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Hugo Dante joined Washington Analysis in July 2023 as Financial Services Policy Analyst, Vice President. Hugo focuses on financial services and housing policy. Prior to joining Washington Analysis, Hugo held a cross-functional role role at Amazon Web Services as Market Insights & GTM Analyst for the International Financials and Digital Assets team, where he designed and deployed global go-to-market strategies supporting public sector financial institutions as they leverage digital assets, AI, data analytics, and blockchain solutions. Before Amazon, Hugo served as an Economist for the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, covering housing, banking, financial services, cryptocurrencies, and general economic policy. He has also worked in the Office of the Chief Economist at the American Bankers Association, and as an MA Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

Hugo is currently pursuing his PhD in Economics at George Mason University, after earning his Master of Arts (M.A.) in Economics from the same institution. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in General Chemistry from the University of North Alabama, Honors College.

Saad Kamal is a Senior Analyst at Washington Analysis covering Special Situations with a focus on binary events relating to deals, tax, legal, trade, or other regulatory catalysts.

Saad started his career at Lehman Brothers, working in their Global Mergers and Acquisitions group. Saad also worked at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the largest healthcare union in the United States, in the Capital Development Group focusing on healthcare investments. Prior to that, Saad worked at Knob Hill Partners, a Boston-based investment firm. Saad attended Middlebury College and Harvard Business School.

Ira Loss is a Senior Health Care Analyst and was one of the original founders of Washington Analysis. For the past 45 years, Ira has been responsible for covering health care issues affecting the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical devices industries. Prior to 1973, Ira served as a senior policy analyst for the Government Research Corporation, as assistant counsel to the American Insurance Association, and as a legislative assistant to Congressman Emilio Daddario.

Ira is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a B.A. in history. He received a law degree, with honors, from the National Law Center of George Washington University and is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association.

Tatiana is a health policy expert with extensive experience in policy analysis and legislative strategy, joining Washington Analysis from a market-focused policy research firm. She previously worked as a senior health policy analyst at Centene, focusing on federal and state issues such as Medicare, Medicaid, and social determinants of health. Her career includes roles as a legislative director at Polsinelli and as a legislative aide to Senator Joe Donnelly on Capitol Hill.

Tatiana also contributed to presidential and statewide political campaigns, enhancing her policy insights and strategy skills. She holds a master’s degree in health law and policy from Hofstra University.

Monet is an expert in access and reimbursement policy, recently joining Washington Analysis from the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, where she directed policy efforts for the cell and gene therapy sector. At ARM, she analyzed key proposals from CMS, NIH, FDA, FTC, and Congress, and coordinated biopharmaceutical stakeholders to aid in investment forecasting.

Previously, Monet led policy for the Association for Accessible Medicines, advocating for the generic and biosimilars industries, and managed government relations at Kaiser Permanente, utilizing data insights to inform regulatory engagement. She has also held policy roles at Centene and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Monet earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Maryland, with clinical training through a residency at Purdue University.

Laura focuses on healthcare policy issues impacting the U.S. drug supply chain (insurers, pharmacy benefit managers and manufacturers), Medicare Parts B and D, Medicaid, and general health policy. Most recently, Laura was the Director of Health Care Policy at the American Action Forum. She also held policy roles with two large pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) as well with the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association.

Laura also led several health policy focused projects for private equity firms at Capstone, a policy and regulatory due diligence firm. Early in her career, she served in three professional offices in the House of Representatives. Laura holds an MA in the History of Medicine from the University College London and a BA in History from American University.

Brian DaRin focuses on issues impacting oil and gas, biofuels, hydrogen, and mining, as well as energy-related tax, trade, sanctions, and geopolitics. Brian previously served as Deputy Director of Global Programs at the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI), advising former Secretary of Energy, and current EFI CEO Ernest Moniz, and directing multiple research teams. Brian also served as a Senior Advisor to the Transnational Strategy Group.

Brian also spent two decades with the U.S. Department of State, where he directed reviews of energy infrastructure projects and advised senior U.S. officials on oil and gas exports/imports, critical minerals, foreign energy markets, and monetary affairs. Brian holds a B.A. from the Virginia Military Institute and MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Brian speaks Mongolian, Japanese, Mandarin, French, and is studying Cantonese.

Carter May joined Washington Analysis in 2022 as a Research Associate, working across a gamut of issue areas to support the analyst team. Prior to joining the firm, Carter worked as a Canvass Director at the Fund for the Public Interest and interned at government relations firm ML Strategies in a research role. He earned his B.A. of Political Science from Miami University in 2020.

Frank Oliveri is a Defense and Foreign Policy Analyst who joined Washington Analysis in 2014. Frank was an award-winning journalist for more than 25 years, the majority of which covering defense. For 10 years, he worked as a defense and foreign policy editor and reporter for Congressional Quarterly, one of the top policy publications in Washington, DC. He also has written for Defense News, Air Force Magazine, and Defense Daily, among others. He has covered the Pentagon, weapons acquisition, technology and development, and military strategy and doctrine.

Frank is an expert in the congressional process, specializing in the defense authorizing committees and appropriations writ large. He holds a B.S. from Southern Connecticut State University and a master’s from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

Rob Rains joined Washington Analysis in April 2013 as an Energy Analyst with an emphasis on gas and electric utilities, renewable energy, energy infrastructure, including pipelines, liquefied natural gas, electric transmission, and deals in the sector. Prior to joining Washington Analysis, Rob worked for Capstone, another policy analysis firm. Before Capstone, Rob spent five years as a Sr. Government Relations Representative for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a trade association and global technical standards developer, focusing on energy and environmental issues. Rob began his career on Capitol Hill where he worked for Congressman Brian Baird and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Rob earned his JD from The Catholic University of America and holds a B.A. in Political Science and English-Journalism from Miami University (Ohio).

Thomas (Tom) Seitz joined Washington Analysis in June 2014 and serves as a Senior TMT Analyst. He has been a sell side analyst covering the Telecom space for over 10 years at both Lehman Brothers and Jefferies & Co. Most recently he worked for Jefferies & Co. from 2011-2013 as managing director in equity research. His focus included telcos, wireless service providers, cable, and data center/cloud companies.

Before joining Jefferies & Co, he spent two years covering Washington issues, and was the Director of Research at a policy firm. In addition to his duties as DoR, he was a managing director and senior research analyst following the telecom, cable, media and tech sectors. Prior to that role, Tom was a senior vice-president at Lehman Brothers, and subsequently Barclays Capital, covering the telecom services sector in the equity research department for over eight years.

Numerous media and industry publications have cited Tom’s work. The Wall Street Journal, ranked Tom the #4 analyst for Telecom – Fixed Line, in its “Best on the Street” survey. The Lehman telecom services team was consistently ranked in Institutional Investor’s “All-America Research Team” for both wireline and wireless during Tom’s tenure.

John Sonsalla joined Washington Analysis in 2022 as Head of Strategy and Senior Financial Services Analyst, where he covers banking, payments, fintech, cryptocurrency, loan servicing, credit ratings, capital markets, housing, and higher education, among other issues. Previously, he worked in the Investment Banking and Capital Markets Division of Credit Suisse.

Before working in finance, John held numerous roles at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, one of the nation’s leading multi-client government relations firms, where he worked with an array of Fortune 500 corporations, investment firms, national trade associations, and nonprofit institutions. He also spent time in the office of Congressman Joe Sestak, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and a national trade association.

John has worked on and managed campaigns and party conventions at the federal, state, and local level. John received his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his B.A. from the School of Public Affairs at American University.

Ryan Visnovec joined Washington Analysis in 2021 as a Research Assistant, where he works across sectors, including financial services, healthcare, defense, and telecommunications. Prior to joining the firm, Ryan gained experience at the Hall Street Fund and The Stillman Exchange. Ryan graduated from Seton Hall University with a B.S. of Science, Finance, Spanish, and Journalism

Christoph Zimmerman covers Special Situations, including events related to tax, trade, and regulatory catalysts of consumer products, industrials, transportation, and agriculture. Prior to joining the firm, Christoph gain experience on Capitol Hill in the office of Congressman Robert Pittenger. Christoph studied at The George Washington University School of Business, where he received a B.B.A in Business Economics and Public Policy. He joined Washington Analysis in 2019.

Amanda leads Washington Analysis coverage of antitrust, competition, and other special situations, bringing to each client engagement nearly two decades of experience in the public and private sector engaged on these issues.

Prior to joining Washington Analysis, Amanda served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. She also previously worked as a Senior Antitrust Correspondent for The Capitol Forum and served for nearly a decade at the Federal Trade Commission as a Staff Attorney in the Mergers Division.

Amanda has also gained experience at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, U.S. Postal Service, and law firm Haug Partners. Amanda holds a JD and B.A. from the University of Iowa.

Christina joined Washington Analysis in 2014 as research associate and editor after earning her bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University. Previously, she interned at Soluciones Comunitarias in Guatemala, focusing on sustainable product sales and small business practices for indigenous populations, and ECONorthwest, an economic and financial consulting firm in Portland, Oregon.

Adna joined Washington Analysis in 2023. She supports the sales team by coordinating with Analysts from the firm and external Speakers to create a program called Days in Washington. Adna has held previous research, events, and marketing roles in the public and private sector. Adna received her B.A. from Aarhus University and M.A. in Strategic Communications from American University.

Hayley joined Washington Analysis in 2022. Prior to joining the firm, she held positions on Capitol Hill. Hayley received a bachelor’s degree from American University.

Kaitlin joined Washington Analysis in 2011 as a Sales Assistant. She graduated with a B.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University.

Anthony joined Washington Analysis in 2022. Anthony has over two decades of experience in account management and institutional sales roles are numerous leading investment research firms. Anthony received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida.

Jessica joined Washington Analysis in 2000. She graduated with a degree in English Literature from The Catholic University of America.