About Us
Our firm combines the talents of veteran legislative and legal consultants with a broad range of experience in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the federal agencies. Our collective experience and contacts make us uniquely qualified to connect clients with decision-makers at all levels of government, and guide them through the legislative and federal procurement processes.
Since 1987, we have provided clients with superior strategic advice and access that helps get their voices heard on important issues affecting their business, and seize new opportunities to grow their business in the federal marketplace. We are determined in our focus on behalf of our clients: to deliver results, on time and on budget.
We represent clients large and small as either their sole representative in Washington, or as partners with outside firms by contributing our particular strengths. We provide each client with hands-on senior counselors who possess decades of experience in Washington and a commitment to delivering their public-policy goals.
Susan founded Alvarado & Bennett nearly 25 years ago following a distinguished career in public service. During her years at Alvarado & Bennett, Susan has provided strategic counsel to a broad range of clients on government relations matters involving Capitol Hill and the Executive Branch, in particular the federal agencies. She possesses deep expertise in defense, telecommunications and postal services issues. A hallmark of Susan’s success is the trusted relationships she develops with her clients, many of whom have been with the firm for decades.
Her long career in public service includes serving on the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, a position she held for 10 years following her appointment by President Ronald Reagan.
Susan also served with distinction in the Vice President’s office and in the U.S. Senate. She served Vice President George H.W. Bush as his assistant for legislative affairs, coordinating his Capitol Hill office and serving as his liaison to members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Susan was the first woman to work for the Senate Republican leadership as floor assistant to Assistant Minority Leader Ted Stevens, interacting on a daily basis with Senator Stevens and other Republican senators as well as the Democratic leadership.
Susan currently serves as Treasurer of the National Postal Forum Board of Directors following a two-year term as its Chairman. She has previously served as Vice Chairman of the Latino Coalition and also on Washington Tennis and Educational Foundation Board.
Susan received a bachelor's degree in political science from The Ohio State University where she was a member of the women's varsity tennis team. Subsequently, she was honored with the University's William Oxley Thompson Alumni Award for distinguished achievement in her career. In 2000, she was awarded the First Annual Public Service Award from the International Myeloma Foundation, an honor she shared with her late father, Ricardo R. Alvarado.
Bill is a partner in Alvarado & Bennett and serves as a representative for firms seeking to do business with the federal government. He also represents firms already under contract to the government but needing strategic guidance and assistance to resolve disputes, negotiate settlements, and interpret and explain contract obligations and rights.
Before joining the firm in 2001, Bill was Chief Counsel for Procurement at the U.S. Postal Service in Washington, D.C. In that capacity, he was in charge of all legal aspects for the procurement of billions of dollars per year of supplies, services, equipment, transportation, and information systems to support the Postal Service’s nationwide operations. Prior to serving in that position, Bill served as Regional Counsel for the Postal Service’s Southern Region in Memphis, TN, and later as Associate General Counsel at Postal Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Bill also served as a staff assistant to a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives and later as a chief of the reserve procurement law office of the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force in the Pentagon.
Bill graduated from Princeton University and Duke University School of Law. Prior to attending law school, Bill served his country in the Vietnam War as an officer in the United States Army.