Hispanic Lobbyist Group Chooses New Leader

The leading group for Hispanics in government relations has picked the head of Becker & Poliakoff's Washington office as its leader, the firm announced last week.

The Hispanic Lobbyists Association (HLA) elected Becker government consultant Omar Franco to a one-year term in December. He succeeds Podesta Group principal Cristina Antelo as the organization's head.

"It's a big honor," said Franco, who has served on HLA's board since 2007. "I'm so happy my colleagues put their trust and faith in me to do this."

Founded in 2006, HLA has about 75 members. Franco said he is looking to expand the group's membership, as well as provide ethics training and more networking opportunities.

In 2012, Franco was registered to lobby for more than a dozen organizations, including Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino. The group is trying to establish a museum for American Latinos on the National Mall at the Smithsonian Institution's Arts and Industries Building, which currently doesn't house any permanent exhibits and is closed to the public for renovations.