Bridgestone/Firestone to open Washington office

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 23)—Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. is opening an office in Washington to allow the company to improve its ability to deal with members of Congress, the White House and other federal and state government agencies and organizations. The company said it hired Steven Akey, a veteran public affairs specialist with experience in government, trade association and industry posts, as division vice president, government affairs, directing federal and state government relations. He has worked as senior strategist and chief spokesperson for the U.S. Secretary of Transportation; senior adviser and spokesperson for the administrator of the Federal Highway Administration; and senior vice president and director of the Transportation Policy Group for Edelman Public Relations Worldwide.