Jeff Speaks
Owner and President, CEO
Jeff Speaks has over twenty years of experience within federal and state government, as well as in state and national politics. Before his career in government relations, he spent 10 years as projects director for U.S. Representative Harold Rogers (KY-5), former chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee.
There, he worked on the development, funding, coordination and implementation of projects throughout the 5th Congressional District, helping communities, counties, and local businesses understand federal and state funding agencies. His projects secured funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of the Interior.
He is the owner and president of JBS Communications, with offices in Washington, DC and Lexington, KY. The firm works at the federal and state level, advising clients on community and project development, foreign affairs, energy issues, regulatory and policy concerns, transportation, federal appropriations, health care, telecommunications policy, and government contracting.
He draws on extensive knowledge of the federal appropriations process, regulatory and permitting environment, federal and state tax credits and grant programs, and economic development incentives.
Mr. Speaks has extensive political experience. He served as state director for the Dole-Kemp presidential campaign in 1996; campaign political director for Congressman Rogers’ re-election campaigns in 1992, 1994, and 1998; and worked with the Bush 2000 campaign during the South Carolina primary.
He also served as a volunteer political activities specialist and trainer with the International Republican Institute, conducting political party training seminars in the Republic of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Angola. He was selected as a delegate for the American Council of Young Political Leaders’ Thailand exchange in 1994.
JBS Communications’ client base extends across the United States and around the world. With projects in Germany, Egypt, Kentucky, Texas, and Florida — among many others — he has extensive experience working with legislative leaders and executive branch officials and close relationships with congressional delegations.
A native of eastern Kentucky, Mr. Speaks lives in Lexington, KY. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking, University of Kentucky football and basketball, and satisfying his passion for European history through traveling and literature.
Jeff Terhune
Director, Federal Affairs
Jeff Terhune is a trusted advisor to private sector leaders, community agents, and public policy makers. As Director, Federal Affairs, Jeff plays a key role at JBS Communications, providing clients strategy guidance that is informed by in-depth experience with federal and state government officials. Jeff has a proven record for finding unique answers for any given problem that best fits the client’s needs.
Prior to joining JBS Communications, Jeff worked for STEMconnector, a company whose mission is to work with public and private sector leaders to create a diverse STEM talent pipeline. As the Manager of Business Development, Jeff created close relationships with C-Suite executives from Fortune 500 companies where he was looked to for answers to their organizational-specific questions. Jeff also had the privilege of leading the Million Women Mentors initiative with the purpose of mentoring 1 million women and girls into STEM careers. Jeff reached this goal through working closely with the Trump administration and more than a dozen bipartisan Senators to expand the outreach to millions of women and girls throughout the country.
The son of a retired Army Colonel, Jeff graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in International Affairs. He currently resides in Washington D.C. with his 3 year old Lab/Pointer mix Bourbon. In his spare time, he is fortunate to serve as a Committee Member for the DC Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.