When you hire us, you get all of us.

Randy Russell is President and CEO of The Russell Group and one of Washington’s most trusted advisors on food and agriculture policy. For more than four decades, he has helped leading companies, trade associations, and industry coalitions navigate federal policy and advance strategic priorities across Congress and the Executive Branch.

Before joining the firm in 1986, Randy held senior leadership roles in both government and the private sector. He served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Earlier in his career, he coordinated USDA’s work on the 1981 Farm Bill and held senior policy positions with the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and The Pillsbury Company.

Randy is widely respected for his deep understanding of the food and agriculture economy and his long-standing relationships across Congress, federal agencies, and the broader agricultural community. Throughout his career, he has played a key role in shaping policy debates affecting farmers, food manufacturers, and rural communities.

A longtime advocate for public service, Randy is a two-time past Chair and current Board member of World Food Program USA. He previously served on the Board of Governors of the Bryce Harlow Foundation and has been active with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the National Council for Adoption.

Randy attended George Mason University, where he studied Public Administration and Economics. He played catcher on the university’s baseball team, where he was a four-year starter and NAIA Honorable Mention All-American. He and his wife, Beth, divide their time between South Carolina and their farm in Round Hill, Virginia. Their greatest pride is their six children and five grandchildren.

Tyson Redpath is a senior policy strategist with more than two decades of experience advancing complex food, agriculture, and energy policy initiatives.

Throughout his career in Congress and the private sector, Tyson has led disciplined advocacy campaigns that have delivered meaningful policy outcomes. His work has helped double funding for agricultural export promotion programs, block new federal fees on small airlines, strengthen commodity price support programs, and advance balanced federal dietary guidance.

Tyson has extensive experience working through the federal appropriations process to secure increases in agricultural research funding, even during constrained budget cycles. His policy work has also helped advance national nutrition initiatives and address regulatory and litigation challenges affecting farmers and ranchers.

He previously worked in the congressional office of former Speaker of the House John Boehner and later served as Director of Government Relations for the National Grain Trade Council. He also worked as a Legislative Assistant at Olsson, Frank and Weeda and has advised several presidential campaigns.

Tyson is a frequent contributor to agricultural media outlets, including AgWeb and Agri-Talk. He graduated from Indiana University and lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife, three children, and two dogs.

Jessica Schulken brings nearly two decades of congressional experience to The Russell Group, with deep expertise in the federal appropriations process and agriculture policy.

She served for 18 years on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, where she helped oversee the development of more than two dozen appropriations bills. In this role, she served as a key negotiator on complex policy and funding issues affecting the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.

At The Russell Group, Jessica helps clients navigate the federal appropriations process, advance priorities in legislation including the Farm Bill, and engage effectively with federal agencies and policymakers. She has particular expertise in nutrition programs, food safety, and agricultural research funding.

Her recent work includes helping clients sustain research funding in tight budget environments, strengthening federal enforcement against illegal tobacco products, securing regulatory relief for small airlines, and doubling funding for key agricultural export promotion programs.

Jessica serves on the board of the Food Research and Action Center. Originally from Kentucky, she lives in Falls Church, Virginia with her family and their dog, Mabel.

Allyson Alvaré serves as Chief Operating Officer of The Russell Group, where she leads the firm’s administrative, financial, and organizational strategy. Since joining the firm in 2014, she has played a central role in strengthening internal operations, implementing systems that improve efficiency, and supporting the firm’s long-term growth.

Her work ensures the seamless execution of the firm’s mission to deliver trusted, results-driven advocacy for clients across the food and agriculture policy landscape. By overseeing internal infrastructure and operational strategy, she enables the firm’s policy professionals to deliver results with speed, precision, and accountability.

Allyson began her career on Capitol Hill, working on both sides of the aisle. She served as Staff Assistant to former Congresswoman Thelma Drake of Virginia and later as Executive Assistant and Scheduler to former Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards of Maryland. In that role, she managed scheduling operations in both Washington and the district, coordinated stakeholder engagement, and supported congressional and campaign initiatives.

A native of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Allyson earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from James Madison University. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, daughter, and Boykin Spaniel. She is active in the arts community and is a member of The Washington Ballet’s Jeté Society, where she previously served on the Steering Committee as Treasurer.

Secretary Dan Glickman joined The Russell Group in November 2017 as a strategic advisor and counselor. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Food and Nutrition at Tufts University and Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center as co-chair of its Nutrition Initiative. Glickman is also Chairman of the International Advisory Committee of APCO Worldwide and a Senior Advisor of U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. He is member of the Board and Lead Director for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Glickman served as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in the Clinton Administration. He was appointed by former Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack as the Founding Chair of Food and Agriculture Research and continues to serve on the Board. He recently retired from his role as Vice President of the Aspen Institute and Executive Director of The Aspen Institute Congressional Program in March 2021. He also represented the 4th Congressional district of Kansas for 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives where he was very involved in federal farm policy on the House Agriculture Committee. While in Congress, he served on the House Judiciary Committee and as chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In addition, he is the former chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. and former director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He has served as president of the Wichita, Kansas, School Board, was a partner in the law firm of Sargent, Klenda and Glickman, and worked as a trial attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Secretary Dan Glickman received his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Michigan and his juris doctorate from George Washington University. He is a member of the Kansas and District of Columbia bars.

Ashlee Johnson brings nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of public policy and agriculture. Her career spans senior roles across Capitol Hill, the White House, federal agencies, and the private sector.

She began her career on Capitol Hill as a legislative staff member for Congressman Mike Ross of Arkansas and later served on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry under Senator Blanche Lincoln.

Ashlee subsequently joined the Obama Administration, where she held several leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including White House Liaison and Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary. She also served on the White House Domestic Policy Council, working on rural affairs and immigration policy.

Her private-sector experience includes leadership roles at Tyson Foods and FMC Corporation, where she led state government affairs and later served as Director of Corporate Sustainability, helping shape the company’s global sustainability strategy.

At The Russell Group, Ashlee serves as a Principal advising clients on regulatory and legislative strategy, federal funding opportunities, and stakeholder engagement. She helps organizations navigate complex policy environments and align business goals with evolving public-sector priorities.

Ashlee is a graduate of the University of Arkansas. She is a co-founder of the Black Professionals in Food and Agriculture Association, a member of MANRRS, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Andrew Harker is a seasoned agriculture and food policy professional who leads legislative and regulatory campaigns across the entire agriculture and food value chain.

He joined The Russell Group in 2007 and brings extensive experience navigating complex federal policy issues affecting producers, food companies, and agricultural organizations.

Andrew has led numerous coalition efforts addressing issues related to animal health and welfare, grower practices, product labeling, and international trade policy. His work often brings together diverse stakeholders to resolve challenging policy disputes and advance practical solutions.

He holds a degree in Animal and Poultry Science from Virginia Tech and first came to Washington to work for his hometown Member of Congress. Andrew grew up working in his family’s business, Harker Painting, Inc.

Samantha Buchalter is a senior government affairs strategist known for building and leading high-impact coalitions that unite diverse stakeholders to address complex policy challenges.

She has played a key role in shaping national conversations on agriculture, climate, and sustainability policy, ensuring that producer perspectives remain central to policy development. Her work has helped elevate client priorities in congressional hearings, policy forums, and national media.

At The Russell Group, Samantha advises clients on a broad range of legislative and regulatory issues, including nutrition policy, animal health, and sustainability initiatives. She has helped secure key funding priorities through the federal appropriations process, advance policy victories in the 2018 Farm Bill, and support clients in obtaining competitive federal grants.

Samantha serves on the Board of Directors of the DC Family and Youth Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth in foster care. She is a graduate of The George Washington University and grew up in central Connecticut, where she attended an agriscience program that sparked her early interest in agriculture.

Mary Galey serves as Executive Affairs Director at The Russell Group, where she leads client service coordination and executive scheduling.

She brings extensive experience in political operations and government scheduling. Mary began her Washington career as a scheduler for Representative David McKinley of West Virginia and later served as Director of Operations for Representative Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin.

Most recently, Mary served in the Trump-Vance Administration as Director of Scheduling for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, where she managed high-level engagements and coordinated complex schedules across the Department of Agriculture.

Mary is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of work, she enjoys early-morning workout classes and cheering on the Tar Heels.

Alex Smith grew up in the Texas Panhandle, where agriculture played a central role in daily life. He worked on a Black Angus cattle ranch and was active in the Texas 4-H program.

He later attended Texas A&M University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics. Alex first gained exposure to agricultural policy through a government relations internship with the USA Rice Federation, which led him to move to Washington, D.C. after graduating.

Prior to joining The Russell Group, Alex worked at CropLife America as Government Relations Coordinator, supporting both federal and state advocacy efforts and assisting in the management of the organization’s PAC.

Outside of work, Alex enjoys college sports, reading history, staying active, and early-morning rounds of golf.