Julia Rizzo
Julia Rizzo supports Lewis-Burke by researching and providing insights on issues that intersect between engineering, technology, economic development, policy, and research innovation. With a background and education in public interest technology, Julia’s experience informs her research and helps her to provide clients with valuable perspectives on strategic partnerships and advanced manufacturing. She focuses on federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Defense (DOD), Economic Development Administration (EDA), and United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO).
Issue Expertise: Engineering, Economic Development, Defense, Public-Private Partnerships, and Technology
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Assoicates, Julia was an intern at the National Science Foundation Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate, assisting on the Regional Innovation Engines Program. This experience gave her insights into the federal government and regional innovation initiatives. Additionally, Julia has experience in State and Local Government through the Ohio Senate and Franklin County Board of Commissioners Office, giving her an understanding of the flow of funding and stakeholder engagement.
Vital Statistics: Julia is from northcentral Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in public management, leadership, and policy and minors in science and engineering and history. In her free time, she enjoys listening to live music, exploring new restaurants, and finding new hiking trails.
Zak Kukoff
Zak Kukoff has over a decade of experience in the technology and venture capital sectors, focusing on early-stage investments and entrepreneurship. Zak works closely with founders, startups, and investors to help them navigate Washington and the government.
As the firm’s Tech and Venture Practice Chair, Zak is a leading voice in the startup and investment community, advocating for technological progress. He leverages his experience as both a founder and investor to provide valuable insights to Lewis-Burke clients. Zak also serves as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow to the Foundation on American Innovation and a Visiting Fellow at George Mason University’s National Security Institute.
Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Zak was a venture capitalist at General Catalyst, where he served on the boards of companies like Overjet, Vial, and Luminai. He also founded and sold an education technology company.
Issue Expertise: Venture capital, startup ecosystems, healthcare technology, deep technology, entrepreneurship in higher education, family foundations, and emerging technology trends.
Vital Statistics: Zak earned his Bachelor of Arts in behavioral economics from New York University. From a family connection to Autism, he also founded Autism Ambassadors, a non-profit organization that teaches neurotypical students how to support their peers on the autism spectrum and remains active in supporting it today.
Victoria Swiler
Victoria supports Lewis-Burke by leveraging her background in biological research to assist clients in the areas of environmental, biological, space, and earth sciences. Her role involves tracking legislative and agency activities and finding funding and engagement opportunities for clients. Her agency focus is on the National Science Foundation (NSF), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Issue Expertise: Space, Environment, Biological Sciences, Earth Sciences, Climate, Health
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Victoria researched plant gravity response with a focus on molecular biology. Her research led her to attend and present at many space and plant-related conferences to broaden her knowledge base. During her undergraduate research, she secured an experiment to fly on the International Space Station. During this time, Victoria also joined the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Science Policy Committee as an Early Career Representative. In this role she worked with Lewis-Burke Associates to promote plant biology research funding in the government with a focus on supporting early career researchers. Victoria is passionate about protecting the Earth from climate change and securing funding for biological and space research and supporting undergraduate research experiences.
Vital Statistics: Victoria is from the Toledo, Ohio area and attended Ohio University. There, she received a B.S. in Environmental and Plant Biology and a minor in Communication Studies. Outside of the office, Victoria enjoys rock climbing, immersing herself in fantasy novels, and exploring nature.
Susannah V. Howieson, JD, MEM
Susannah V. Howieson, JD, MEM is a Federal science and technology policy expert who focuses on basic and applied energy research and development and national security science and technology. In addition, her years of experience working with the Executive Office of the President, Federal research agencies, and Congress on critical science policy issues have provided her with broad expertise and networks that enable her to support clients across energy, defense, physical sciences, and economic development issues.
Most recently, Susannah led strategic planning, interagency coordination, and infrastructure planning for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science where she spearheaded efforts on laboratory modernization, place-based innovation, and increased research program integration. Susannah managed the development of an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of Science and NSF and created a vision for the future of the National Laboratory complex (Laboratories of the Future) through far-reaching stakeholder engagement. She also completed a rotation in NNSA’s Office of Policy and Strategic Planning, further deepening her connections to and understanding of the nuclear community. Susannah is a master communicator, facilitator, and consensus builder, and is especially skillful in distilling complex policy topics down to key digestible messages.
Susannah has authored dozens of reports on topics such as technology transfer, facilities and infrastructure planning and prioritization, and government laboratory-university partnerships. Her efforts have been integral to the development of critical national policies, including the Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy, the National Security S&T Strategy, and the Presidential Memorandum on Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion, and she has served on multiple interagency committees, such as Lab-to-Market and the subcommittee on Critical and Emerging Technologies List.
Issue Expertise: Basic and applied energy research and development and DOE; Nuclear production, policy, and security and NNSA; physical sciences; Federal research management, national labs and FFRDCs, interagency coordination, and infrastructure; Technology transfer and regional economic development; emerging technology and the national security S&T enterprise.
Additional Experience: Before joining DOE, Susannah served in the office of Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) as a Nuclear Security Working Group fellow. For close to a decade prior, Susannah conducted science and technology policy analysis for the IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI), a federally funded research and development center that supports the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and other Federal agencies. At STPI, Susannah focused on assessments of research organizations and national security. She also has significant experience in strategic planning and policy development, primarily through her work for the National Security and International Affairs Division of OSTP. Susannah co-led the research team for the Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories (CRENEL) for DOE. Before STPI, she worked as an attorney at Sidley Austin, LLP in New York, NY, and for the Office of Climate Change Policy and Technology at DOE.
Vital Statistics: Susannah holds a BA from Rice University with a double major in Biology and Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations, a JD cum laude from Boston University, and a Masters of Environmental Management (MEM) in Environmental Economics and Policy from Duke University. She lives in Alexandria with her husband, three children, and a dog, cat, and fish. In her free time, she loves to travel, especially to historical sites and nature preserves.
Kiana Newman
Kiana supports Lewis-Burke by providing valuable insights to clients in the fields of biomedical research, biotechnology, and economic development. Her expertise involves tracking legislative and agency developments and offering tailored assistance to clients based on their individual requests. Among the federal agencies she focuses on are the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), Small Business Administration (SBA), and Economic Development Administration (EDA). With a background rooted in medicine, Kiana brings a unique perspective to each subject. This has allowed Kiana to work with clients and agencies to facilitate the implementation of cutting-edge strategies and transformative approaches in biomedical research and biotechnology.
Issue Areas: Biomedical research, biotechnology and bioengineering, health research, economic development, public-private partnerships, and technology.
Additional Information: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Kiana was a legislative policy research intern at Advanced Continuing Education Association, where she honed her skills in analyzing and tracking policy developments. Her experience in this role gave her a keen understanding of the intricacies of legislative processes and their impact on various sectors, including healthcare. She spent part of her undergraduate experience participating in biomedical engineering research labs, analyzing complex scientific journals to extract key information for audiences. Additionally, Kiana worked in a hospital setting, gaining firsthand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities within the healthcare industry. This diverse background has equipped her with a comprehensive perspective that she now applies to her work, providing valuable insights to our clients.
Vital Statistics: Kiana was born and raised in the DMV area, receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, where she double majored in Biology and African American Studies. Outside the office, Kiana enjoys playing volleyball, exploring the city, and skiing!
Bruno Freitas
Bruno Freitas is a passionate and respected former federal government professional with over a quarter century of combined experience working in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. He has cultivated long standing relationships with Members of Congress, congressional staff, and federal agency leadership. Bruno leverages his experience to provide clients with detailed policy advice and tailored comprehensive advocacy strategies to achieve desired results.
Issue Expertise: appropriations, budget, economic development, energy, environment, financial services, infrastructure, and innovation policy
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Bruno worked on Capitol Hill for 28 years, most recently serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Senator Elizabeth Warren. In that role for Senator Warren, he led and managed several policy teams and spearheaded the Senator’s state and local priorities. During his tenure he covered a wide array of federal policy areas including energy, environment, climate change, infrastructure, transportation, appropriations, budget, tax, economy, commerce, small business, defense, and financial services. Bruno was part of the Senator’s team that secured accomplishments in several critical legislative acts such as the American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. He also managed numerous high profile federal projects and on behalf of the Senator obtained billions of dollars for critical infrastructure and economic development.
Vital Statistics: Bruno grew up in Massachusetts and attended Bridgewater State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, all things Boston sports, and cooking Sunday dinner for his wife and two daughters.
Mia Luckett
Mia Luckett delivers timely insight, detailed research, and federal agency and congressional updates to Lewis-Burke clients. Mia specializes in monitoring and analyzing agency and legislative activity related to the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Defense (DOD), and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Issue Expertise: Technology, Engineering Communities, Social Science, and Public- Private Partnerships.
Additional Information: Before joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Mia was a legal administrative assistant to a criminal defense and real estate attorney. Mia also interned with the district office of Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), where she gained an understanding of education policy and aided incarcerated constituents in utilizing government agencies. Mia was previously an Eben Tisdale Public Policy Fellow with the Fund for American Studies. As a fellow, she interned with lobbying firm Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas and worked with the Technology CEO council. During this time, Mia gained expertise in high-tech public policy, the latest innovations in science and technology, and conducted research on the effectiveness of bipartisanship.
Vital Statistics: Originally from the southern suburbs of Chicago, Mia graduated magna cum laude from Hampton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. While attending Hampton, Mia also joined Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and often does community service with other organization members. Mia is a self- proclaimed foodie and loves trying out a new recipe, or the latest and trendiest restaurants. In her free time Mia also enjoys traveling, reading, and working out.