Marc is the Senior Vice President of Business Development for Government Affairs responsible for new client development, strategic planning, advocacy and grass roots mobilization for The Leonard Group (TLG), an “Inside the Beltway” Washington DC based Government Contracts and Lobbying Firm.
He has over 35-years of combined experience in domestic and international business development, sales and marketing in the Aerospace and Defense, Telecommunications and Government Affairs industries.
TLG’s current and former clients are in the Aerospace and Defense, Satellite, Music and Recording, Gaming, Financial Services, US Legal Tender and Currency, Furniture, Manufacturing and Professional Sports industries.
Reported directly to the late Jerris Leonard, Esq., Mr. Leonard was the Chairman and Founder of TLG, Assistant Attorney General for the US Department of Justice (DOJ) appointed by President Richard M. Nixon, confirmed by the United States Senate, Administrator of the Law Enforcement Administration and Senior Partner at Foley and Lardner, LLP, a K Street law firm in Washington DC.
Marc facilitated White House meetings between The Vice President of the United States who is also the Chairman of the National Space Council along with the US House of Representatives Majority Leader and TLG’s client in the Private Space industry. As a result, The Vice President and Majority Leader landed Air Force Two in the California Mojave Desert to meet and tour the hanger and engineering facilities with TLG’s client and high-ranking officials from the Department of Defense (DoD) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
He has teamed with Governmental Affairs consultants to halt anti-client legislation in the Senate and House preventing consideration of same on the respective floors. Campaigned for four (4) United States Senate and Gubernatorial races in Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey and Virginia. Instrumental in facilitating the U.S. Senate Majority Leader’s visit and tour one of the largest employers in the State of Colorado for U.S. Senatorial and Congressional candidates.
Marc managed various government affairs clients of The Leonard Group and Foley & Lardner. Developed access to key decision makers within The White House, Congress and various Federal Agencies. Specifically, with the House and Senate Armed Services, Appropriations and Judiciary Committees. Attended and monitored numerous Congressional hearings, mark-ups, floor votes and key political events such as the National Presidential Convention where he actively participated in the Senatorial Trust functions providing him further value-added access to Congressional Leadership and Cabinet Members.
Worked for eight years at Hughes Aircraft Company/General Motors Hughes Electronics known today as Raytheon in Los Angeles, CA. Responsible for overall Corporate Marketing management at domestic and international trade and air shows to include a business development function as a centralized resource for customers, program management and field offices at both the Corporate and Division levels to identify new opportunities to win Department of Defense (DoD) contracts.
Directly engaged in Corporate Marketing efforts for seven operating divisions with diverse product-lines including Electro-Optics, Missiles, Airborne and Ground Based Radars, Space and Communications as well as Santa Barbara and Malibu Research Centers and various General Motors programs with a combined total annual gross sales revenue over $15.0 billion.
Performed front-line marketing and business development duties while attending numerous international trade and air shows events to include the Paris, Farnborough and Dubai air shows, IDEX in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and IDEA in Ankara, Turkey.
At the Electro-Optical division, he worked with both tactical and strategic programs with technologies such as forward-looking infrared (FLIR), thermal imaging sensors, missile guidance & fire control systems for US military and International programs.
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a concentration in International Business from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA sponsored by General Motors Hughes Electronics.
Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Business Administration and Management with a concentration in Marketing and Economics from the Charles H. Smith School of Business and Management at the University of Maryland in College Park.
Registered lobbyist that has successfully completed the requisite courses to earn the Professional Lobbying Certificate (PLC) sponsored by the American League of Lobbyist (ALL) currently known as The National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics (NILE).
Former member of the Association of the US Army (AUSA), Air Force Association (AFA), Association of Old Crows (AOC), Navy League, Marine Corp League (MCL), Army Aviation Association of America (QUAD-A) and Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association (AFCEA).
Marc has lived and worked in Washington DC for over 30-years plus 18-years between New York City, Los Angeles, CA, Denver, CO and Phoenix, AZ and 13-years living internationally in Europe. Studied languages for both business and leisure travel throughout Europe and the Middle East developing an excellent command of the German language with proficient understanding of the Dutch and French languages.
Proud father of two adult sons that graduated from Providence College and Princeton University.
Note: In May 2018, had a legal last name change from Wiedmaier to Van Robaeys.
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