Lobbying world

Alka Patel joined Comcast Corp. as vice president of government and external affairs. Patel most recently led artificial intelligence ethics policy at the Department of Defense.

Uber Technologies, Inc. promoted CR Wooters to head of federal affairs. Wooters joined the company as director of federal public affairs in March. He previously led his own firm, FIO360, and served as chief of staff to Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

Fred Guttenberg joined gun violence prevention group Brady PAC as a senior adviser. He is the father of Jaime Guttenberg, who was killed in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. 

Ayshia Connors joined the Madison Group as director of government relations. Connors most recently led Saratoga Strategy Group and previously served as a senior policy adviser to Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). 

BGR Group named Maya Seiden co-chair of the firm’s international and trade practice. Seiden joined BGR Group in 2014 as a vice president and previously served as a senior State Department aide under former President Obama. 

Gina Drioane joined Waxman Strategies as senior director of health communications. Drioane previously was previously associate director of federal policy and advocacy media at Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Albertsons Companies hired Samantha Summers as senior manager of government affairs. Summers most recently was a senior analyst of government relations at Whirlpool Corp.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hired Rob Hansen as senior vice president of tax policy. Hansen previously served as global director of global tax policy and controversy at Ernst & Young and most recently was senior counsel of tax policy at the National Foreign Trade Council. 

–Updated on Wednesday at 5:17 p.m.