Lobbying world

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce promoted Justin Waller to executive vice president and chief operating officer. He has worked at the Chamber for six years and previously was senior adviser and senior vice president of operations. The Chamber hired Stefan Freiberg as its chief financial officer. He previously worked at the International Council of Shopping Centers and before that worked at Deloitte for 15 years.

The Asian American Hotel Owners Association hired Dean Heyl as vice president of government affairs. He previously was director of the Office of Public Liaison at the Labor Department during the Trump administration and before that was chief legal officer at the International Franchise Association.

Husch Blackwell Strategies hired Joe Novotny, former reading clerk for the House of Representatives, as a principal in its federal practice group. Novotny was appointed as House reading clerk in 2010 by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and stepped down from the post last month.

Stephen Cote was named a principal at Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas. He previously was Republican staff director on the House Financial Services Committee and before that was GOP staff director on the House Rules Committee. He also served as director for legislative affairs at the White House Office of Management and Budget under former President George W. Bush.

Andrea Hechavarria joined the digital health company Butterfly Network as vice president of government affairs. She previously worked in federal affairs and public policy at 3M and before that was legislative assistant to Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).

Kenny Roberts was named a director at Invariant LLC. He previously was director of federal relations at the American Petroleum Institute and before that was regional development manager at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. He also worked as director of corporate affairs at the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The Tiber Creek Group hired Corey Malmgren and John Twomey for its health care practice. Malmgren previously was executive director of U.S. policy and government relations at Merck & Co. and before that was health counsel to ex-Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.). Twomey previously was chief of staff in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Legislation at the Department of Health and Human Services during the Trump administration.

BGR Group announced that William Crozer has returned to the firm as vice president and managing director of state and local advocacy. Crozer previously served as special assistant to the president and deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs under former President Trump. He was a lobbyist at BGR Group for five years before joining the Trump administration in 2018.

Towner French was named a principal at Cozen O’Connor PC. He previously was a partner at Capitol Counsel for more than six years and before that was deputy staff director for Republicans on the House Rules Committee.