With extensive experience on Capitol Hill, Mr. Faber previously served as a Senior Vice President at a prominent Washington, D.C. government affairs firm run by a former nine-term member of Congress. There he worked with Fortune 500 companies, CEOs, government officials, three Governors, five Mayors, university leaders, and trade associations to direct major legislative affairs campaigns before the U.S. Congress and federal agencies.

Mr. Faber brings extensive political experience to LaunchPoint, having worked with the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee under Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and having served on Senator Bob Dole’s 1996 presidential campaign.

Mr. Faber currently serves as a Senior Advisor across several key organizations in the gaming sector. At Morgan State University, he acts as Senior Advisor to the Director and Legislative and Policy Consultant for the Center for Data Analytics and Sports Gaming Research. Additionally, he provides strategic counsel as Senior Advisor to the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States, Spectrum Gaming Group, and the founder and producer of the Saratoga Racing and Gaming Conference. He is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington.

Throughout his public service—including roles as Cabinet Secretary for Business Affairs for Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and as Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Trade in Virginia—Secretary Rhee led major international trade and investment missions to drive job creation and attract global enterprise. In close coordination with the White House on cross-border initiatives, such as the National Export Initiative, he worked extensively with foreign corporate leaders and export-driven businesses to establish key global trade corridors.

In the energy sector, Secretary Rhee plays a pivotal role in advancing clean energy initiatives, sustainable infrastructure funding, and resilient supply chains. He has counseled state executives and industry leaders on large-scale infrastructure projects, including offshore wind energy, solar development, and green technologies, helping export-driven companies navigate dynamic geopolitical environments and complex regulatory landscapes.

Additionally, Secretary Rhee serves on the board of Harbor Bankshares Corporation, acts as Senior Advisor to Grayson & Co., sits on the advisory board for Morgan State University’s Center for Data Analytics and Sports Gaming Research, and contributes to academia as a professor at Morgan State University. He also serves on the boards of various civic, financial, and academic organizations and has received numerous honors, including the Korean Presidential Medal for Outstanding Korean American in Economic Development.

Secretary Rhee holds MAS and MBA degrees from Johns Hopkins University and a BA from the University of Maryland. Additionally, he studied law, holds a Professional Certificate in Energy from Stanford University’s Center for Professional Development, and is a certified performance coach.

Appointed by President Obama as the U.S. Ambassador to Belize from 2009 to 2013, Ambassador Thummalapally holds the historic distinction of being the first Indian American ever appointed as a U.S. Ambassador. Following his diplomatic post, he served as Executive Director of SelectUSA at the U.S. Department of Commerce (2013–2017), directing national strategy to attract foreign direct investment, drive job creation, and boost U.S. economic competitiveness —a role that earned him recognition by Newsweek as "America’s Chief Marketing Officer."

Prior to his public service, Ambassador Thummalapally spent 14 years as President of MAM-A Inc. (a subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals America), establishing the company as the leading benchmark and premier U.S. manufacturer of archival recordable optical media.

A dedicated advocate for political empowerment, Ambassador Thummalapally is a founding board member of Indian American Impact (IMPACT), where he works to expand representation and foster civic leadership for South Asian Americans nationwide. Ambassador Thummalapally holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, Northridge, and completed graduate courses in Business Administration at California State University and the University of Tennessee.