She is an accomplished government relations professional with two decades of policy experience both in government and the private sector.
Before joining Autos Drive America, Safavian was Executive Vice President for Government Affairs at the Retail Industry Leaders Association. Prior to holding that position, she spent the majority of her career on Capitol Hill, serving as Staff Director and General Counsel on the House Ways & Means Committee, and holding senior positions on other key House Committees, including Energy & Commerce and Oversight & Government Reform.
Among her various accolades, Safavian has been named one of the “Top Trade Association Lobbyists” by The Hill seven times since 2017. She has been named by the National Law Journal as one of the “Top 10 Lawyers on Capitol Hill” and one of the “Fabulous 50” top congressional staff members by Roll Call. Safavian has a J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law and holds a B.A. from Saint Louis University.
In his role, he spearheads the Association’s legislative and policy agenda on a range of issues impacting the automotive manufacturing industry.
Heslington is widely recognized as a trade policy expert. He previously served as International Trade Policy Advisor to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance under Chairman Chuck Grassley. Joining the Finance Committee in 2015, Heslington advised on international trade policy that included trade negotiations, supply-chains, e-commerce, and customs. Prior to joining the committee, Rory spent 13 years in the private sector managing market research studies and working for a leadership development training firm.
Rory earned his M.B.A. from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and a B.S. in Political Science and International Relations from Utah Valley University.
In her role, she spearheads the association’s communications agenda and supports its advocacy efforts in both trade and national media. She brings more than 15 years of political strategy, media relations, and public affairs experience to the position, as well as deep relationships on Capitol Hill.
Beth previously worked as a Director at Golin, a global PR firm, providing strategic advice and public affairs counsel to Fortune 100 clients in the manufacturing, tech, and transportation industries. Prior to her time with Golin, she spent more than a decade on Capitol Hill, including six years as the Communications Director for Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio. She previously worked as the assistant to DCCC Chair Steve Israel, a member of congressional leadership.
Beth graduated from Skidmore College with a Bachelor’s degree in Government and Women’s Studies and holds a Master’s degree in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University.
In his role, Comstock promotes the Association’s policy goals on behalf of international automakers in Congress, state legislatures, and the Executive Branch.
Prior to joining Autos Drive America, Comstock was Senior Director of Legislative Affairs at the Associated Builders and Contractors, where he worked on issues related to workforce and education, labor, tax, trade, immigration, and health care at the federal level. Comstock also served on Capitol Hill for more than nine years, working for Rep. French Hill (R-AR), Rep. Tim Griffin (R-AR), and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
Comstock is a graduate of Virginia Tech.
Prior to this, he was a Trade Analyst at Global Automakers where he worked with the Here For America coalition advocating for policies promoting free trade and a competitive and vibrant American auto industry. Edward is a native of Washington, D.C. and a graduate of the University of South Carolina where he earned a B.S. in Economics and a minor in History. While at U. of S.C., Edward conducted research on the numerous economic benefits the auto industry brought to the state.
Prior to this, she interned with BMW’s Government and External Affairs team where she contributed to advancing issues important to the BMW Group and the automotive industry on both global and domestic levels.
Andrea earned her B.A. in Global Affairs with a minor in Human Security from George Mason University and completed an International Security Studies program at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland.
