Based in Alexandria, VA, Jackson-West has the experience, outlook, networks, reach and ability to transform facts on the ground and positively alter the public sphere in your favor.

Our team has a track record of success in the government affairs arena thanks in part to our combined backgrounds in politics, journalism, public affairs, issue advocacy and crisis management and state and local governments.

At Jackson-West, we understand how to properly frame a cause, message or mission. We know how to work with the mainstream press, grassroots or grass-tops supporters, stakeholders and  appointed or elected officials. Jackson-West’s team has a measurable history of impacting outcomes and delivering victories and best results.

Charlie has advanced a wide array of interests in the halls of Virginia’s General Assembly, Executive branch and many of the state’s Boards and Commissions. He has lobbied and managed state politics for major Labor Unions, telecommunications companies, energy utilities, the casino industry, animal welfare organizations, K-12 public education and more.

Charlie has done considerable work for Labor Unions, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and its locals 32BJ and 512 and the Laborers International Union of North America. Through his advocacy for working people, Charlie helped secure a path to $15 per hour for Virginia workers, a repeal of the Commonwealth’s prohibition on Collective Bargaining rights for public sector employees, and a substantial raise for thousands of workers at National and Dulles airports. Through his work with Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Administration, Charlie helped secure the Commonwealth’s first state-incentivized Project Labor Agreement. Charlie’s work for SEIU on behalf of Medicaid-reimbursed home care workers resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars being allocated to raise rates, provide hazard pay and PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic and secure overtime and paid sick benefits.

Charlie has a proven track record of working effectively with Virginia’s Democratic trifecta, and his work during the 2019 and 2020 legislative and special sessions led to policy victories for his clients. On behalf of Rush Street Gaming, Charlie worked to ensure passage of historic casino gaming legislation. On behalf of Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), Charlie worked to ensure that the school division was adequately funded during the pandemic and to declare a gun-free zone on its school division-owned property.

Charlie continues to represent major interests at the state and federal levels, including SEIU, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Rush Street Gaming, Dominion, Crown Castle, Loudoun County Public Schools, the Hopewell Fund and Church World Service, among others.

At the local level, Charlie has successfully managed communications, political, grassroots and direct lobbying campaigns for numerous developers, most notably for Leesburg developer John Andrews and Green Energy Partners on the unanimous 2010 approval of a 780-megawatt natural gas power plant in Loudoun County, Va., one of the nation’s fastest growing and wealthiest localities. More recently, Jackson-West has worked on behalf of Crown Castle within Arlington, Alexandria, Charlottesville, Albemarle County and other localities to advance small cell, fiber and cellphone tower applications.

Charlie’s ties within the Democratic Party are deep. He served two terms as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia’s 10th Congressional District and as a member of the Democratic Party of Virginia’s Steering Committee. He is the immediate past PAC Board Chairman for NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia. In 2015, Virginia’s left-of-center blog, “Blue Virginia,” named Charlie the biggest winner during the Democratic primary campaign, as he helped lead a coalition of labor unions and advocacy groups to primary victories across the Commonwealth.

Christopher West brings nearly two decades of experience in public affairs, economic development strategy, and government relations, serving a diverse portfolio of corporate, nonprofit, and public sector clients across the country. He has advised Fortune 100 companies—including six that have consistently ranked in the top 15 of Fortune Magazine’s “Top 100”—as well as emerging businesses, trade associations, and local governments. His work spans the local, state, and federal levels, providing clients with strategic counsel on legislative advocacy, regulatory navigation, stakeholder engagement, and reputational management.

As a founding partner of Jackson-West Consulting LLP, Chris specializes in high-stakes government affairs, with a particular focus on complex land use, zoning, and entitlement issues. He has led grassroots and grasstops campaigns in support of controversial development projects and public infrastructure initiatives, often serving as the principal liaison between private sector developers, local officials, and impacted communities. His ability to anticipate political sensitivities and align public messaging with community priorities has made him a trusted partner for clients navigating contentious public processes.

In addition to his leadership at Jackson-West, Chris has spent the past twenty years partnering with some of Washington, D.C.’s premier public affairs and lobbying firms, where he has managed coalition-building efforts, organized statewide issue campaigns, and directed field operations on behalf of Fortune 500 clients, national associations, and advocacy groups. These engagements have provided him with unparalleled access to the strategies and insights of some of the nation’s top-tier consultants and policymakers.

Chris’s government experience is equally extensive. He previously served in the U.S. Senate office of Senator George Allen, in the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and as Deputy Clerk for the Circuit Court in Winchester, Virginia. He has also managed and advised a wide array of political campaigns—local, state, and federal—including leadership roles in key battleground efforts such as Bush-Cheney 2004 in Florida.

As an economic developer, Chris professional journey has been diverse and impactful. He has extensive experience navigating the intricacies of various land use projects, ranging from residential, mixed-use, and commercial developments to industrial ventures. His portfolio extends to highly controversial projects, where he has played a pivotal role in securing zoning and other state, local, and regulatory approvals, including master planned communities, mixed-use developments, mining operations, transmission lines and substations, oil and gas pipelines, power plants, manufacturing facilities, logistics and fulfillment centers, cellular and small cell installations, broadband and fiber development, and dozens of data center projects. This breadth of involvement has honed his ability to tackle complex challenges, balance stakeholder interests, and contribute to the sustainable growth of diverse projects within the dynamic landscape of economic development.

Whether lobbying state legislative bodies, advocating federal policy and regulatory issues, or guiding clients through local public engagement on land use decisions, Chris brings a results-driven approach grounded in integrity, insight, and deep relationships across the political spectrum. His ability to blend policy fluency with political acumen makes him uniquely effective in both proactive advocacy and strategic problem-solving.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Arizona State University. He is a dedicated community leader serving on several chamber, local and non-profits boards, a two-time Past President and three-time Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary International, a two-time Past Master of his Masonic Lodge, and an active member and Sunday School Teacher at his church.

Ian Lovejoy is a senior policy expert, former elected official, and public affairs professional with more than 15 years of government experience and deep expertise in state and local government, economic development, workforce policy, infrastructure, data analysis, and community-focused public policy.

Ian’s public service includes two terms on the Manassas City Council and service in the Virginia House of Delegates. As a Delegate, he served on the Science, Technology and Innovation Committee as well as the Cities, Counties and Towns Committee, bringing practical governing experience to complex policy issues affecting localities, taxpayers, businesses, and families across the Commonwealth.

During his time in the General Assembly, Ian chief patroned, chief co-patroned, or co-patroned numerous successful pieces of legislation. His legislative portfolio spanned education, workforce development, healthcare access, veterans’ benefits, campaign finance reform, government efficiency, transportation, public safety, affordability, and emerging technology issues.

Before serving in the House of Delegates, Ian was elected to the Manassas City Council at age 29, becoming the youngest member in modern city history. He chaired key committees on economic development, land use, finance, and personnel. As Chairman of the City Council’s Economic Development Committee, he oversaw more than $3 billion in capital investment in the city, helping advance major economic development initiatives, support job creation, improve transportation planning, and strengthen the local economy.

Ian also brings substantial private-sector and entrepreneurial experience. He has held leadership roles in healthcare operations and home care and founded Reliant Hiring Solutions, a national recruitment firm focused on connecting employers with qualified candidates through live hiring events. Through this work, he has helped thousands of job seekers access meaningful career opportunities while partnering with employers, public agencies, and community organizations.

Ian holds a Masters in Sociology from Virginia Tech. He is also a committed civic leader, Rotarian, and Paul Harris Fellow whose work reflects a commitment to service, evidence-based decision-making, responsible growth, transparent government, and policies that expand opportunity for workers, families, veterans, students, and small businesses.