Van Freeman

About Van Freeman

I help organizations navigate the intersection of government and business — building the policy presence, relationships, and advocacy infrastructure that turns regulatory complexity into competitive advantage.Over 20 years, I have led government affairs and public policy strategy at every level of the ecosystem: inside Cabinet agencies at the U.S. Department of Commerce, as Deputy Chief of Staff running a $150M+ municipal workforce agency, as the government affairs architect for a national trade association, and as the executive who built federal, state, and local advocacy functions from zero for organizations scaling across the country. I am a barred attorney with deep fluency in federal rulemaking, legislative strategy, appropriations, and regulatory compliance.My work sits across three domains:GOVERNMENT RELATIONS — I advise organizations on how to engage government effectively: building the right external infrastructure, managing lobbyists and consultants to outcomes, navigating Congress and federal agencies, and positioning organizations to shape policy before the vote is called or the rule is proposed. I have managed contract lobbying operations across multiple states, overseen PAC formation and compliance, and represented organizations before Congressional committees, federal agencies, and the White House.ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT — I work at the intersection of public funding and private sector growth, helping economic development organizations, municipalities, and mission-driven enterprises identify, structure, and secure federal and state investment. My work has touched EDA, HUD, SBA, DOC, and DOL funding streams, and I have developed the funding frameworks and public-private partnership strategies that connect community priorities to institutional capital.WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT — I lead the policy and government affairs strategy for organizations solving the hardest talent pipeline problems in America. I understand how companies identify and address workforce gaps, how government and workforce organizations deploy WIOA, SNAP E&T, and competitive grant dollars to create economic mobility, and how to align those two sides of the equation into durable, fundable workforce solutions.I advise C-suite executives, nonprofit boards, and growth-stage companies on government affairs strategy, policy positioning, and public sector market entry.If your organization is navigating government — or should be — let\'s talk.

Experience

1. Mentor - Strategic Advisor

   Techstars

   Sep 2022 — Present

   Serve as a strategic mentor to early-stage founders navigating regulated industries, government market entry, and public sector go-to-market strategy — advising on policy risk, federal funding pathways, and the stakeholder ecosystems that determine whether a growth-stage company scales or stalls in government-facing markets.Advise founders on government affairs strategy, regulatory positioning, and public sector market entry — translating complex federal and state environments into actionable business decisions for companies building in workforce technology, fintech, healthcare, and economic development sectors.Guide executive teams on capital strategy, including access to non-dilutive public funding, federal procurement pathways, and public-private partnership structures that accelerate growth without diluting equity.Provide board-level perspective on political risk, regulatory exposure, and stakeholder management for companies whose growth trajectories intersect with government policy.

Education

• Morehouse College

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Mathematics

• Southern University Law Center

  Juris Doctorate, Corporate Law and Community Development

• Morehouse College

  Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering and Economics

• Southern University Law Center

  Doctor of Law - JD, Community Development and Corporate Law

Skills

• Community Outreach
• Courts
• Legislative Relations
• Community Organizing
• Team Building
• Public Speaking
• Training
• Organizational Development
• Public Policy
• Commercial Litigation
• Westlaw
• Corporate Law
• Intellectual Property
• Leadership
• Legal Research
• Political Campaigns
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Policy
• Research
• Dispute Resolution
• Trials
• Employment Law
• Civil Litigation
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• Policy Analysis
• Mediation