With over 20 years of experience in a wide variety of strategic public policy and political roles inside and outside of government, Ian Rayder has steered legislative and political agendas for stakeholders at every level. After working in both the private and public sectors (with the rare trifecta of federal, state, and local government service), Ian has a deep understanding of the intersection between politics and policy.

Ian spent a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives as a top advisor for Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), former Chair of the Democratic National Committee and current Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. As Deputy Chief of Staff, Ian was a senior advisor for the overall political and legislative strategy of the office and handled the Representative’s Appropriations, Budget and Steering & Policy Committee portfolios. Ian also regularly staffed Wasserman Schultz on the House floor, supporting her work as Chief Deputy Whip.

After departing Capitol Hill, Ian spent nearly four years as Director of Government Affairs at Cisco Systems, a Fortune 100 multinational technology conglomerate. In this capacity, he represented the company before Congress on its domestic policy agenda, including complex issues such as high-skilled immigration, telecommunications, patent reform, cybersecurity, and taxation. Then, upon moving to Colorado with his family in 2019, Ian led the federal affairs portfolio at Denver International Airport, driving the strategic plan objectives for the third-busiest airport in the world.

Ian returned to public service in early 2020 when he was chosen to serve as Colorado’s Deputy Secretary of State, advising Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D-CO) on policy and operational decisions and overseeing internal operations for a 150-person staff. Notably, Ian helped lead the agency’s oversight of the 2020 Colorado Statewide Primary and General Elections, both of which set historic voter turnout records in the state.

Ian holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree from the University of Florida’s Political Management program. As an adjunct lecturer at his graduate alma mater, he has taught practical politics and lobbying strategy in the federal government. Ian’s wife, Eve, is the Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade; together, they live with their two young children in Denver. Ian splits his time between Denver and D.C.