WHY WE ARE IMPORTANT TO YOUR CAREER

A November 2011 article in The Economist ("Contact Sports") stated that "in the rarefied world of the corporate board, a good network matters."  The article went on to mention that executives with 400 contacts are, on average, paid 6 percent more than those with 200.  For non-executives, the gap is 14 percent. 

The Washington Intergovernmental Professional Group, LLC (WIPG) is the premier organization that introduces mid- to high-level professionals in the DC Metropolitan area to newly appointed Ambassadors from around the world, as well as newly elected Members of Congress.  We hold monthly networking events as a means of providing professionals extended exposure and access to key policy makers in the city.

WHY THERE IS A NEED FOR OUR SERVICES

As the demand for strategic partnerships and stronger networks with private and public sector groups continues to grow, it is clear that a need exists for DC-based professionals to expand their contacts among other key policy makers, business executives, political and community leaders. 

In the current economic times, DC-based professionals will need to depend on such contacts to obtain valuable information in the most cost-effective manner to ensure the best decisions are made when carrying out their business plans and policy goals. 

With the election of new members in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate, the demand to interact with the Freshman Class of this Congress becomes even more apparent. WIPG can help you develop and organize Congressional Meet and Greets, staff briefings, and fly-in activities specifically designed for your needs that would allow for the continued growth of your contacts in Congress at very little cost.

WHY WE CAN BE A USEFUL RESOURCE FOR YOUR NEXT JOB

Networking is the best way to find your next job, especially since the vast majority of job openings are never advertised.  They are usually filled via word of mouth.  Unfortunately, many job seekers are hesitant to take advantage of networking opportunities because they feel it is a waste of time, nor do they recognize the value of making key necessary contacts.  But networking is not a useless excercise—it’s about building relationships. As you look for a new job, these relationships can provide much-needed feedback, advice, and support.

Networking may sound difficult, or even intimidating—especially when it comes to
finding a job or asking for help—but it doesn’t have to be. Networking can be
rewarding, and even fun.  It can be a useful tool even if you are new to the DC area and do not know that many people. 

AI LEADERSHIP CIRCLE BREAKFAST BRIEFING:  Where Nations Shape the Future of Artificial Intelligence with Mr. Hubert Han, Counsellor (Digital), Embassy of the Republic of Singapore to the United States of America

Hosted by:  The Washington Intergovernmental Professional Group, the World Trade Center DC, and Knowledge Networks

August, 2026

Election 2026 Breakfast Briefing for Diplomats and WIPG Members
Hosted by:  The Washington Intergovernmental Professional Group and the World Trade Center, DC
October, 2026

Inside the Owner’s Box:  Power and Leadership in Sports
Hosted by:  American University
August 3, 2026
RSVP

Federal Contracting Pitfalls:  The Invoice You Shouldn’t Have Submitted Yet

Hosted by:  JSchaus & Associates
August 11, 2026
RSVP

The Future of GovCon Growth:  Beyond Generative AI
Hosted by:  JSchaus & Associates
August 19, 2026
RSVP

Series Part 1: How to Read a Contract Before You Bid It
Hosted by:  JSchaus & Associates
August 25, 2026
RSVP

Doing Business With DoW + The Intel Community
Hosted by:  JSchaus & Associates
August 27, 2026

RSVP

American University’s School of International Service (SIS):  Project Management for International Development
Hosted by:  American University
September 1 to December 1, 2026
RSVP

Series Part 2: Bidding to Win AND to Execute
Hosted by:  JSchaus & Associates
September 8, 2026
RSVP

Series Part 3: Task Order Strategy on IDIQs and GWACs
Hosted by:  JSchaus & Associates
September 22, 2026
RSVP

American University’s School of International Service (SIS):  Trade Today – Measuring and Assessing Risk in Global Value Chains
Hosted by:  American University
September 22 to October 27, 2026
RSVP

The US Supreme Court:  A Conversation with Adam Liptak, Chief of Legal Affairs, New York Times
Hosted by:  American University
September 28, 2026
RSVP:  Please contact Professor Jeff Kahn, Director of the Program on Law & Government, AU Washington College of Law, at jkahn@american.edu.

His Excellency Tan Sri Shahrul began his diplomatic career in 1988 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia as an Administrative and Diplomatic Officer. 

His early assignments included serving as Assistant Secretary (East Asia) at the Ministry, Second Secretary to the Embassy of Malaysia in Beijing in May 1991, First Secretary to the Embassy of Malaysia in Washington D.C. in June 1994, and Minister Counsellor to the Embassy of Malaysia in Vienna in March 2002. 

He later held the positions of Undersecretary for the Multilateral Political Division in September 2005, Ambassador of Malaysia to the State of Qatar from December 2007 to February 2010, and Ambassador of Malaysia to the Republic of Austria from June 2010 to September 2013. 

He was also Director General at ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat from October 2013 to January 2016 and Deputy Secretary General (Bilateral Affairs) from January 2016 to January 2017.

From February 2017 to December 2018, Ambasador Tan Sri Shahrul served as the Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations in New York. 

He was appointed Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia in January 2019, a position he held until his retirement in May 2022.

Amb. Tan Sri Shahrul is currently Ambassador of Malaysia to the United States of America. 

He was the Governor for Malaysia and Chairman of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors from February 2010 to September 2010. 

He also served as a Director on the Board of Dewan Bahasa from 2019 to 2021 and the Malaysian Institute of Maritime from 2019 to 2022.

Ambassador Tan Sri Shahrul holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecology from the University of Malaya and a Diploma in Public Administration from the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN). 

He attended the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School in 2009.

As Director of Business Development at Monarc Construction, Aarron is focused on creating strategic partnerships and identifying opportunities that drive long-term growth for both their clients and their organization. With more than 10 years of business development experience in the construction industry, Aarron has built a reputation for connecting market opportunities with effective project delivery through strong relationships and a client-focused approach.

Monarc Construction is a commercial general contractor serving the DMV region, delivering a diverse portfolio of commercial projects. Their ability to self-perform key trades allows them to maintain greater control over quality, schedule, and execution, resulting in a dependable reputation and successful outcomes for their clients.

His professional focus is on cultivating relationships with owners, developers, architects, and industry partners to create strategic value and support project success from concept through completion. He is passionate about understanding client goals, aligning resources to meet project objectives, and fostering partnerships built on trust, transparency, and performance.

Aarron welcomes opportunities to connect with professionals across the commercial real estate, development, architecture, and construction communities to explore how they can work together to bring exceptional projects to life.

Jeff Berkowitz is the founder and CEO of Washington’s preeminent competitive intelligence and risk advisory firm, Delve. Delve helps heavily regulated and highly scrutinized sectors − including energy and utilities, life sciences, financial services and beyond − anticipate and mitigate public affairs challenges.

Recognized by POLITICO as an “opposition research and policy ace” and “one of the best-known policy and opposition researchers in D.C.” by The Daily Beast, Berkowitz previously served as the Research Director of the Republican National Committee (RNC), where he served three tours under four chairmen across five election cycles. At the RNC, Berkowitz helped to craft the GOP response to current events and long-term initiatives, ranging from Supreme Court nominations to Obamacare to the Dodd-Frank financial regulations.

Berkowitz also served on staff or advised on five major presidential campaigns and has shepherded research and messaging operations at The White House, the U.S. Department of State, and several prominent private sector and non-profit organizations.

As a member of the Forbes Business Council and a leader in the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Berkowitz provides both commentary and guidance to businesses and industries of all sizes. He also sits on the board of the America’s Future Foundation, a nationwide network fostering the next generation of liberty-minded leaders.

To interview or invite Jeff Berkowitz to speak at your event, please email Kevin Norton at kevin@delvedc.com.

Trenton Marsolek is a senior programs manager at the US-China Business Council, where he leads member briefings, policy discussions, diplomatic engagements, and other signature events that connect American companies with key stakeholders in the US-China relationship.

Before joining USCBC, Trenton spent three years at the US-China Education Trust, advancing from intern to program officer and special assistant to Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch. Earlier in his career he held internships with the Institute for China-America Studies, the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence, and supported student-led, China-focused initiatives through Global China Connection and the US-China Strong Foundation.

Trenton’s interest in US-China relations began in 2015 when he received a scholarship from the US Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth program, during which he studied Mandarin in Sichuan Province. He is proficient in Mandarin and earned a master’s degree in Chinese politics, foreign policy, and international relations from Tsinghua University and a bachelor’s in international studies from American University.

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