business Development Analyst at HGGC, a private equity firm in Palo Alto. Darby graduated from Villanova University with a B.A. in Political Science, a concentration in Global Business, and a minor in Business Law and Corporate Governance.

Reagan Smith

Research Assistant

Reagan Smith serves as a Research Assistant at Atlas Crossing, where she supports the firm’s legislative, regulatory, and policy analysis. Her work helps drive client strategy by delivering timely research and insights across a range of issue areas. Before joining Atlas Crossing, Reagan served as a Legislative Aide in the Texas House of Representatives for State Representative James Frank, where she supported legislative scheduling, bill tracking, and committee operations. She also worked in the U.S. Senate for Senator John Cornyn, gaining valuable experience in constituent services and federal policy research. Previously, she worked at the Texas Association of Business in Austin, Texas. Reagan earned her B.A. in Government and History from The University of Texas at Austin.

What They Say

If you want to understand what is happening behind the scenes in Washington, look no further than Sean Joyce and the Atlas Crossing team.

TORI BARNES

Executive Vice President, Public Affairs and Policy, US Travel Association

After working with the same outside firm for 50 years, Sean and the Atlas team had big shoes to fill...and they filled them immediately.

LYLE BECKWITH

Senior Vice President, Government Relations, National Association of Convenience Stores

If not for their steadfast advocacy on our behalf in Washington, not only our company, but an entire sector of our industry might literally be gone in the United States.