Dutko Worldwide Opens Office in Miami, Expanding Southeast Presence and Reach into Latin America : 03-23-2005 -- Javier Alberto Soto – a Former Top Aide to Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas – Hired to Lead New Office -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 23, 2005 – Dutko Worldwide, one of the fastest-growing public policy firms in the nation, announced today that it is bolstering its 50-state public affairs capability and worldwide reach with a new office in Miami, Florida. The office will be led by Javier Alberto Soto, a lawyer who served as Chief of Staff for former Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas and as Transition Chairman for current Mayor Carlos Alverez. Michele Azel, a former Bush-Cheney campaign aide, will join Javier in the Miami Office. In the fall of 2004, Dutko Worldwide dramatically increased its presence in the southeast through a merger with Tallahassee-based Poole McKinley, one of Florida’s top public affairs firms. With the addition of a Miami office to the southeast operation – now known as Dutko Poole McKinley – the company will have an increased ability to serve both Miami-area clients doing business in Tallahassee and Florida-based clients with federal interests. The new office will also play an important role in Dutko Worldwide’s continuing global expansion, providing a gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. “Our expansion into Miami combined with our base in Tallahassee gives Dutko Worldwide an unmatched presence in the Southeast and an increased reach into Latin America,” said Dutko Worldwide CEO Mark Irion. “Miami’s vital role in the region and the hemisphere makes this office an integral part of our strategy of offering best-in-class service to clients throughout the country and the world. Having a strong presence and talented staff in Miami will allow us to even more effectively manage issues at the state, national and international level.” Dutko Worldwide Principal Will McKinley said, “Our success in providing the highest level of client service depends on a bench that is deep in talent. We couldn’t ask for a better team member than Javier.” Van Poole, Dutko Worldwide Principal, commented, “Javier brings a perfect combination of extraordinary knowledge and contacts in the Miami region, and seasoned international experience. He is an important part of our goal to hire talented individuals to build Dutko’s capabilities in areas of client-driven growth.” • Javier Alberto Soto joins Dutko Worldwide as Vice President and General Counsel. He has extensive knowledge and relationships in state and local government in Florida and has worked on federal and hemispheric trade and public policy issues. Soto most recently served as Transition Chairman for Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and he previously served as Chief of Staff to former County Mayor Alex Penelas. Prior to his appointment as Chief of Staff, Soto served as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for Miami-Dade County. He began his career as a litigator in the Miami-Dade County Attorney’s office. • Michele Azel joins Dutko Worldwide as an Associate. She previously worked as the Miami-Dade regional field director for the Bush-Cheney presidential campaign in 2004, and as the Executive Affairs Manager for the Florida Marlins baseball team. The addition of a Miami office is another step in Dutko Worldwide’s unique strategy of building the first independent public affairs firm with a national and global multi-disciplinary public policy management capability. In recent years the company has added offices and operations in every corner of the United States, giving it a true 50-state reach. In 2004, the company began a global affairs practice to help clients build public-private partnerships abroad, and opened an office in Prague that focuses on the markets of Central and Eastern Europe. The firm combines this worldwide reach with best-in-class federal lobbying and strategic consulting, state-based partnership-building, global strategic consulting, research and polling, and government marketing services. More domestic and international capabilities are planned for 2005 and beyond. About Dutko Worldwide Dutko Worldwide provides comprehensive government affairs management and strategic counsel and helps build public—private partnerships with federal, state and international levels of government. Dutko is consistently ranked as one of the “top 10 most powerful lobbying firms” in the country by FORTUNE magazine. Dutko Worldwide’s principle operating units are Dutko Global Advisors, Dutko Washington, Dutko State & Local), Dutko Research & Polling, and Dutko Government Markets. For more information go to www.dutkoworldwide.com or call us at 202-484-4884. ### Learn more about Will McKinley. »