Robb Watters founded The Madison Group in 2004 and brings clients a deep background in using the legislative arena to create new business opportunities and solve issues of concern for corporations, governments and industry trade associations. His clients have included some of America’s best known companies, like Intuit, Hewlett-Packard, Daily News and Oracle. They have also included small, innovative companies who, with Mr. Watters’ help, have come to have procurement relationships with the federal government. As a senior Congressional staff member, Mr. Watters spent a number of years as a top aide to former Representative Marc Neumann of Wisconsin, managing the intricacies of appropriations and budget matters. He also served as the Senior Policy Advisor to former Representative Frank Riggs of California, who was then Chairman of the House Education and Workforce subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. Mr. Watters years of working on appropriations and budget issues gives him a unique insight into the inner workings of Capitol Hill. During his tenure in Congress, he assisted in drafting significant e-commerce legislation, and is an important contact and source of information about issues affecting companies in Silicon Valley. Mr. Watters’ practice has also expanded to include the development of relationships between foreign governments and private foreign entities seeking new capital opportunities and assistance from partners in the U.S. His work helps these foreign entities expand their financing and reach beyond their own borders. For the last 15 years, Mr. Watters has helped guide and advise international companies from Europe and Asia. Through his work on international trade issues, Robb assisted in the establishment the Forum for Trust in On-line Trade, a leading B2B association internationally. In 2003, Mr. Watters was appointed an ISAC Consultant on Trade Matters by then-Secretary of Commerce Don Evans and the former United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Zoellick.