BUSINESS | GOVERNMENT | SOLUTIONS
At a time of growing government involvement in every aspect of American life and the economy, Porter Gordon Silver Communications (PGS) has the capabilities to handle the most complex public policy problems. Our team provides strategic business and governmental affairs advice, plus has the skilled operatives available to accomplish the most difficult tasks.
PGS provides insight, advice and resolutions to legislative and regulatory dilemmas at various levels of government. In addition, we actively work to develop additional business opportunities and collaborations for our clients.
Our areas of expertise include gaming and internet gaming, transportation and infrastructure, appropriations, agency funding, education, health care and hospitals, tax, natural resources and energy, telecommunications, insurance, Native American affairs, travel and tourism, and energy. Our services include, but are not limited to, pursuing legislation, public funding and meaningful regulatory results for our clients.
Supporting PGS is the law firm of Gordon Silver (GS), a full service regional law firm with offices in Nevada, Arizona and Washington D.C. As one of Nevada’s oldest law firms, and the largest regional law firm based in Las Vegas, the firm has distinguished itself in many areas of law including gaming and internet gaming law. The combined resources of the PGS and GS provide an unparalleled resource for clients to draw upon when their public policy and legal needs meet.
PGS, a leading state and federal government affairs firm, serves clients throughout the United States and overseas from Washington, DC, Las Vegas, NV, and Phoenix, AZ.
- Honorable Jon C. Porter
Congressman Jon Porter (Ret.) is the President/CEO of PGS, a business development, government affairs and public policy advocacy firm with offices in Washington, DC and Las Vegas, Nevada. Porter brings nearly three decades of experience as a public servant at the local, state and federal levels. Known for his legislative abilities and pragmatic political instincts, he not only understands how Washington works, but how Main Street works as well.
From his time as City Council Member and Mayor of Boulder City, Nevada, then later as Nevada State Senator, and finally as a widely-respected member of the United States House of Representatives, Porter has always appreciated the delicate intersection between federal, state, and local governmental policy.
In addition to his current client work, which is focused on energy, defense, transportation, gaming, travel, and tourism matters, Porter is also a frequent speaker to a variety of audiences ranging from associations and trade shows to state and national conventions. His lengthy political background enables him to provide unique insight to government policy at both the local and federal level.
As a United States Congressman, Porter served on the Ways & Means Committee, the chief tax writing committee, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the Education and Labor Committee. As someone who believes in the power of building strong professional relationships, Porter still maintains close ties to the House and Senate Republican and Democrat Leadership.
Porter’s years of success can be attributed to his solution driven, bipartisan political and business leadership style. Porter was also Co-Chair of the Congressional Travel and Tour Caucus (CTTC) where he and Representative Sam Farr (D-CA) reinvigorated the caucus in a bipartisan fashion attracting close to 100 new Members of Congress to join the coalition.
- Sean T. Higgins
Sean is Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of PGS and heads up the group’s Las Vegas office. Sean is responsible for interacting with Nevada clients on all government affairs and administrative matters within the State of Nevada. He regularly collaborates with various state and local government agencies and departments on behalf of the firm’s clients. He also attends the Nevada legislative sessions each biennium and was instrumental in passing HB 571, the 2011 law which overturned Nevada’s smoking ban in taverns. His clients include gaming companies, fuel retailers, real estate developers and hospitality and service industry companies.
Sean primarily practices in the areas of gaming, licensing and regulatory law, governmental affairs, and corporate transactional work. Mr. Higgins served as Executive Vice president - General Counsel for Herbst Gaming, Inc., a multi-jurisdictional gaming company for the past 17 years. His duties involved regular interaction with the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Commission, Clark County Commission and various local municipal governments throughout Nevada as well as both the Missouri Gaming Commission and Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.
Mr. Higgins also oversaw governmental affairs for Terrible Herbst, as General Counsel including attending the legislative session in Carson City on a regular basis. He regularly negotiated both land purchase and leases and asset purchase agreements involving the purchase and sale of both operating convenience stores and potential sites. Mr. Higgins also was involved in the entitlement process for all licenses
and use permits required for operations.
Mr. Higgins is admitted to practice law in Nevada. He received his Juris Doctorate from Santa Clara University School of Law and received his Bachelors in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University. He is a member of the American
Bar Association, Nevada Bar Association and Clark County Bar Association. He currently sits on the Board of Trustees of the International Association of Gaming Advisors.
- Daniel D. Mauer
Dan is the Director of Federal Government Affairs for PGS in its Washington, DC office and is mainly responsible for developing federal government strategy, building and maintaining pertinent relationships on Capitol Hill, and overseeing all work as it relates to the Congress and the Administration.
Prior to joining Porter Gordon Silver, Dan was the Legislative Analyst for Akerman Senterfitt’s Government Affairs and Public Policy practice group in Washington DC. In that capacity, he served Akerman’s clients by tracking legislation, drafting memos and updates, interpreting legislation and regulation, and acting as an intermediary between Akerman’s clients, the Firm, and the Congress.
Mauer’s background also includes years as a staff member for United States Senator Norm Coleman. During that time, Dan handled issues relating to taxes, budget, labor and telecommunications and worked on landmark legislation such as H.R. 3221, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, H.R. 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, and S. 7005, the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act.
Dan was born and raised in St. Paul, MN and earned his bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire where he studied economics and political science.
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Michael Sullivan
Michael Sullivan has been managing campaigns and providing government affairs services in Nevada since 1990. In that time he has served as a top advisor for many of the state’s top elected officials, including the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Senate Majority Leader and the Assembly Speaker, in addition to numerous legislative committee chairs and current County Commissioners and City Councilmen.
Mr. Sullivan has been a state-level lobbyist in Carson City for more than a decade, representing clients in a variety of industries, including transportation, banking, the public sector and telecommunications to name a few. He is well versed in legislative strategy and has been involved in some of the biggest legislative issues in the past few sessions.
In addition to state lobbying, Mr. Sullivan also handles a number of clients on local government issues. He has close relationships with top staff and elected leaders, all of which allow him to move a client’s legislation efficiently through the system.
Raised in Southern Nevada, Mr. Sullivan attended the University of Nevada Reno and studied journalism. His first job was with the Las Vegas Sun newspaper where he worked for former Nevada Governor Mike O’Callaghan. He left reporting in 1989 to join Joyce Advertising, where he learned the lobbying and political consulting trade from Nevada legend Jim Joyce.
Because of his experience in the journalism and marketing worlds, Mr. Sullivan knows how to frame a client’s issue so it has the best chance of being successful. In addition, he knows how to handle media inquiries should a piece of legislation attract attention or become controversial.
Prior to joining Porter Gordon Silver, Mr. Sullivan was president of his own government affairs firm, Knight Government Affairs, and a partner in Paladin Advertising, a local political consulting agency.
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3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Ninth Floor | Las Vegas, NV 89169
T: 702.796.5555
