The Political Life

Meet Ches McDowell – Managing the GR team at Checkmate Government Relations. Nov 11, 2024

**This episode was recorded prior to the 2024 election**

Ches McDowell leads the Checkmate Government Relations team and focuses primarily on the North Carolina General Assembly and the North Carolina Congressional Delegation.

He has delivered victories for clients in health care, financial services, entertainment, technology, outdoor sports, aviation,municipal government, nonprofits, state-wide associations, elections, energy, pharmaceuticals, real estate development, gaming, and professional sports.

He has been selected as one of the top 10 lobbyists in North Carolina by the North State Journal – every year they have done the poll – and has received honorable mentions for representing a diverse portfolio.

Ches was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in 2023 and 2024 for Government Relations Practice. He was selected by Triad Business Journal as one of its “40 Leaders Under 40” in 2021. Ches was recognized as a “Young Gun” in 2019 by Business North Carolina magazine.

Ches’ career began while he was earning an undergraduate degree at North Carolina State. He became one of the only college students to work full time at the legislature, where he managed various projects for State Senate Leader Phil Berger. Ches also remains committed to civic engagement and serves his community and state in multiple capacities, including as a Trustee at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and a member of the Board of Visitors of Campbell Law School. In addition, he serves on the National Board of Directors for Cross Trail Outfitters, on the Host Committee for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s annual Wine, Wheels, and Wildlife fundraiser, and as Deputy Province Commander of the Kappa Alpha Order’s Smith Province.

Simon Wlodarski has served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now he is working for Bank of America. Tune in to hear his story. Nov 04, 2024

SIMON WLODARSKI, is a Senior Vice President at Bank of America and is a member of the U.S. State and Local Government Relations Team, overseeing State/Local Government Relations for the company in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Colorado. In this regional role with the company, Simon works on public policy issues impacting the financial services industry. In his leadership role with the company, he engages with public officials and banking industry leaders across the country. Simon serves as the Bank’s liaison with the National Council of State Legislators, a national trade association of state legislators. He also serves as Vice Chair on the Executive Board of the Civic Federation, a non-profit organization advocating for responsible fiscal health of state and local government in Illinois.

Prior to joining Bank of America, Simon served in the Administration of Pat Quinn, Governor of Illinois. Simon began his public policy career supporting the Office of Management and Budget before serving as Chief of Staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs. In that capacity, Simon oversaw finance, human resources, operations and legislative affairs.

Simon served in the United States Marine Corps, enlisting in 1995 as an infantry Marine. Transferring to the Reserves to attend college, Simon went on to pursue a commission in 2003, serving as an Infantry Officer during combat tours in Iraq. Simon transferred to the Illinois National Guard in 2011, serving in Afghanistan as an advisor, as well as an embedded officer in the Polish Task Force. Simon most recently served in Ukraine as an advisor, leading a multi-National NATO team working with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Amongst his awards, Simon is most proud to have earned the Army’s Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Marine Combat Action Ribbon, and retired in December 2022 as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard.

Simon was born in Chicago, Illinois, and currently lived in Arlington Heights with his wife and two sons. He completed a BS in Engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from Northern Illinois University.

Meet Tre Hargett – the Secretary of State from the Greatest State in the Union! Oct 14, 2024

Tre Hargett was elected by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2009 to serve as Tennessee’s 37th Secretary of State. He was reelected to four-year terms in 2013, 2017, and 2021.

Secretary Hargett is the chief executive officer of the Department of State with oversight of approximately 300 employees. With his role on fifteen boards and commissions; oversight of nine functional divisions, including elections and the Tennessee State Library & Archives; and his responsibility for rules and regulations, the department interacts with all three branches of state government and impacts every agency in the state.

Previously, Secretary Hargett served as chairman of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority. Before joining the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, he was regional vice president for a publicly traded emergency services provider. Secretary Hargett served in the Tennessee House of Representatives for a decade representing District 97 (Bartlett and Memphis) and was twice elected Republican Leader by his colleagues.

A native of Ripley, Secretary Hargett now lives in Hendersonville with his wife, Dawn, and their two sons. He is a Southern Baptist and worships at Indian Lake Peninsula Church.

Rachael Eckles – Policy and Public Affairs Expert, lawyer, bioethicist and Author of Trading Secrets and its sequel, Risky Assets. Rachael is currently working on the third book in the series. Oct 07, 2024

Rachael Eckles has worked in the health care industry for over twenty years. A lawyer and bioethicist by training, she began her career in clinical research, ran a hospital medical ethics committee, and began a bioethics program at a pharmaceutical company. Her love of shaping the environment evolved into a career in policy and government affairs.

During a brief stint away from health care, she worked in securities litigation. It was then that she began writing fiction, which has evolved into the award-winning Wall Street thriller series, Trading Secrets, with two books released and a third on the way.

Rachael believes each of us has a responsibility to shape the best future possible, and she embodies this through her philanthropic commitments both locally and globally. She donates a portion of her proceeds to local and global programs that empower women and girls through her foundation, Aphrodite Gives.

In her free time, Rachael practices yoga, meditation, and strength training. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and her dog.

“You have to Learn to Lobby on behalf of Yourself”. Meet Suzanne Swink. Sep 23, 2024

Suzanne Swink is Vice President of Government Relations for KORE Power, the leading U.S.-based developer and manufacturer of battery cell technology for the clean energy industry. In this role, she is responsible for the company’s legislative and regulatory strategy for federal and state affairs, community engagement, and sustainability. Ms. Swink joined KORE Power from bp, where she spent the better part of 12 years as a government affairs and strategic communications leader. She has nearly 20 years of government, advocacy, and policy communications expertise. Prior to joining bp, Suzanne was Senior Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Susan A. Davis (D-CA) and served as the Congresswoman’s lead advisor on a broad domestic portfolio, including energy, environment, infrastructure, trade, tax and judiciary issues. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Southern Mississippi and her master’s in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University, where she also serves as adjunct faculty. Suzanne currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Council of Young Political Leaders, the Board of the Public Affairs Council, and is a past president of Women in Government Relations.

Reflecting on 9/11 with Garrett Graff the author of "The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11. Sep 11, 2024

Today we are joined by bestselling historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist Garrett M. Graff who has spent two decades covering politics, technology, and national security, and is now recognized as one of the nation’s most prolific and wide-ranging journalists and historians. His award-winning work—including nine books on topics ranging from presidential campaigns, Watergate, 9/11, and cybersecurity, to D-Day and the U.S. government’s Cold War Doomsday plans, as well as dozens of magazine articles, essays, podcasts, and documentaries—uses history to explain the story of today, illuminating where we’ve been as a country and where we’re headed as a world. Today, he’s a columnist for the Washington Post, where he writes on leadership, serves as the director of cyber initiatives at the Aspen Institute, and hosts the history podcast, "Long Shadow," which this year received a 2024 Edward R. Murrow Award. The former editor of POLITICO Magazine and a longtime contributor to WIRED and CNN, he’s written for publications like Esquire, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and Foreign Affairs, and authored nine books—including the #1 national bestseller "The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11," and the New York Times bestseller "Watergate: A New History," which was a finalist in 2023 for the Pulitzer Prize in History. His most recent books include "UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government’s Search for Alien Life Here—and Out There" and "When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day." Graff is a regular voice and analyst on NPR, PBS NewsHour, the History Channel, speaker at high-profile venues like corporate conferences, presidential libraries, and the Aspen Ideas Festival, and taught journalism and social media at Georgetown University for nearly a decade. Among other multimedia, TV, and film projects, he was executive producer of “While the Rest of Us Die,” a two-season VICE TV series based on his book "Raven Rock," and a consulting producer on the blockbuster Netflix documentary “Turning Point,” about the Cold War.

How do you get a job on Capitol Hill? Take a sabbatical and move to Washington, DC - meet Amy Efantis who did just that and has never looked back. Sep 02, 2024

Amy is currently SVP of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations at Ascension. Amy is an experienced leader who has guided successful teams in the U.S. and abroad & believes strongly in servant-leadership; over two decades of experience in Washington, D.C. leading organizations, managing budgets, imaging strategy and developing people; 10+ years of lobbying & health care policy success in the bio-pharmaceutical space; keen appreciation for our dynamic, changing environment & the necessity to be at once strong and nimble.

This week we sit down with Steve Yeager, Speaker of the Nevada Assembly, one of the key political leaders in a battleground state. Aug 26, 2024

Description:

Steve Yeager has been serving as the speaker of the Nevada Assembly since 2022. Yeager graduated from the University of Michigan in 2001 and then attended Cornell Law School, graduating in 2004. After law school, Yeager practiced law and later worked as a chief deputy public defender of Clark County until his election to the Nevada Assembly in 2016.

Yeager first ran for the Nevada Assembly in 2014, winning the Democratic primary but losing the general election. He ran for Assembly again in 2016, defeating Gardner with 55% of the vote.] He has been re-elected three times since and is now serving his fourth term in the Assembly. Yeager attended and graduated from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Citizens' Police Academy in 2018 during his first term in the Nevada Assembly. Yeager chaired the Assembly Judiciary Committee from 2017 to 2023 and was elected Assembly speaker pro tempore in 2019. When then-Speaker Jason Frierson resigned to became U.S. Attorney in 2022, Yeager became acting speaker. He was elected Assembly speaker in 2023.

Yeager lives in Las Vegas with his wife, Bita, who is an elected judge for the Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County. They met in the Clark County public defender's office and married in 2013.

Yeager is an avid runner, hiker, and biker. He has a running blog called Battle Born Running https://www.battlebornrunning.com/

More interviews from NCSL Aug 19, 2024

In this week’s episode, you will continue to join Maggie Mick in her home state of Kentucky for a constellation of conversations had with colleagues and friends attending the National Conference of State Legislatures' 2024 Legislative Summit in Louisville.

TPL Travels to Kentucky for NCSL Aug 12, 2024

In this week’s episode, you will join Maggie Mick in her home state of Kentucky for a constellation of conversations had with colleagues and friends attending the National Conference of State Legislatures' 2024 Legislative Summit in Louisville. We’ll take you into the policy sessions, along the rows of the exhibit hall, and the various social events that pepper the week.

Meet Jack Quinn, One of the Best Aug 05, 2024

Jack Quinn: Head, State Government Affairs for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Jack Quinn leads Regeneron Pharmaceutical’s state policy, advocacy, regulatory, and political activity across all 50 states.

Born-and-raised in Buffalo, NY, Jack attended Siena College and SUNY Buffalo Law School. After being admitted to the New York Bar, Quinn served as a prosecutor for the Erie County District Attorneys Office.

Elected to the New York State Assembly in 2004. Jack served six years (2005-2010) in the legislature representing the 146th Assembly District (Erie County). A member of the Republican Party, Quinn served on the Assembly Judiciary, Higher Education, Banks, Transportation and Ethics Committees.

Following his six-year tenure in the Assembly, Jack has spent the last 14 years lobbying across 35+ states for several pharmaceutical manufacturers (Allergan, Vertex, and Sanofi) as well as ExxonMobil. In his two prior roles, Quinn led State Government Relations teams for Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Regence BlueCross BlueShield.

In addition to his role with Regeneron, Jack has also spent the last six years serving as a Northeast Charter School Network (NESCN) board member. NESCN is a non-profit organization that advocates for pro-charter school legislative policies on behalf of over 150 school across New York and Connecticut.

Jack and his family live in Manhattan.

Jerry Cornfield got his start as a crime reporter in San Francisco- today he breaks down elections in the state of Washington - not that the two are related! Jul 29, 2024

Jerry Cornfield started as a crime reporter in San Francisco and spent the better part of the last four decades covering politics and government in California and Washington. He worked in media for 12 years in Santa Barbara, reporting for daily and weekly newspapers, serving as editor-at-large for Santa Barbara magazine, producing and hosting a daily radio talk show, and appearing regularly as a political commentator on network TV. In 2004, he joined The Daily Herald of Everett where he worked 20 years as the statehouse reporter before helping launch the Washington State Standard in May 2023.

How do you oversee a 50 state Government Affairs operation with over 500 members and be ranked one of the most effective year after year? Meet Bobby Patrick, VI from AdvaMed - who helps make it all happen. Jul 22, 2024

Bobby Patrick, VI is the Vice President of State Affairs, Regional Government, and Alliance Development at AdvaMed, the MedTech Association. He oversees AdvaMed’s state affairs work and partnerships with external stakeholders, including patient advocacy organizations and physician groups. Previously, Patrick served as the vice president of strategic growth and policy at the Medical Alley Association where he led the state and federal advocacy efforts. He also oversaw the membership work at the Association, where they experienced growth in membership revenue, engagement, and retention under his leadership. Prior to that, Patrick served as a staff member in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He holds a Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law and an undergraduate degree from Syracuse University.

Meet Sen. Bob Duff, Senate Majority Leader in Connecticut Jul 15, 2024

Senator Bob Duff is a state senator from Connecticut and has been the Majority Leader since 2015.

Bob’s Norwalk family ties go back five generations. His passion for public service began at the age of eight. That’s when Bob voiced his concerns for the future of Duffy Field to then-mayor William Collins. Today, we still have Duffy Field — now renamed Veterans Park.

Since joining the legislature, Bob has been a tireless advocate for job creation in Connecticut. Bob has also earned a reputation as a consumer watchdog. As Chair of the legislature’s Housing Committee, he created the state’s first Housing Trust Fund to build more affordable housing in Connecticut. As Chair of the Banking Committee, Bob worked to safeguard Connecticut homeowners from the ravages of predatory lending by creating a package of first-in-the-nation reforms to reduce the number of home foreclosures in the state. Included was the foreclosure mediation program, Mortgage Crisis Job Training Program (the first iteration to the federally recognized and nationally acclaimed Platform to Employment program) to help those unemployed or underemployed avoid foreclosure and a law that provides tools to municipalities ensuring lenders maintain their vacant properties. Bob’s consumer advocacy continued as he went on to Chair the Energy and Technology Committee. As Chair, Bob championed two major pieces of energy legislation which taken together implement a new comprehensive energy strategy for Connecticut: restructuring support for renewable sources of electricity to provide for cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy for consumers and businesses. Bob also supported the nation’s first cybersecurity report by a state government relating to safeguarding our electric grid and water utilities. In addition, the Senate Democratic caucus with Bob has achieved numerous legislative victories. Most recently, the caucus passed legislation standing up for DREAMers, the National Popular Vote, net neutrality, data privacy, health care access, Time’s Up, gun safety, LGBTQ rights, equal pay for equal work, raising the minimum wage and Paid Family Medical Leave.

Bob has also been involved with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) serving on both the Foundation Board and Nominating Committee and active in their leadership programs.

Throughout his legislative career, Bob has been honored by The Workplace Inc., AARP of Connecticut, the Lockwood-Matthews Mansion Museum, the Save Cranbury Association, Side-by-Side Charter School, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, Greater Stamford Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Business Development Council, the Maritime Aquarium, the Norwalk NAACP, the Norwalk Marching Bears, Inc., Action for Bridgeport Community Development and the Norwalk Public Schools Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee.

After graduating Norwalk Public Schools, Bob earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Lynchburg College in Virginia. There, Bob honed his political skills as a student senator, campus leader and intern for then-U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT).

Bob, his wife, Tracey, and their two children live on Toilsome Avenue in Norwalk with their rescue dog, Molly.

What do Murthy and the other recent Supreme Court decisions mean for Free Speech? For Trump? The Presidency? Carl Szabo from NetChoice breaks it all down for us. Jul 08, 2024

As Vice President and General Counsel, Carl analyzes, advocates, and testifies on tech-related legislative and regulatory initiatives relevant to online companies. Carl is also an adjunct professor of internet law at the George Mason Antonin Scalia Law School. Before joining NetChoice, Carl was an intellectual property attorney at the lawfirm of Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon where he advised clients on privacy, Internet, e-commerce, and contractual matters. He also worked at the lawfirms of Venable and Arnold & Porter. Before law school, Carl worked at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on the staff of Commissioner Orson Swindle, where he helped create and implement the FTC’s Consumer Information Security Outreach Plan and assisted the White House in establishing the National Strategy for Cyber Security. Carl obtained his J.D. and Communications Law Certificate from the Catholic University of America, magna cum laude, and Carl obtained his B.A. in Economics, Managerial Studies, and Policy Studies from Rice University. Carl is licensed to practice law in Washington, DC and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and has been recognized as a “Tech Titan” by the Washingtonian.

What Can A Career Focused on Public Service Look Like? Meet Jordan See. Jul 01, 2024

Jordan See is Head of Government Relations at Qualtrics. He is responsible for directing all government activities for Qualtrics' North American business operations. Jordan has over 14 years of experience working with the United States Congress, state legislatures, executive agencies, healthcare, and technology industries. Prior to joining Qualtrics, Jordan served as the Director of State and Federal Government Relations with Teladoc Health, where he managed a portfolio of issues ranging from telehealth, health technology, state Medicaid, and federal Medicare and Veteran Health issues. Jordan also served as Director of Government Affairs with Leidos, where he was responsible for directing government activities for Leidos’ $4.0 billion health technology business. Prior to joining Leidos, See served as the Legislative Director for U.S. Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01), where he managed the Congressman’s legislative staff and congressional activities on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. From 2010-2016, See served in roles of increasing responsibility for U.S Rep. Gregg Harper (MS-03), ultimately serving as Senior Legislative Assistant and Communications Director, where he served as the primary advisor to the Congressman on Healthcare issues related to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, as well as Social Security, Financial Services, Small Business, Housing, Technology, and Veterans Health and Benefits issues. See serves as a commissioned Military Intelligence Officer (Major) in the United States Army Reserve, and is currently assigned as an Inspector General with the Military Intelligence Readiness Command at Ft. Belvoir, VA. From 2010-2019, See previously served as and enlisted Infantryman and a Military Intelligence Officer with the Mississippi Army National Guard. See holds a J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law, and a B.A. from the University of Florida in Anthropology/Geography. Go Gators!

Want to Write a book? Want to Speak at TEDx? Want to Head up a Government Affairs Office? Tune in and listen to Terri Broussard William's Journey. Jun 24, 2024

Terri Broussard Williams has built her career on a solid reputation as an authentic, courageous, and impactful change agent. Throughout her journey as an award-winning corporate lobbyist, non-profit executive, and public speaker, Terri has transformed public and community service into a professional art form, positively impacting the lives of millions of people.

Who will Replace Sen. McConnell as Leader of the Republicans in the U.S. Senate? CNN Contributor Scott Jennings Gives us His Thoughts and Much More. Jun 17, 2024

In this week’s episode, Jim O’Brien and Maggie Mick host Scott Jennings, an American conservative writer and commentator. A former political director to United State Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), we dive into McConnell’s legacy as the longest serving Republican Leader in the U.S. Senate and leadership lessons passed on to mentees like Jennings.

About Scott

Scott Jennings is an on-air CNN Contributor, writes columns for the Courier-Journal, the LA Times, USA Today, and CNN.com, and is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He is a founding partner of RunSwitch Public Relations and a veteran of numerous political campaigns, including four presidential efforts. A former journalist and political operative, Scott uses his 20 plus years of experience to offer clients cutting-edge strategy and analysis, and helps craft winning messages in the most difficult communications environments. He also hosts the podcast Flyover Country with Scott Jennigs.

Meet Derek Brown, Candidate for Utah Attorney General Jun 10, 2024

In this week's episode, Jim O'Brien and Maggie Mick interview Derek Brown, Republican candidate for Attorney General in Utah. In addition to diving into the issues facing Utahans, we learn about his career in Washington, D.C., time as a state legislator in Utah, and stints in the private sector.

Colorado passes the first AI bill in the country! Sarah Mercer breaks it down for us. Jun 03, 2024

This week Maggie and Jim speak with Sarah Mercer a lawyer/lobbyist who works in Colorado and who spent a lot of her session working on the recently passed (and signed!) Artificial Intelligence (AI) bill. Sarah gives us the full breakdown.

About Sarah: Sarah Mercer ensures clients overcome challenging and entrenched legal issues by guiding clients through the complex political landscape. She combines her litigation background with her experience navigating state and local government to develop creative political and administrative solutions for complicated legal issues. In short, Sarah helps her clients efficiently achieve their goals. She’s a connector drawing on her close ties with elected officials and bureaucratic staff at all levels of local and state government to form connections and bridge relationships among diverse stakeholders. Sarah works for Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP a lobbying and law firm with 13 offices across the western U.S. and in Washington, D.C.

Reid Wilson: "The Greatest Political Mind of Our Time" May 27, 2024

Deemed “The Greatest Political Mind of Our Time” by Comedy Central, Wilson cuts through the spin and tells the truth about politics at the state-level. Reid Wilson is the founder, chief executive, and editor in chief of Pluribus News, https://pluribusnews.com, the nation’s only independent news outlet covering state-level politics and policy. He is an expert in spotting political trends as they develop and forecasting election results long before the ballots are counted. Known for staying ahead of the news through his access to top newsmakers, Wilson is a trusted staple of the political scene. Wilson previously covered politics for The Hill and the Washington Post, and he’s the former editor-in-chief of National Journal’s The Hotline. His work has appeared in outlets like The New York Times, RealClearPolitics, Atlantic Monthly, New Republic, and other major news networks, and his expertise is frequently also sought-after by MSNBC, CNN, C-SPAN, and radio shows across the nation. He is also the Amazon best-selling author of Epidemic: Ebola and the Global Scramble to Prevent the Next Killer Outbreak.

Columbine is 25. A conversation with Monisha Henley of Everytown for Gun Safety. May 20, 2024

April 20th marked the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, which at the time was deemed the worst in America's history. In this episode, Maggie hosts Monisha Henley, senior vice president of government affairs for Everytown for Gun Safety. Everytown was formed in 2014 following Columbine, the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut and others. In this conversation, we learn more about the motivators for Monisha's work, Everytown's policy priorities and bipartisan policy successes in the past 10 years, and what's next for Everytown in its second decade.

Monisha Henley is the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Everytown. Before joining Everytown, she honed her expertise at the American Nurses Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). She began her career in the United States Senate. Monisha is originally from Wilmington, DE and now resides in New York City.

Celebrating Mother’s Day with Governor Laura Kelly and Kathleen Kelly Daughety May 13, 2024

In a special Mother’s Day episode, Maggie Mick interviews Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and her eldest daughter Kathleen Kelly Daughety. The conversation focuses on both of their careers, the governor raising her daughters in Topeka - the state capital, and insights for working moms in policy and politics.

Governor Laura Kelly is the 48th governor of Kansas. A member of the Democratic Party, she represented the 18th district in the Kansas Senate from 2005 to 2019. Kelly was elected governor in 2018 and was reelected in 2022.

Kathleen Kelly Daughety is the Vice President of Campaigns and Civic Engagement at Inseparable. Kathleen began her career in Kansas politics, campaigning to elect Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius twice. She continued her career with the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), Governor Jay Nixon (MO), U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (CO), Priorities USA and has held private sector posts with Liberty Media and Uber.

Jim and Maggie interview 2 state political experts; Steve Palmer and Paul Dioguardi May 06, 2024

In their maiden episode as co-hosts, Jim O’Brien and Maggie Mick interview friend of the show, Steven Palmer, and first-time guest Paul DioGuardi. Two Partners at Forbes Tate. In addition to learning about Paul’s impressive career including time with the Democratic Governors Association as well as the Obama Administration and his work on the Affordable Care Act, we dove into a discussion on upcoming primaries and a forecast for the 2024 gubernatorial races, current characteristics of gubernatorial candidates, and the debate on the viability of state trifectas in the coming years and election cycles.

Links to Steven’s past TPL appearances:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-political-life/id1401504350?i=1000603590856

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-political-life/id1401504350?i=1000496060064

TPL Podcast is back with a new season!! With a new Co-Host! Apr 29, 2024

Maggie Mick has joined The Political Life podcast as co-host. Maggie is in the leadership group of the state and local government relations consultancy, MultiState - a PPHC firm, located in the Washington, D.C. area. The first episode of the new season will be next week with Reid Wilson from Pluribus News!!

Bradley Tusk returns to discuss his new book Obvious in Hindsight, investing in tech start-ups and Election Predictions Dec 21, 2023

This week Jim welcomes Bradley Tusk back to the show to discuss his new book "Obvious in Hindsight". Bradley Tusk is a venture capitalist, political strategist and writer. Bradley is the Founder and CEO of Tusk Ventures. Tusk Ventures is the world’s first venture capital fund to work with and invest solely in high growth startups facing political and regulatory challenges. Previously, Bradley served as campaign manager for Mike Bloomberg, as Deputy Governor of Illinois and as Communications Director for Senator Charles Schumer. Tusk Montgomery Philanthropies, Bradley’s family foundation, funds and runs campaigns in states across the U.S. to increase funding for anti-hunger programs like school breakfast and food stamp enrollment. They are also working to create mobile voting so people can vote in elections on their phones. Bradley writes a regular column for Fast Company. Bradley is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he received his BA and has a JD from the University of Chicago Law School.

Looking for a Job in Government Relations? Matthew Guilbault has Some Very Good Advice to Share Sep 25, 2023

Matthew Guilbault is Director of Government Affairs at Corebridge Financial – a new position for Matthew since he was last on the podcast. Matthew walks us through his job hunting experience – I think you will find it very helpful if you are looking for a job or thinking about looking for a new job. Some interesting facts about Matthew:

Matt studied to be a pilot before deciding to focus on pre-law studies at the College of St. Rose.
He got his first job in politics for a State Senator after networking at the restaurant he worked at in Albany.
After almost seven years working at the New York General Assembly, Matt transitioned to an in-house lobbying position.
After 10 years working in-house, he worked as a contract lobbyist.
Matt owns many motorcycles, and used to race them professionally.

Maggie Mick from MultiState kicks off the Fall Season with Jack Waldorf from the Western Governors' Association Sep 18, 2023

In today’s episode Maggie Mick of MultiState sits down with Jack Waldorf - the sixth Executive Director of the Western Governors’ Association (WGA). Jack oversees WGA’s efforts to support and advance bipartisan priorities on behalf of the Governors from the 22 westernmost states and territories. Prior to joining WGA, Waldorf led the federal advocacy activities for the University of Colorado (CU) System which is comprised of four campuses across Colorado’s Front Range. Before joining the CU System, Waldorf served in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives where he focused on policies related to education, health care, and transportation, among other issues. Waldorf holds a master’s degree in public administration from CU Denver and a bachelor’s degree in political science from CU Boulder. Waldorf currently resides in Erie, Colorado with his wife, Monica, and their three sons.

Meet the Member: Mike Gipson (Hosted by Maggie Mick of MultiState) Jun 27, 2023

This episode is a rebroadcast of a webinar conversation Maggie Mick, assistant Vice Preistent of Multi State, had with California Assembly-member, Mike Gipson about California lawmaking!Topics covered in this episode include:

An introduction to who Mike Gipson is.
The moment that Mike Gipson decided to run for office.
Mike's police partner being killed while in the line of duty.
How it impacted Gipson's path towards office.
An overview of what the CSG West Chair organization is.
An overview of the CSG West Annual meeting this summer at Universal Studios in California and topics that will be discussed there.
Ai
Infrastructure
Water
Healthcare
Public safety
How the CSG organization is formed and how it is run.
Why did Mike Gipson run for office.
Some pieces of legislation that have come out of Gipson's lived experiences.
The sucesses that Gipson and Speaker Rendon have had
New possible changes coming from the new speaker coming June 30th.
Does California have a budget issue and Gipson's take on the current budget.

Mike Gipson is a California Assemblymember. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 2014, Gipson has served as Democratic Caucus Chair since 2016. A former cop, and non-profit leader in Los Angeles, he serves on Buisness and Professions, Governmental Organization, Insurance, and Transportation Committees. He serves as 2023 Chair of CSG West, the western region of The Council of State Governments. Maggie Mick serves as Assistant Vice President at MultiState where she leads the firm’s Stakeholder Engagement Practice. She also works with clients on campaigns, issue management, lobbying and compliance. Before joining MultiState’s leadership team in 2022, she spent nearly 12 years at The Council of State Governments (CSG) nationally headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. Her final role was Chief Advancement Officer, leading strategic partnerships and external relations for major stakeholders including legislative leadership and the private sector. Prior to her tenure at CSG, she was an aide in the United States Congress. In addition, she has held public office as a member of the Lancaster City Council for two terms. Maggie serves on the board of directors and executive committee for the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), was 2022 president of the Washington Area State Relations Group (WASRG) and a graduate of the Public Affairs Council's Institute. She has received local and statewide recognition including "Top Women in Business" in Kentucky by the Lane Report and the Kentucky Commission on Women Bluegrass Alliance for Women Impact Award. Maggie is a graduate of the University of Kansas where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Bachelor of Arts in American Studies. She is the proud wife of Nathan Mick and mother to Birdie and Hank.

The Gold Brothers Takeover: Debt Ceiling Deal & More! Jun 12, 2023

It's a podcast take over with the Gold brothers! Rich and his brother Marty Gold from Capital Council take over the podcast to focus on all things Washington DC and the debt deal that was recently made in this unique episode! Things talked about in this episode include:

An overlook of the deal that was made
How it all started
What is the outcome of the deal that was made?
Bi-partisan legislation
The adoption of Biden's defense budget
Shelanda Young and her role in the negotiations
Republicans trying to take credit for things in the deal.
Putting off the debit ceiling until after Biden's presidency.
How the democrat president always comes out on top.
Will there be inner party friction on the Republican's side due to some not getting everything they wanted?
The inner friction that is already happening on the Republican's side.
What is the price of peace?
Can there be peace?
How McKarthy was voted in.
The most connected thing legislatively to this issue.
Why appropriation bills haven't gone across the floor in the Senate.
Why Marty is skeptical about the deal that was made.

Rich Gold is the leader of Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group and focuses his practice at the intersection of complex policy and political issues involving Congress, the executive branch and the media. Rich Gold is the leader of the firm's Public Policy & Regulation Group and focuses his practice at the intersection of complex policy and political issues involving Congress, the executive branch and the media. The Public Policy & Regulation Group has been ranked among the top law and lobbying firms in Washington by publications including American Lawyer's Influence Magazine, Legal 500 United States guide, Financial Times and U.S. News - Best Lawyers guide. Mr. Gold has been recognized as a top lobbyist in Washington by The Hill, The National Journal, Washington SmartCEO, Super Lawyers and The Washington Business Journal, as well as one of Washingtonian Magazine's 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy for the past two years. In addition, Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide has recognized Mr. Gold since 2007. He is one of only three practitioners ranked as Band 1 in Chambers USA Nationwide Government Relations category, the highest ranking one can receive in Chambers. Mr. Gold served in the U.S. Senate for Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) as his advisor on environmental affairs where he worked on issues related to environmental side agreements of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). During the Clinton administration, he was a special assistant to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Carol Browner, with whom he helped develop the EPA's Superfund reform proposal and its administrative improvements package. Mr. Gold also served as a career lawyer in the EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance and Office of General Counsel, working on major rule makings as well as significant Superfund cases. Mr. Gold approaches political and policy problems from the perspective of campaign-style advocacy – forming, developing and executing issue-advocacy campaigns that incorporate lobbying, regulatory lawyering, traditional and social media, and grassroots engagement to break through the noise in Washington and achieve client goals. Mr. Gold has engaged for individual companies, trade associations and coalitions on the issues of the day ranging from climate change legislation and regulations and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform to trade legislation, corporate tax reform, as well as major U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reform legislation and financial services legislation. Martin B. Gold is a partner with Capitol Counsel, LLC. He brings over 50 years of legislative and private practice experience. He is recognized authority and author on matters of congressional rules and parliamentary strategies, and U.S policy in Asia. He frequently advises senators and their staff and serves on the adjunct faculty at George Washington University. In 2022, he received the College of Professional Studies Faculty Excellent Award. Before domestic business, professional, and academic audiences, he speaks about Congress as well as political and public policy developments. Gold has been a guest lecturer at Tsinghua University, the Beijing Foreign Studies University, Moscow State University, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, the State Parliament of Ukraine, and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

Investing, Crypto, and the Debt Ceiling with Public COO Stephen Sikes Jun 05, 2023

Jim welcomes Stephen Sikes to the podcast to cover a wide variety of topics from investing to talking about the debt ceiling agreement that was made recently.Topics covered in this episode include:

A shout out to Rachel who helped in bringing Stephen onto the show!
Stephen talks about who he is and the company Public where he is the COO.
How Public makes money.
Where the 10% of not invested money goes and where does all the cash go?
The FDIC program and sweeping
The Treasury account that Public offers and what it is.
How Public is trying new and innovative ways in a regulatory environment
The founding of Public.
Why Public exists.
Where the idea of Public came from
What alternative type of investing includes.
Angel Investing
Crypto Investing
Culture Investing
Regulatory issues for crypto and investing
Watching closely to the courts to help give customers what they want/demand
The European model
Societal risks while creating regulations
How to track what is going on with regulatory issues
Stephen's thoughts on the debt ceiling deal that was made and how it impacts the investing business.
What the next 6 months look like.
What Public can offer
Just launched Investment Plans
Re-balancing is coming soon for the plan.
What part of the army Stephen was in and how it shaped him for future careers.

Stephen Sikes is currently the COO of Public, the multi-asset investing app, and he serves as the CEO of Public's broker-dealer and leads the brokerage, crypto, international, and alternatives business lines. He is also responsible for operations, customer, support, legal, compliance and risk functions. In addition to his work at Public, Stephen co-leads a fintech community and early stage investing fund called Socially Financed, where he focuses on supporting early stage consumer fintech businesses. Before joining Public, Stephen was on the founding team and became the Business Lead of SoFi Invest.

Previously, he was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, and served as a Cavalry Officer in the U.S. Army, where he did one deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Who Will Blink First? The Debt Ceiling Debate with Rich Gold May 25, 2023

Rich Gold returns to the podcast to talk with Jim about the looming debt limit in Washington D.C, why this issue of coming to an agreement is so important, and what could happen if no agreement is made.

Topics covered in this episode include:

How things are going at Holland & Knight.
An update on the debt limit negotiations.
What makes this different than the last time it happened?
A recap of where the negotiating started and where it is now.
- What the Republicans want
- What the Democrats are trying to do to compromise with the Republicans
What would need to happen for the Republicans to get everything they want and why it's not realistic?
Why the current options won't get enough votes to go through?
Balancing the right amount of budget cuts.
Will they eventually come to a comprise at the end of the day?
What happens if they don't?
Why it's not a good idea to cut a deal right before the deadline and what happened last time a deal was cut before the deadline.
- The real-world impacts that occurred.
Can a divided government happen with a Republican president and Democrats controlling Congress?
- The shift of the Republican party.
What could happen if a Republican votes and Donald Trump doesn't approve of it.
Work requirements.
The significance of agreeing to freeze the limit.
Is the military budget increase normal or for something specific?
What makes up the budget deficit?
Who Rich will have as his special guest when he hosts the podcast!

Rich Gold is the leader of Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group and focuses his practice at the intersection of complex policy and political issues involving Congress, the executive branch and the media. Rich Gold is the leader of the firm's Public Policy & Regulation Group and focuses his practice at the intersection of complex policy and political issues involving Congress, the executive branch and the media.

The Public Policy & Regulation Group has been ranked among the top law and lobbying firms in Washington by publications including American Lawyer's Influence Magazine, Legal 500 United States guide, Financial Times and U.S. News - Best Lawyers guide. Mr. Gold has been recognized as a top lobbyist in Washington by The Hill, The National Journal, Washington SmartCEO, Super Lawyers and The Washington Business Journal, as well as one of Washingtonian Magazine's 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy for the past two years.

In addition, Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide has recognized Mr. Gold since 2007. He is one of only three practitioners ranked as Band 1 in Chambers USA Nationwide Government Relations category, the highest ranking one can receive in Chambers.

Mr. Gold served in the U.S. Senate for Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) as his advisor on environmental affairs where he worked on issues related to environmental side agreements of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). During the Clinton administration, he was a special assistant to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Carol Browner, with whom he helped develop the EPA's Superfund reform proposal and its administrative improvements package. Mr. Gold also served as a career lawyer in the EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance and Office of General Counsel, working on major rule makings as well as significant Superfund cases.

Mr. Gold approaches political and policy problems from the perspective of campaign-style advocacy – forming, developing and executing issue-advocacy campaigns that incorporate lobbying, regulatory lawyering, traditional and social media, and grassroots engagement to break through the noise in Washington and achieve client goals. Mr. Gold has engaged for individual companies, trade associations and coalitions on the issues of the day ranging from climate change legislation and regulations and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform to trade legislation, corporate tax reform, as well as major U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reform legislation and financial services legislation.

Help us grow! Leave us a rating and review - it's the best way to bring new listeners to the show. Don't forget to subscribe! Have a suggestion, or want to chat with Jim? Email him at Jim@ThePoliticalLife.net Follow The Political Life on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for weekly updates.

Portable Benefits in the Gig Economy with Brian Joseph May 19, 2023

Today Jim welcome Brian Joseph to the podcast to chat about his experience in the gig economy as well as the idea of portable benefits for freelance workers.

Brian Joseph is a freelance journalist who is currently finishing up work on his first book. He's worked as a newspaper reporter and investigative journalist for about 20 years, writing for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Orange County Register, and the Sacramento Bee, among other publications. In 2013-14, he was an investigative reporting fellow at the University of California-Berkeley, where he investigated privatized foster care for Mother Jones magazine. Brian is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia and the recipient of several journalism honors, including a George Polk Award. He lives in Las Vegas with his wife and daughter and their talkative orange tabby Nemo!

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At UPS, Mike Kiely is Driven By Innovation May 05, 2023

Jim welcomes Mike Kiely to the podcast to talk about everything that goes into working for UPS in his new position within the company. They talk about how Mike manages his team, spending time abroad, how things are going in DC, and so much more!Topics discussed in this episode:

The amount of responsibility that are on Mike and his team.

How many union members and employees there in the UPS both in the United States and around the globe.
Mike's new position and how it differs from his old position
How Mike manages a team from so many diverse locations.
Is it beneficial for people specfically college students to spend time abroad?

Are things getting back to normal in markets around the world post-COVID?

How UPS navigated the COVID shut down
The backlogs of items coming into America.
UPS negotiating with the union members of Teamsters in the US.
How UPS takes care of their empoyees

How social media causes unneeded panic about the state of UPS

Headlines that give panic without diving into the facts of the matter at hand.

Where Mike is spending most of his time.

Educating public officials on what is going on in their negotiations with unions.
Creating a channel for people to be able to use to know what's going on and not going off of what news articles are saying.

FAA re-authorization bill

How things are in DC and some changes that Mike has seen.

America's relationship with China as the two leading countries of the world.

Michael Kiely is the President of Global Government Affairs at UPS. Based in Washington D.C., he leads UPS’s legislative strategy and advocacy efforts pertaining to the company’s global anddomestic business units. Michael began his career with UPS in 1992 as a management trainee. Upon completion, he held numerous positions in the finance and accounting function on assignments based in New York, Georgia, and Belgium. In 2001, he was appointed as Managing Director of Finance and Accounting for UPS’s Northern European operations, where he oversaw all aspects of Finance, Accounting, Taxation and Benefits Management for seven European countries. He moved to UPS’s Government Affairs function in 2005 where he advanced UPS’s reform efforts on laws and regulations impacting multiemployer pension plans, health care reform and tax policy. In his role as President of U.S. Government Affairs, he led the development and execution of legislative and regulatory strategies for a range of policy issues including trade and customs; labor and employment; sustainability and alternative fuels; postal; healthcare; and transportation across the federal government and 50 state governments. He assumed his current position in 2023. Michael is on the Executive Committee for the American Trucking Associations where he is also Chairman of the Audit Committee. He serves on the Board of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, the Advisory Board for the Bryce Harlow Foundation and the Board of the US Chamber’s Political Advisory Committee. Michael graduated from Fordham University in 1992 with a B.S. in Finance. He received an M.B.A in Finance from the University of Connecticut in 1999 and also studied at the Wharton School of Business and Emory University. He lives in Edgewater, MD with his wife and three teenage sons.e. Michael now oversees federal, state, and local government affairs for the company. Help us grow! Leave us a rating and review - it's the best way to bring new listeners to the show. Don't forget to subscribe! Have a suggestion, or want to chat with Jim? Email him at Jim@ThePoliticalLife.net Follow The Political Life on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for weekly updates.

Rich Gold Returns with An Update on Washington, the Debt Limit, and Environmental Regulation Apr 17, 2023

Rich Gold returns to the podcast to talk with Jim about everything going on in Washington D.C. They talk about the looming debt limit, environmental regulation, and what is happening at his firm, Holland & Knight.

Topics covered in this episode include:

Rich's thoughts on the debt limit and everything that is currently going on with it.
- The ways that Rich believes the Republicans have put themselves into a corner.
How many of the Republicans in the house that want significant cuts to the spending bill and why they seem to be pushing for it.
The priority of reform when it comes to natural power sources.
- The work happening to continue to work towards the use of natural resources.
Rich's thoughts on the Biden Administration gearing up on the regulatory front.
The state of the regulatory environment in America versus other countries.
Rich's opinion on if it seems anyone is talking about this or if it isn't something people are too concerned about.
When things need to be finalized to keep a new president from meddling with it.
The approval rating of the government.
Senator Feinstein being asked to step down and how it is being received in Washington.
What's happening at Holland & Knight currently?

Rich Gold is the leader of Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group and focuses his practice at the intersection of complex policy and political issues involving Congress, the executive branch and the media. The Public Policy & Regulation Group has been ranked among the top law and lobbying firms in Washington by publications including American Lawyer's Influence Magazine, Legal 500 United States guide, Financial Times and U.S. News - Best Lawyers guide. Mr. Gold has been recognized as a top lobbyist in Washington by The Hill, The National Journal, Washington SmartCEO, Super Lawyers, Washingtonian and The Washington Business Journal.

In addition,Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide has recognized Mr. Gold since 2007.

Rich grew up in New York and New Hampshire He attended The University of Vermont for a B.S. in Business and obtained his J.D. from George Washington University. He served as a Staff Attorney, and later Special Assistant to Carol Browner at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Rich served as a Special Assistant for Environmental Affairs to US Senator Lloyd Bentsen. He has worked at Holland & Knight for the last 25 years. “It’s really important in current times to understand that the process that we are involved in, advocating for public policy, is sacred, and something that most around the world don’t get to do.”

ICYMI: Are Pyschedelics Coming to a State Near You? We hear from Sarah Mercer and Steven Stenzler of Brownstein Apr 07, 2023

This week Jim chats with Sarah Mercer and Steven Stenzler from Brownstein about the recent legalization of psychedelics in Colorado as well as recent legislative trends in California, Colorado, and states in the Western U.S. more generally.

Steven Stenzler is a Policy Advisor in the Sacramento office of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. In this role he advises on a variety of issues including housing, land-use, tax policy, and emerging technologies. Prior to joining Brownstein, Steven served as the chief of staff to the Chair of the California Assembly Banking Committee. During his tenure in the legislature, Steven was the lead staffer on a number of impactful housing measures, including bills to reform nexus studies, limit development impact fees, reorganize the state’s affordable housing finance system, and a bill to establish the nation’s first statewide housing data strategy. In addition, Steven worked to pass the 2019 Tenant Protection Act which limited rent increases and established just cause eviction protections for millions of renters. Prior to that, Steven filled a variety of roles in the state capitol, from district staffer to legislative director, for members from the central coast and the greater Sacramento region.

Sarah Mercer ensures clients overcome challenging and entrenched legal issues by guiding clients through the complex political landscape. She combines her litigation background with her experience navigating state and local government to develop creative political and administrative solutions for complicated legal issues. In short, Sarah helps her clients efficiently achieve their goals. She’s a connector drawing on her close ties with elected officials and bureaucratic staff at all levels of local and state government to form connections and bridge relationships among diverse stakeholders.

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP is a lobbying and law firm based in the United States with 250 attorneys and policy consultants in 13 offices across the western U.S. and in Washington, D.C.

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Meet Josh Gray's Mom, Jackie Krentzman! Mar 31, 2023

In this unique episode of the podcast, Jim welcomes back Josh Gray and with him, his mom Jackie Krentzman to the podcast for the first time to talk about the unique relationship they have together and how it all came to be. Topics covered in this episode include:

How Jackie first met Josh.
Jackie's first impression of Josh
Overview of the nonprofit Write on Sports and Jackie's work with creating a chapter in the Berkley area
Josh's first impression of Jackie
Josh and Jackie talk about preconceived notions they had when Josh first started to live with Jackie
Jackie's preconceived notions growing up in a Jewish neighborhood.
Josh's grandmother's preconceived notions meeting Jackie
Jackie meeting Josh's family
The process Josh went through that caused him to start calling Jackie his mother and wanting to live with her and Larry.
The conditions created between Josh's family and Jackie to allow him to move into the house.
Josh opening up to Jackie about his trauma.
Raising Josh in a different culture than what would've been considered his normal.
How Josh living with Jackie helped them both learn and grow in different ways.
Josh asks Jackie if she has ever been in a situation that makes her realize the issues that black women go through raising their children.
The statistics of what Josh's future that was laid out after failing a test in first grade.
Where Josh's biological family is today.
Life post George Floyd and what has changed in their lives since.
How being progressive still means there is still a lot to learn and trying not to have a 'White Savior' mentality.
Josh and Jackie having accountability for one another and checking on one another's attitudes.
What individuals can do for people in the world in similar situations to Josh as a child but also adults.

Josh Gray – has been a guest on the show before to talk about his amazing life story. You can find those episodes here and here. He is the vice-president of the advertising company Ogilvy. Ogilvy has been growing brands and businesses since 1948. They continue that rich legacy through borderless creativity—operating, innovating, and creating at the intersection of talent and capabilities. Our experts in Public Relations, Consulting, Advertising, Health, and Experience work fluidly across 131 offices in 93 countries. Jackie Krentzman – is the proprietor of Krentzman Communications, a communications and content strategy company that works with nonprofits and for-profit companies on their communication strategies and execution. She is also the editor-in-chief of Diversity Woman, a national quarterly publication on women’s leadership development, sold at Barnes & Noble and distributed to women in leadership positions in Fortune 1000 companies. Previously, Jackie was the editorial director of DCP, the largest custom publisher California. At the beginning of her career, she was a sportswriter, covering the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics and Golden State Warriors. In 2012 Jackie made a documentary film that aired on PBS and at numerous film festivals, American Jerusalem, Jews and the Making of San Francisco. Jackie has taught at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and UC Berkeley Extension. She earned her Masters of Journalism from UC Berkeley and a BA from the University of Michigan. Help us grow! Leave us a rating and review - it's the best way to bring new listeners to the show. Have a suggestion, or want to chat with Jim? Email him at: Jim@theLobbyingShow.com Follow The Lobbying Show on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for weekly updates about the show, our guests, and more.

ICYMI: WASRG - Inside the Dome in Person! With Sarah Mercer, Brian Bautista, Peter Ruddell, Chris Hosek and John Holub Mar 24, 2023

This week we are excited to run back an incredible panel from WASRG's first ever in-person Inside the Dome – moderated by Jim! – featuring on-the-ground consultants from high-impact states giving their candid insider insight on the impact of the November elections and the major legislation expected in 2023.

The Washington Area State Relations Group (WASRG) is one of the nation’s largest organizations dedicated exclusively to serving state government relations professionals. Since the mid-1970s, WASRG has been providing its corporate, trade association and public sector members with a unique and valuable opportunity to interact with their peers, key state officials and public policy experts.

The panel includes (follow the links for full bios):

Sarah Mercer, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Colorado
Brian Bautista, The Southern Group, Florida
Peter Ruddell, Honigman, LLP, Michigan
John Holub, Public Strategies Impact, New Jersey
Chris Hosek, Star Alliance, Texas

For a full rundown of the event, click here!

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New York Politics, Crypto, and more with Chris Coffey of Tusk Strategies Mar 17, 2023

Jim welcomes a new guest to the podcast, Chris Coffey to discuss numerous topics. From working at Tusk Strategies on crypto, to working with Mayor Bloomberg.Topics covered in this episode include:

How Chris and Bradley Tusk met and their relationship over the years from different jobs to Chris working at Tusk Strategies with Bradley.
Chris' work with Tusk Strategies and how their work with clients differ from other similar companies.
The world of crypto and what is going on with it in New York.
Working with the company eToro on their bitcoin license.
What it means to have a bitcoin license.
The vetting process of potential clients.
The Andrew Yang mayoral campaign.
Working in city hall and working with Mayor Bloomberg.
Mayor Bloomberg and why he stands out as Mayor.
New companies that are keeping Chris busy at Tusk Strategies.

Chris Coffey is the CEO of Tusk Strategies. He led the New York and New Jersey practices for Tusk Ventures and for Tusk Strategies for 9 years before taking over as CEO of Tusk Strategies in 2021. He’s run successful political & legislative efforts in cities and states across the country. In New York, he specializes in creating major media campaigns that dominate news coverage for weeks at a time. Successful examples include Uber, Latch, Bird, Bloomberg, and NYCLASS. In 2017, he served as a senior strategist to Corey Johnson’s winning campaign for Speaker of the New York City Council, and the New York Times called him an informal advisor to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2018 election efforts. He led Tusk’s work on Andrew Yang’s 2021 campaign for NYC Mayor as Co-Campaign Manager. Chris also advises U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY). Prior to joining Tusk, Chris worked for Mike Bloomberg for 12 years at City Hall, on Mike’s three electoral campaigns, and at Bloomberg L.P. During Chris’ time in City government, he helped set up the first-ever NYC Digital Office at the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. He co-authored the Roadmap for the Digital City, which Mayor Bloomberg unveiled as the first digital blueprint for City government in the nation. Before that, Chris worked on the 2009 Bloomberg campaign as a senior communications strategist, as First Deputy Commissioner of the Mayor’s Community Assistance Unit where he helped manage the Mayor’s community relationships, and as an assistant press secretary and director of Mayor Bloomberg’s advance team. Chris serves as the Chair of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy and sits on the boards of Women in Need (WIN), the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), and The Trevor Project, which works to prevent suicides in LGBTQ+ teens. Chris was named one of the Crain’s New York Notable LGBTQ Leaders for 2022 and was a recipient of the 2021 Gay City News Impact Award. For the past several years he has been named to City & State’s Power Pride list of influential gays in New York as well as to City & State’s Top 100 most influential New Yorkers list. He frequently appears on NY1 as an expert on New York politics, and guest lectures at NYU on government and public policy. Chris was born and raised in New York City and now lives in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn with his husband and their two children. Help us grow! Leave us a rating and review - it's the best way to bring new listeners to the show. Have a suggestion, or want to chat with Jim? Email him at: Jim@theLobbyingShow.com Follow The Lobbying Show on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for weekly updates about the show, our guests, and more.

Why Governors Make Such Good Presidents with Steve Palmer Mar 10, 2023

Jim welcomes Steve Palmer to the show to talk about presidential politics as well as Steve's work, from electric car infrastructure to telemedicine.Steven Palmer is a partner at Forbes Tate Partners, a federal and state government affairs firm with areas of specialty including health care, energy, natural resources, financial services, transportation, trade, tax, tech and telecommunications, appropriations, and agriculture. With over two decades of international, multi-state, and federal government relations experience, Steven is adept at advocating for clients and their business initiatives while effectively navigating their public policy challenges and legislative concerns. Steven helps lead FTP’s growing State & Local practice, which leverages the firm’s relationships in statehouses from coast to coast in all 50 states. Before joining Forbes-Tate, Steven served as Managing Director and National Director of Grayling/Dutko Worldwide’s State and Local Government Affairs practice, where he led all lobbying efforts for clients across the country. Over the course of his career, Palmer has served as a senior staff member in the United States Congress, managed state-wide campaigns, and has consistently worked for clients on some of the nation’s most pressing public policy matters since entering the private sector.Topics covered in this episode include:

Steve's passion for running and different races he will be participating in.
Places that Steve enjoys going to ski.
Republican governors and their qualifications to run for president
Who Steve believes could run for president on the democratic side if the president doesn't run for reelection.
What is going on at Steve's work regarding transportation and infrastructure
How Forbes Tate helps companies work with states on electric car infrastructure
Telemedicine
Everything that's happening at the firm
Where Steve will be skiing next

Help us grow! Leave us a rating and review - it's the best way to bring new listeners to the show. Have a suggestion, or want to chat with Jim? Email him at: Jim@theLobbyingShow.com Follow The Lobbying Show on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for weekly updates about the show, our guests, and more.

Josh Gray Joins Ogilvy and Talks Leadership, Healing, and Imposter Syndrome Mar 03, 2023

Jim welcomes Josh Gray back onto the podcast to talk about his new job as vice-president of the advertising company Ogivly along with other topics that have happened since Josh was last on the show. Ogilvy has been growing brands and businesses since 1948. They continue that rich legacy through borderless creativity—operating, innovating, and creating at the intersection of talent and capabilities. Our experts in Public Relations, Consulting, Advertising, Health, and Experience work fluidly across 131 offices in 93 countries. Topics covered in this episode include:

The environment of Ogivly's D.C office that Josh works out of.
Some of Josh's favorite leadership books.
Josh's journey of moving home, navigating the tech industry in San Fancisco, and then ultimately moving back to D.C.
How Josh's therapist was able to help him realize how his past affects his life and work today and the journey of healing that he is still on today.
An overview of Josh's past (For a deeper dive you can find the first conversation Jim had with Josh and his incredible story here).
Dealing with impostor syndrome in the work place.
Talking about a future episode where Josh and his mom are both on the show.

Help us grow! Leave us a rating and review - it's the best way to bring new listeners to the show. Have a suggestion, or want to chat with Jim? Email him at: Jim@theLobbyingShow.com Follow The Lobbying Show on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for weekly updates about the show, our guests, and more.

An Update on Massachusetts Politics with George Cronin Feb 24, 2023

Jim welcomes George Cronin back to the podcast to talk about all of the changes happening within the state of Massachusetts. Before getting into their discussion, Jim pays respect to the late Larry Rasky, founder of Rasky Partners, who passed away in March 2020. During their conversation, George is able to give insight into different topics pertaining to the politics in Massachusetts. Topics discussed include:

Massachusetts' new Democrat governor
The composition of the Massachusetts Senate, Maura Healey
Massachusetts Millionaires Tax
Where Massachusetts is in their current session
Changing sessions to more hybrid options since COVID
Issues George believes will be tackled in the 2-year session.

George Cronin is the Managing Director for the public affairs practice at Rasky Partners. Based out of Boston, they cover government relations at the state and municipal level, grassroots organizing, and ballot questions. They also have a D.C. office to cover federal affairs. George hails from Massachusetts, and was raised in a campaign environment. He attended UMass Amherst for his Bachelors degree, and Suffolk University for his Masters of Government. His first job in government was interning at the Choate Group, a public affairs firm that would later merge to become Rasky Partners. George has extensive campaign experience. He served as a senior advisor and New England political director for then U.S. Sen. Joe Biden’s 2008 presidential campaign.' Help us grow! Leave us a rating and review - it's the best way to bring new listeners to the show. Have a suggestion, or want to chat with Jim? Email him at: Jim@theLobbyingShow.com Follow The Lobbying Show on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for weekly updates about the show, our guests, and more.

Bradley Tusk Returns! Feb 17, 2023

This week Jim welcomes Bradley Tusk back to the show for another exciting conversation!

Bradley Tusk is a venture capitalist, political strategist and writer. Bradley is the Founder and CEO of Tusk Holdings, which includes Tusk Ventures, Tusk Strategies, Kronos Archives, Ivory Gaming and Tusk Montgomery Philanthropies. Tusk Ventures is the world’s first venture capital fund to work with and invest solely in high growth startups facing political and regulatory challenges. Previously, Bradley served as campaign manager for Mike Bloomberg, as Deputy Governor of Illinois and as Communications Director for Senator Charles Schumer. Tusk Montgomery Philanthropies, Bradley’s family foundation, funds and runs campaigns in states across the U.S. to increase funding for anti-hunger programs like school breakfast and food stamp enrollment. They are also working to create mobile voting so people can vote in elections on their phones. Bradley writes a regular column for The Observer, hosts a podcast called Firewall, and has a book - The Fixer - about his adventures in protecting disruptors from the bad guys. Bradley is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he received his BA and has a JD from the University of Chicago Law School. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and two children.

Click here to purchase Bradley's book - The Fixer

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Insight Policing: Helping Police Deescalate Tense Interactions - Dr. Megan Price Educates Us Feb 10, 2023

This week Jim welcomes Megan Price to the show to discuss her work applying the theories of conflict analysis and resolution to the real-life practice of policing in the United States.

Megan Price, Ph.D. is Founder and Director of the Center for Applied Insight Conflict Resolution (CAICR). She is an expert in the Insight approach to conflict analysis and resolution, which explains how conflict affects decision-making and how targeted curiosity can turn adversity into opportunity. Her research and practice focus on designing reliable, context-based solutions to conflict, from the interpersonal to the organizational to the social. Dr. Price specializes in Insight Policing: Conflict Resolution for Law Enforcement, which brings a conflict skill-set to challenging police-community interactions for effective problem-solving and trust-building. Dr. Price teaches Conflict Resolution at the Master’s level at George Mason University in Virginia and Royal Roads University in British Columbia.

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Throwback: A Conversation with Legendary Investor Jim Rogers Feb 03, 2023

This week we're excited to present a special throwback episode! Jim's conversation with legendary investor Jim Rogers is one you'll want to revisit - even if you've heard it before!

Jim Rogers, a native of Demopolis, Alabama, is an author, financial commentator and successful international investor. He has been frequently featured in Time, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Barron's, Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, and most publications dealing with the economy or finance. He has also appeared as a regular commentator and columnist in various media and has been a visiting professor at Columbia University.

After attending Yale and Oxford University, Jim Rogers co-founded the Quantum Fund, a global-investment partnership. During the next 10 years, the portfolio gained 4200%, while the S&P rose less than 50%. Rogers then decided to retire - at age 37. Continuing to manage his own portfolio, Jim Rogers kept busy serving as a professor of finance at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, and, in 1989 and 1990, as the moderator of WCBS's 'The Dreyfus Roundtable' and FNN's 'The Profit Motive with Jim Rogers'.

In 1990-1992, Jim Rogers fulfilled his lifelong dream: motorcycling 100,000 miles across six continents, a feat that landed him in the Guinness Book of World Records. As a private investor, he constantly analyzed the countries through which he traveled for investment ideas. He chronicled his one-of-a-kind journey in Investment Biker: On the Road with Jim Rogers. Jim also embarked on a Millennium Adventure. He traveled for 1101 days on his round-the-world, Guinness World Record journey. Passing through 116 countries, he covered more than 245,000 kilometers, which he recounted in his book Adventure Capitalist: The Ultimate Road Trip.

His latest book "A Gift to My Children: A Father's Lessons for Life and Investing" was published in 2009.

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Which Lobbying Firms are the Largest? Rich Gold Returns to discuss that and much more! Jan 27, 2023

This week Jim welcomes friend of the show Rich Gold back to the pod to discuss the work of lalrge lobbying firms as well as the current state of affairs now that the dust has settled on a new Congressional cycle.

Rich Gold is the leader of the Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group and focuses his practice at the intersection of complex policy and political issues involving Congress, the executive branch and the media. The Public Policy & Regulation Group has been ranked among the top law and lobbying firms in Washington.

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Meet a Capitol Hill Expert! Jan 20, 2023

This week Jim chats with Ryan Shay, the Director of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs at Faegre Drinker, about current events on the Hill.

Ryan Shay is a Capitol Hill veteran and former legislative director with the policy experience, political insight, and relationships in the legislative and executive branches to advance clients’ legislative and regulatory goals. For more than seven years, he served on active legislative teams in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives and successfully led the policy development, legislative strategy and advocacy execution to secure multiple legislative provisions into federal law to improve our nation’s health care policies. After working in three different state delegations, Ryan has a strong track record of delivering meaningful health policy results even as Congress responded to opioid/heroin epidemic, the Zika outbreak, MACRA implementation, efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), prescription drug debates and the unprecedented policy challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Global Business Alliance Represents Some of the Largest 200 International Employers in the Country Jan 13, 2023

This week Jim chats with Meredith Beeson, the Senior Director of State Affairs at Global Business Alliance.

In her role at GBA, Meredith focuses on educating state and local elected officials about the role of foreign direct investment as well as advancing policies that ensure fair treatment of U.S. affiliates of foreign owned companies. Meredith bring to GBA over 10 years of experience in leading public policy and lobbying efforts.

Prior to joining the GBA team, Meredith worked as a Senior Policy Manager at Target Corporation. She covered legislative issues related to tax, transportation, environment and corporate security for all states and key local markets. Prior to her work at Target, Meredith worked for the government relations team at Minneapolis-based Faegre, Baker, and Daniels LLP, the City of Saint Paul, MN and in the U.S. Senate. Meredith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

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Hear from an Expert on Natural Gas Jan 06, 2023

This week Jim chats with Amy Andryszak from Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) about the short- and long-term concerns regarding the significant role of natural gas as a major resource for the foreseeable future in this country.

Amy Andryszak was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) and the INGAA Foundation in 2020. INGAA represents natural gas transmission and storage companies who operate over 200,000 miles of pipeline and related infrastructure that safely transport natural gas from where it is produced to where it is consumed.

Since her appointment in 2020, Ms. Andryszak spearheaded the organization’s 2021 Vision Forward, a comprehensive set of climate change commitments that focuses on modernizing our nation’s interstate natural gas infrastructure with the goal of reducing emissions and minimizing climate impacts.

Prior to joining INGAA in 2020, Ms. Andryszak served as a Principal at a Washington, DC-based government relations firm where she managed a portfolio of clients across a range of policy areas, including energy and related infrastructure, telecommunications, travel and tourism, and financial services. With more than two decades of political and advocacy experience, Ms. Andryszak has held various leadership and executive positions in the U.S. House of Representatives and the private sector.

Ms. Andryszak received a bachelor's degree from The Pennsylvania State University. Ms. Andryszak lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband and daughter.

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Michigan has a Democratic Trifecta! Peter Ruddell Explains Dec 30, 2022

This week Jim chats with Peter Ruddell from Honigman LLP about the makeup of the Michigan legislature heading into the 2023 session.

Peter is an accomplished attorney and government relations advisor with more than two decades of experience around state government, public policy, and elections. He is widely recognized for his experience in representing clients with their health, insurance, education, and budget issues. Among his many legislative accomplishments, he is highly regarded for his work in passing the Dr. Ron Davis Smoke-free Air Law, which made all Michigan restaurants, bars, and work sites smoke-free. He is sought after for his advice and guidance on complicated regulatory and legislative issues. The Speaker of the House appointed Peter as his representative to the 21st Century Education Commission.

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Want a Job on Capitol Hill? Hear from the Expert who Knows what Jobs are Available Dec 23, 2022

This week Jim chats with Tom Manatos from Block about his oversight of his noted D.C.-area job aggregator website as well as his tips for networking in the Capitol.

Job Site https://tommanatosjobs.com/
Article: 11 Networking Tips For Your DC Job Hunt
Email for Tom Manatos - tmanatos@gmail.com

Tom Manatos is the Head of Federal Affairs at Block, a company that includes Square, Cash App, TIDAL, TBD and Spiral. He previously served as Vice President of Government Relations at Spotify and Vice President of Government Affairs at the Internet Association. In these roles he coordinates policy development and advocacy on a broad range of issues in the technology and financial services industries.

Before joining the tech, financial services and music worlds, Manatos was a Senior Advisor to both the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, as a liaison to Members of Congress, Senators, local elected officials and outside stakeholders. Tom has also spent time working on two Presidential Campaigns, a Presidential Inaugural, four Democratic conventions and numerous Congressional campaigns.

Early in his career, Tom developed a passion of helping people find jobs on Capitol Hill and in politics. Feeling he was in a privileged opportunity working in a Capitol Hill leadership office, Tom decided to help fellow young professionals who were interested in politics and government by sending out a daily email of job and internship openings. As time went on, the word spread and the list grew. Tom’s list quickly became the top political, policy and government job service in the country helping thousands of people find jobs. Tom and his wife Dana, who is a Republican, run TomManatosJobs.com, a nonpartisan jobs service where hundreds of jobs in the government, non-profit, campaign and private sectors are posted each week.

A native of the Washington, DC area, Manatos holds a degree in communications from Cornell University and a master’s degree in government from Johns Hopkins University. In 2008, Tom married Dana Edwards who worked for President Bush in the White House Office of Public Liaison and the Presidential Advance Office and is Founder and CEO of The Milkshake Factory. Tom and Dana reside in Bethesda, MD with their three children.

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Are Pyschedelics Coming to a State Near You? We hear from Sarah Mercer and Steven Stenzler of Brownstein Dec 16, 2022

This week Jim chats with Sarah Mercer and Steven Stenzler from Brownstein about the recent legalization of psychedelics in Colorado as well as recent legislative trends in California, Colorado, and states in the Western U.S. more generally.

Steven Stenzler is a Policy Advisor in the Sacramento office of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. In this role he advises on a variety of issues including housing, land-use, tax policy, and emerging technologies. Prior to joining Brownstein, Steven served as the chief of staff to the Chair of the California Assembly Banking Committee. During his tenure in the legislature, Steven was the lead staffer on a number of impactful housing measures, including bills to reform nexus studies, limit development impact fees, reorganize the state’s affordable housing finance system, and a bill to establish the nation’s first statewide housing data strategy. In addition, Steven worked to pass the 2019 Tenant Protection Act which limited rent increases and established just cause eviction protections for millions of renters. Prior to that, Steven filled a variety of roles in the state capitol, from district staffer to legislative director, for members from the central coast and the greater Sacramento region.

Sarah Mercer ensures clients overcome challenging and entrenched legal issues by guiding clients through the complex political landscape. She combines her litigation background with her experience navigating state and local government to develop creative political and administrative solutions for complicated legal issues. In short, Sarah helps her clients efficiently achieve their goals. She’s a connector drawing on her close ties with elected officials and bureaucratic staff at all levels of local and state government to form connections and bridge relationships among diverse stakeholders.

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP is a lobbying and law firm based in the United States with 250 attorneys and policy consultants in 13 offices across the western U.S. and in Washington, D.C.

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WASRG - Inside the Dome in Person! With Sarah Mercer, Brian Bautista, Peter Ruddell, Chris Hosek and John Holub Dec 09, 2022

This week we are happy to present an incredible panel from WASRG's first ever in-person Inside the Dome – moderated by Jim! – featuring on-the-ground consultants from high-impact states giving their candid insider insight on the impact of the November elections and the major legislation expected in 2023.

The Washington Area State Relations Group (WASRG) is one of the nation’s largest organizations dedicated exclusively to serving state government relations professionals. Since the mid-1970s, WASRG has been providing its corporate, trade association and public sector members with a unique and valuable opportunity to interact with their peers, key state officials and public policy experts.

The panel includes (follow the links for full bios):

Sarah Mercer, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Colorado
Brian Bautista, The Southern Group, Florida
Peter Ruddell, Honigman, LLP, Michigan
John Holub, Public Strategies Impact, New Jersey
Chris Hosek, Star Alliance, Texas

For a full rundown of the event, click here!

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Werewolf or Vampire? The Latest from Georgia with Howard Franklin Dec 02, 2022

This week we once welcome back Howard Franklin to the podcast to provide yet another critical update on the runoff Senate race in Georgia.

Howard Franklin is the President and CEO of Ohio River South, a high-stakes strategy firm rooted in the New American South and led by professionals from government, business and politics. Savvy, southern and strategic, ORS has assembled the region’s best technologies and tactics for achieving electoral and policy success.

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Fiscal Note is Taking Political Intelligence to a New Level – Meet Josh Resnik Nov 28, 2022

This week we welcome Josh Resnik back to the podcast to discuss the recent developments at FiscalNote in Washington, D.C.

Josh is FiscalNote’s President & Chief Operating Officer with more than twenty-five years of experience as an executive, attorney, and business leader in both startup and established corporate environments. For a full bio, click here!

As President & COO, he is responsible for managing corporate operations, including the Commercial, Business Development, Marketing, Content, and People functions, as well as providing coordinated oversight over FiscalNote’s diversified lines of business and ensuring optimal allocation of resources to drive efficient revenue growth.

FiscalNote is the leading technology provider of global policy and market intelligence. By uniquely combining AI technology, actionable data, and expert and peer insights, FiscalNote empowers customers with mission-critical insights and the tools to turn them into action.

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Meet the Company That Hires the Most Lobbyists Nov 18, 2022

This week we welcome Maureen Riehl and Ed Griesmer to the podcast to discuss the work they do at Multistate and the fascinating process of hiring lobbyists in an ever-changing political landscape.

Maureen is Principal and General Counsel with MultiState Associates. She joined the firm in October 2015, and leads the firm's Strategic Government Relations Practice. Her work has encompassed both the public and private sector, advising organizations on their strategic planning, public policy, communications, and outreach strategies. Maureen is also an accomplished speaker, state affairs expert, and media commentator. Her passion is mentoring young people interested in the profession of advocacy.

As MultiState’s president, Ed is responsible for overall day-to-day management of the company’s Alexandria headquarters, including business development, marketing, customer satisfaction and quality assurance, as well as overseeing MultiState’s issues management platform, research and technology. He also works directly with numerous clients on all of the company’s service lines including lobbying engagements nationwide.

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What Happened in the Georgia Senate Race? Howard Franklin Explains. Nov 11, 2022

This week we welcome back Howard Franklin to the podcast to provide an update on the extremely close Senate race in Georgia. Howard also walks us through the turnover in the legislature of this increasinly-important state.

Howard Franklin is the President and CEO of Ohio River South, a high-stakes strategy firm rooted in the New American South and led by professionals from government, business and politics. Savvy, southern and strategic, ORS has assembled the region’s best technologies and tactics for achieving electoral and policy success.

Howard has led nonprofits, served in government, elected and lobbied public officials across two dozen states and counting. His career began leading a voter engagement nonprofit for former Mayor Maynard Jackson, before working for Mayor Shirley Franklin. In total, he has given nearly a decade to public service, working for Minority Leader Stacey Abrams and later serving as Senior Policy Advisor to Georgia’s largest county, weighing in on a broad range of issues from healthcare to criminal justice.

He maintains dual citizenship in public and private sectors and has helped drive billions in investment while consulting for industry leaders across technology, healthcare, hospitality, transit and real estate. Equally adept in state capitals and on the campaign trail, he has helped public officials make and communicate policy decisions, win and hold elected office. In 2021, he led the campaign that elected Andre Dickens the 61st Mayor of Atlanta and co-chaired the mayor’s transition team.

Howard was elected the first male president of the Georgia League of Women Voters at age 29, and was thrice recognized as Top 40 Under 40 by Georgia Trend Magazine, Atlanta Business Chronicle and The Network Journal. He was named a 2021 Man of Influence by the Atlanta Business League, and is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Politico, NPR and MSNBC. He earned degrees in sociology and English from Morehouse College.

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Who Will Win the Nevada Senate Race? Nov 07, 2022

This week we welcome Jonathan Oceguera to the podcast for a special pre-election-day episode to discuss the tight Senate and Gubernatorial races in Nevada as well as his unique entry-point into politics as a retired firefighter.

John runs Strategies 360’s Nevada operations, overseeing a diverse mix of clients from corporations and nonprofits to campaigns and candidates.

John formerly served as Speaker of the Nevada Assembly and was an elected representative in the Nevada Legislature for 12 years. He held a variety of leadership positions and chaired numerous committees, including Commerce and Labor, and Transportation. As Speaker of the Assembly in 2011, John worked with his colleagues in both houses and parties to ensure the state budget was balanced, while providing additional funding for education and other essential state services.

In addition to his legislative service, John had a 20-year career with the North Las Vegas Fire Department, working as firefighter, paramedic, engineer, captain, battalion chief and retiring as an assistant chief in 2011. As assistant chief, he developed, implemented a comprehensive emergency operations program, and managed 220 personnel and a multi-million-dollar budget.

John has also served on numerous boards and in many different leadership positions. He was named “Elected Official of the Year” by the American Heart Association and the National Association of Social Workers, Nevada Chapter.

John received a “Top 40 Under 40” award from In Business Las Vegas and was named “Consumer Advocate of the Year” by the Nevada Trial Lawyers. John’s most cherished honor was having his name placed on the Distinguished Service Wall at the Nevada Firefighters Memorial, joining only 17 other firefighters who have been so honored.

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Lt. Governor Fetterman or Dr. Oz? Rob Vescio Gives Us an Overview Nov 04, 2022

This week Jim welcomes Rob Vescio to the podcast to discuss the looming Pennsylvania Senate race and to break down the current political landscape in the state.

One of the original principals that launched Dentons Cohen & Grigsby Public Affairs, Rob is a seasoned professional with nearly 20 years of public affairs experience. If a major public policy debate is occurring in Pennsylvania, chances are, Rob is part of the discussion.

As a lobbyist, Rob has successfully lobbied on behalf of for-profit companies, nonprofit organizations and trade association clients. His vast experience and strong bi-partisan contacts have provided clients with the ability to shape issues.

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Groundhog Day - U.S. Senate May Once Again Be Decided in Georgia Runoff Oct 28, 2022

This week Jim welcomes back friend of the show Eric Tanenblatt to discuss the tight US Senate race between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker in Georgia. They also assess the likelihood of a possible runoff between the two candidates.

Eric Tanenblatt is the Global Chair of Public Policy and Regulation of Dentons, the world's largest law firm. He also leads the firm's US Public Policy Practice, leveraging his three decades of experience at the very highest levels of the federal and state governments.

Mr. Tanenblatt, a renowned lecturer and political counselor who's widely regarded as one of the nation's preeminent public policy thought leaders, has served in the administrations of three US presidents and as a senior advisor to a US senator and governor, and held a US Senate-confirmable post governing a federal agency.

He leads Dentons' global autonomous vehicles team and authors a popular weekly digest tracking the most consequential regulatory, political, and technical developments in the world of automotive autonomy.

Mr. Tanenblatt's political and fundraising activities and experience are extensive. He served as chief of staff to Governor Sonny Perdue, Georgia's first Republican governor in 130 years, and later helped coordinate the 2004 G-8 Economic Summit, hosted by President George W. Bush at Sea Island, Georgia. He served in 2012 as a political advisor and National Finance Co-chairman for the presidential campaign of Governor Mitt Romney, with whom his relationship dates back to 2004, when he served as Finance Co-chair for the Romney-led Republican Governors Association (RGA). Earlier, in 2000, he served as the state chairman for President Bush's successful Georgia campaign and held senior positions in the 1996 Bob Dole and Phil Gramm presidential campaigns.

He also served as a longtime advisor to the late US Senator Paul Coverdell (R-GA), including as vice chairman of the senator's reelection bid in 1998. Later, he served in the administration of President George H. W. Bush at the Department of Health and Human Services as a special assistant to the secretary, and as director of intergovernmental affairs at the Peace Corps.

Mr. Tanenblatt is a prominent advocate for civic engagement, often writing and speaking on the subject. He was nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the US Senate to serve on the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service, serving from 2008 until 2013. He was also the founder and chairman of Hands on Georgia, a statewide organization to promote volunteerism, and served as co-chair of the Host Committee for the National Conference for Service and Volunteerism in 2008 and 2018.

Named one of Georgia's 100 most influential persons and a political legacy leader by the magazine Georgia Trend, which years earlier named him one of the state's "Forty under 40" rising stars, Mr. Tanenblatt is often quoted or cited by some of the most prestigious news and opinion services in the world, including the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the New York Times, US News and World Report, National Journal, Politico, The Hill, Roll Call, the Associated Press, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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Leif Johnson Wears Many Hats; Focus, TAG & Leonine Public Affairs to Name a Few Oct 21, 2022

This week Jim welcomes Leif Johnson to the pod to discuss his experience in public affairs as well as some of his interesting endeavors from the past.

Leif Johnson provides strategic counsel and serves as a solutions provider for corporations and trade associations to enhance their state government relations efforts throughout the country. In 2003, he opened the Leonine Washington, D.C., Office and branded the 50-state government affairs practice, FOCUS. He oversees the coalition & association management practice area along with the state government affairs and legislative/regulatory tracking division. Leif also assumed the role of CEO and Managing Director of The Advocacy Group in 2012.

Previously, he was director of government relations and contracts, and director of corporate communications for West Publishing-Thomson Reuters, in Minnesota. At West, Leif helped create a nationwide lobbying network in all 50 states. He managed West’s state and federal government relations and lobbying efforts, guided passage of database protection legislation in the House of Representatives and served as spokesperson for crisis communications events. At Cisco Systems in San Jose, California, Leif was a public relations manager and directed the commercial line of business public relations and reputation management initiatives. He also served as a legislative assistant and director of correspondence to U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, a legislative aide to Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson, and led a congressional campaign in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District. Leif was also a high school social studies teacher and a tennis pro at Hazeltine National Golf & Tennis Club.

He was president of the Washington Area State Relations Group (WASRG), a trade association of government affairs executives and professionals, in 2009-2010. Leif graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota and holds a Master of Public Policy from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

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10 States Passed Bills to Support Nuclear Power – The Future is Here and its Nuclear Microreactors - Tune in to hear from Christine Csizmadia and Marc Nichol from the Nuclear Energy Institute. Oct 14, 2022

This week Jim welcomes Christine Csizmadia and Marc Nichol from the Nuclear Energy Institute to the show to discuss – you guessed it – nuclear power!

Christine Csizmadia is the Senior Director for State Governmental Affairs and Advocacy at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and has been with NEI for 15 years developing, launching and managing state, local and grassroots programs. As the senior director of the state and local government affairs team at NEI, Christine manages coalition building, grassroots mobilization and state and local elected official outreach and education.

Marc Nichol joined Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) in 2011 and is the Senior Director of New Reactors. In this role, he leads industry’s efforts to improve the policy, regulatory, and business environment for new and advanced reactors.

NEI and its members promote the benefits of nuclear power, advocate for smart policies and educate lawmakers on industry issues.

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Gary Hart for President, Skyjet, and now Merit International - meet Trevor Cornwell - Helping employers and employees get immediate verified credentials. Tune in to learn all about it. Oct 07, 2022

This week Jim welcomes Trevor Cornwell to the podcast as they chat about Trevor's experience as a businessman and entrepreneur. Their conversation touches on several of Trevor's current and previous projects like Forum280, Merit, and Skyjet – as well as his time spent working on the Gary Hart presidential campaign. Tune in to hear all about it!

Trevor Cornwell serves as a President of Government Affairs at Merit International, Inc., an Andreesen Horowitz portfolio company. He founded the business jet reservation network Skyjet which was acquired by Bombardier, Inc. Cornwell also founded appbackr inc., an Intel Capital Portfolio Company, a winner of the PayPal X Developer Challenge, and an OnMobile 100 Company.

Additionally, Cornwell is President of Forum280, a California Public Benefit Corporation and designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) where he founded Summit.Ahead. in conjunction with the Mayor of Reykjavik on the Future of Work.

Merit International connects organizations and individuals, and provides real-world value across a network of verified identity. Merit exits to scale human coordination through digital credentials to make the world a better place.

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Dominance of the Offense, Dominance of the Defense; Martin Gold Returns Sep 30, 2022

This week Jim welcomes Martin Gold back to the podcast as they focus on the process of what the senate parliamentarian had to go through to determine what could be considered for the Inflation Reduction Act as part of the budget reconciliation process.

Martin B. Gold is a partner with Capitol Counsel, LLC. In service to our clients, he brings over 40 years of legislative and private practice experience. He is a recognized authority and author on matters of congressional rules and parliamentary strategies, and U.S. policy in Asia. He frequently advises senators and their staff and serves on the adjunct faculty at George Washington University. In 2022, he received the College of Professional Studies Faculty Excellence Award. Before domestic business, professional, and academic audiences, he speaks about Congress as well as political and public policy developments.

Capital Counsel works closely with their clients to set achievable goals, craft strategic arguments, and devise winning plans to address legislative challenges and opportunities. They implement winning strategies that help their clients meet their policy goals.

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Should You Make the Move From In-House to a GR Firm? Saat Alety Makes the Leap and Joins "Fed Hall" Sep 23, 2022

This week we welcome back friend of the podcast Saat Alety as he gives Jim an update on his recent move from Allstate to Fed Hall.

Saat Alety is a Partner at Federal Hall Policy Advisors (Fed Hall), a leading bipartisan government affairs firm in Washington, D.C. Named to The Hill's Top Lobbyist list in 2021, Alety most recently led Allstate’s advocacy efforts with Congress, the White House, and federal agencies, in addition to its public policy development at the federal, state, and local level. Alety previously served as Majority Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development under U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. As Sen. Scott’s senior policy advisor on financial services issues, Alety led efforts that resulted in the enactment of legislation to grow consumer access to banking services, prevent synthetic identity theft, and modernize mortgage credit standards. Prior to his tenure as a Senate staffer, Alety spent three years as Communications Director to U.S. Representative Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. While spokesperson, Alety was also a Legislative Assistant to Rep. Royce for his House Financial Services Committee portfolio. In addition to his Capitol Hill experience, Alety has held positions with the Financial Services Roundtable (now Bank Policy Institute), the leading trade association for the financial services industry, and the Romney 2012 presidential campaign. A native of Naperville, Illinois, Alety began his career in the office of U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL). He serves on the boards of directors/advisors for College to Congress, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and the One Love Foundation. Alety is also an alumni advisor to the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association and a recipient of its Jose M. Montano Jr. Award for "going above and beyond to sustain a pipeline of AAPI Hill staffers and leaders on the Hill." In 2022, Alety joined his undergraduate alma mater Loyola University Chicago as an adjunct professor in its political science department, teaching PLSC 238: Political Advocacy for the school's Washington program. He has also guest lectured for students at the University of Chicago, New York University, and American University.

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Foreign Service or Politics? Mike Bober Chose Politics. Hear from the thoughtful leader of the Pet Advocacy Network. Sep 16, 2022

This week we welcome Mike Bober to the podcast as he shares a bit about his personal story and tells Jim how he ended up in his current role as the President and CEO of the Pet Advocacy Network.

After more than a decade in various political outreach roles, Mike now oversees all aspects of the pet care community’s agenda at the federal, state and municipal levels for the pet trade’s largest legislative trade association. He works to engage and educate elected officials on a variety of issues affecting companion animals and those who care for and about them. The Pet Advocacy Network's mission is to champion pets and responsible pet professionals with expertise and integrity. They envision a future with expanded opportunities to enjoy the companionship of healthy and well-treated pets, in which responsible pet care professionals are respected and seen as having the best interests of pets in mind.

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First Ever! WASRG In-Person Inside the Dome Symposium! Maggie Mick gives us a sneak peek Sep 09, 2022

This week we welcome Maggie Mick to the podcast as she gives Jim a sneak peek of WASRG's upcoming In-Person Inside the Dome Symposium in Washington, D.C.!

Maggie Mick serves as Assistant Vice President at MultiState. Before joining the firm's leadership team, she spent nearly 12 years at The Council of State Governments, or CSG, nationally headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. Her final role was Chief Advancement Officer. Prior to her tenure at CSG, she was an aide in the United States Congress. In addition, she held public office as a member of the Lancaster City Council for two terms.

The Washington Area State Relations Group (WASRG) is one of the nation’s largest organizations dedicated exclusively to serving state government relations professionals. Since the mid-1970s, WASRG has been providing its corporate, trade association and public sector members with a unique and valuable opportunity to interact with their peers, key state officials and public policy experts.

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Get the Inside Scoop from Tim Storey, the Executive Director of NCSL Sep 02, 2022

This week we welcome Tim Storey to the podcast to give Jim the rundown on what it's like to oversee the largest state legislature conference in the country.

Tim Storey serves as the Executive Director of the NCSL. Prior to that, Storey spent the past 30 years working for and studying legislatures—specializing in elections, redistricting, legislative organization and leadership. As Executive Director of NCSL, he provides leadership and vision to diverse constituencies in achieving NCSL’s goals and implement organizational change in response to the shifting needs of legislatures and a dynamic political environment.

Check out Tim's podcasts here: https://www.ncsl.org/podcast-portal

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Democrats Achieve Legislative Wins before The August Recess - We Dive in with Rich Gold Aug 26, 2022

This week we welcome back friend of the show Rich Gold to discuss the recent wins for Democrative policy-makers in Congress.

Rich Gold is the leader of Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group and focuses his practice at the intersection of complex policy and political issues involving Congress, the executive branch, and the media. Mr. Gold has been recognized as a top lobbyist in Washington by The Hill, The National Journal, Washington SmartCEO, Super Lawyers, Washingtonian and The Washington Business Journal.

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What did you do during COVID? Jake Bookwalter traveled the world. Aug 19, 2022

This week we welcome James "Jake" Bookwalter onto the show to give us a rundown of his many international trips during the Covid-19 pandemic. You might be surprised by his favorite location over the past couple of years.

James (better known as Jake) serves as Vice President for Legislative Information Services at Stateside Associates. Jake joined Stateside in 2011 as a legislative associate and served as a manager and senior manager before assuming his current role. As Vice President, Jake manages the overall legislative monitoring services provide to clients, manages each of the four legislative teams and is responsible for the overall accuracy, quality, and timeliness of the legislative monitoring and research. He is also responsible for the training of the professionals monitoring and analyzing legislation and political trends in all 50 states and the territories. In addition, Jake liaises with clients and frequently lectures about state issues.

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The Future? Combining Investing and Government Relations. Meet Rachel Stern of InState Partners. Aug 12, 2022

This week we welcome newcomer Rachel Stern the show to chat with Jim about their shared enjoyment of NCSL as well as Rachel's work with InState Partners.

Rachel Stern is a Senior Vice President for InState Partners, a business line of Advantage Capital. As the founder of the business line, over the last decade she has invested in and advised InState’s extensive portfolio companies on how to foster effective partnerships between innovative technology solutions and state and local governments across the country.

Rachel is also a graduate of the CORO™ Fellows Program, an intensive, full-time, graduate-level fellowship in public affairs. Through CORO, she worked in multiple sectors of public affairs, including non-profits, public companies and private equity-backed businesses, state government and electoral campaigns.

She received her MBA from University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business and her bachelor’s degree from Amherst College.

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NCSL – You think your perceptions are correct? Think again. Keynote Speaker and part time F16 pilot Eric M. Bailey outlines “Using Brain Science to Explain Irrational Behavior” Aug 05, 2022

This week we welcome keynote speaker and author Eric M. Bailey onto the show (fresh off his presentation at NCSL) to chat with Jim about perception versus reality when it comes to understanding our real-life human colleagues and co-workers.

Eric M. Bailey is the bestselling author of The Cure for Stupidity: Using Brain Science to Explain Irrational Behavior and President of Bailey Strategic Innovation Group, one of the fastest-growing human communication consulting firms in the United States. Eric has a diverse set of experiences that includes helping NFL All-Pro Larry Fitzgerald pet a rhinoceros, doing barrel rolls in an F-16, and chatting with LL Cool J on the campus of Harvard University.

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Chips Plus Science and the Inflation Reduction Act!! Jul 29, 2022

This week we welcome back friend of the show Rich Gold and his Holland & Knight colleague Chris DeLacy to discuss the Chips Plus Science Act as well as the Inflation Reduction Act. They also take a bit of time to make some predictions about the upcoming Congressional Baseball Game.

Chris DeLacy is the leader of the Political Law Group and a member of the Public Policy & Regulation team at Holland & Knight. For 18 years, he has been representing corporations, trade associations, local governments, coalitions and nonprofits before Congress and the executive branch. Mr. DeLacy has extensive experience with cybersecurity, data breach, privacy, maritime, agriculture and trade issues. He has helped to develop legislation and federal policies in these areas and has represented clients during related hearings.

Rich Gold is the leader of Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group and focuses his practice at the intersection of complex policy and political issues involving Congress, the executive branch, and the media. Mr. Gold has been recognized as a top lobbyist in Washington by The Hill, The National Journal, Washington SmartCEO, Super Lawyers, Washingtonian and The Washington Business Journal.

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Keeping Up with Katie Kincaid Jul 22, 2022

In this episode Chris, April, and Jim welcome back friend of the show Katie Kincaid to hear about her experiences traveling the world in the midst of a pandemic after leaving her position at Lyft for a journey of self-discovery which took her from Thailand to Myanmar to Croatia and ultimately to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Katie is a government relations and public affairs professional with extensive experience across all levels of government. Having worked in government, as a consultant, and in the private sector, Katie offers a unique perspective on how to mold and execute public policy and accompanying advocacy efforts for a variety of needs and objectives. Through these experiences, Katie has developed a strong network and keen understanding of political process.

April is the SVP of Public Policy at hims & hers, where her goal is to secure federal, state, and local healthcare policy that increases access and empowers patients.

And Chris is an Operating Partner on the Craft Ventures platform team focused on helping founders with issues related to government relations, public affairs, social impact, and diversity & inclusion.

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April Mims and Chris Massey are back for Part 2 Jul 19, 2022

This week we welcome back friends of the show Chris Massey and April Mims for part two of their recent discussion with Jim.

April is the SVP of Public Policy at hims & hers, where her goal is to secure federal, state, and local healthcare policy that increases access and empowers patients.

And Chris is an Operating Partner on the Craft Ventures platform team focused on helping founders with issues related to government relations, public affairs, social impact, and diversity & inclusion.

In this episode Chris, April, and Jim discuss the unique rewards and challenges of in-house government relations.

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NCSL is BACK!! See you in Denver! Jul 08, 2022

Welcome back to another episode of The Political Life! Today, Jim meets with Caroline Carlson and Jennifer Stowe to talk about the upcoming NCSL Legislative Summit! This year, the event will take place August 1st through 3rd in beautiful Denver, Colorado!

As director of foundation programs, Caroline Carlson leads the over $4 million in fundraising efforts, board director engagement and award management of the NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures. Carlson marks 21 years with the organization after leading fundraising efforts for 18 years. An admirer of the public policy process, Carlson received her master's degree in public affairs from Indiana University, Bloomington and a bachelor's of science in political science from James Madison University in Virginia.

Jennifer L. Stowe is the Vice President, Government Relations for The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) in the Washington, DC area office. CRI is the trade association with responsibility for representing U.S. manufacturers of carpets and rugs. Her responsibilities include federal, state, and local government relations as well as interaction with government agencies and other Washington-based trade associations. She holds a B.A. degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies from The Pennsylvania State University.

You can find the other podcasts mentioned in this episode (Our American States and The Inside Storey with Tim Storey) by following this link: https://www.ncsl.org/our-american-states.aspx

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SCOTUS Ruling in Dobbs, Cassidy Hutchinson testimony, and much more with Rich Gold Jul 05, 2022

This week we welcome back friend of the show Rich Gold to discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson, Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony in the January 6th hearings, and much more.

Rich Gold is the leader of Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group and focuses his practice at the intersection of complex policy and political issues involving Congress, the executive branch, and the media. Mr. Gold has been recognized as a top lobbyist in Washington by The Hill, The National Journal, Washington SmartCEO, Super Lawyers, Washingtonian and The Washington Business Journal.

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FOMO – tune in to hear what Chris Massey & April Mims have to say Jun 29, 2022

This week we welcome back friends of the show Chris Massey and April Mims (as co-hosts with Jim) as they have part one of a two-part discussion about where they first overlapped in the work world: Lyft.

April is the SVP of Public Policy at hims & hers, where her goal is to secure federal, state, and local healthcare policy that increases access and empowers patients.

And Chris is an Operating Partner on the Craft Ventures platform team focused on helping founders with issues related to government relations, public affairs, social impact, and diversity & inclusion.

As this episode can attest, all roads seem to lead back to Lyft, which is the place where April's and Chris' professional paths first crossed back in 2014. Together, April and Chris lead the listeners through their joint experience working in the public policy department and shaping the message at Lyft in the early years of the app's development.

As a reminder, you'll be hearing more from Chris in the near future as we gear up to bring you coverage of the National Conference of State Legislatures, which will be hosted in Denver, Colorado, in early August.

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Recalled– San Francisco Prosecutor Chesa Boudin was rejected by 60% of residents. Jun 17, 2022

This week we welcome back friend of the show Chris Massey to discuss the results of the recent recall election in San Francisco and the wider implications of that outcome upon the looming midterm elections.

Chris is an Operating Partner on the Craft Ventures platform team focused on helping founders with issues related to government relations, public affairs, social impact, and diversity & inclusion.

We'll be hearing more from Chris in the near future as we gear up to bring you coverage of the National Conference of State Legislatures, which will be hosted in Denver, Colorado, in early August.

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What do Pres. Obama, Lyft, Zoom and Soft Bank all have in common? They all hired Lauren Belive. Jun 06, 2022

Lauren Belive is the Director of Government Affairs at SoftBank. After she graduated from Barnard College she moved to Washington, D.C., where she took on a staff assistant job with former California Congressman Henry Waxman. From there she went on to work for then-Senator Barack Obama before joining his team on the presidential campaign trail and in the White House. She later held positions with Lyft and Zoom where she served as the Head of Federal Government Relations and Head of U.S. Government Relations, respectively. In this episode, Lauren and Jim discuss Lauren's career history as well as her current position at SoftBank, where she works with portfolio companies and deal teams in various capacities as the Director of Government Affairs.

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Prashanthi Rao Raman's Journey from Healthcare Law to Autonomous Vehicles May 27, 2022

Prashanthi Raman is the Vice President, Global Government Affairs at Cruise. She received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University. Thereafter, Prashanthi earned a joint Juris Doctorate and Masters of Public Health degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law and University of Illinois at Chicago.

After practicing healthcare law for 6 years, she was appointed by Illinois Governor Quinn to manage his administration's healthcare and human services legislative portfolio. She then transitioned to the private sector and joined Lyft's government affairs team, where she oversaw and managed a wide range of public policy issues in various markets across North America.

Currently, she works for Cruise, an all-electric autonomous vehicle company, where she oversees global public policy and regulatory issues.

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A Recap of the All-in Summit + How a Recession Could Impact the GR Sector May 19, 2022

Today on the show we welcome back Chris Massey, the Operating Partner, Government Relations & Public Affairs at Craft Ventures.

Craft Ventures is an early-stage and growth fund dedicated to the craft of building great companies. Comprised of entrepreneurs and operators, they're a team of founders helping founders.

Chris provides us with a recap of the All-in Summit, which recently took place in Miami. Featured speakers included Elon Musk, Nate Silver, Tim Urban, and more.

He also covers what an impending recession could mean for the government relations industry. Specifically, he touches on the potential for a decrease in spending on GR by startups.

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Eric Tanenblatt on the State of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry May 13, 2022

This week we are pleased to present part two of our conversation with Eric Tanenblatt. As a reminder, Eric is the Global Chair of Public Policy and Regulation at Dentons, the world's largest law firm. At Denton's, Eric started up an autonomous vehicle practice, which now collaborates with 70+ partners around the globe within the autonomous vehicle ecosystem. In this episode, Eric gives Jim a concise update regarding the current state of the growing autonomous vehicle industry and shares some insight on the progress of electric vehicles in the United States - with particular focus placed on industry leaders like Waymo and Cruise and their work in metro areas like San Francisco, Phoenix, and New York City. Check out Eric's writing on autonomous vehicles and keep an eye out for Denton's 'Global Autonomous Vehicle Index' here: https://www.thedriverlesscommute.com Have a suggestion, or want to chat with Jim? Email him at Jim@ThePoliticalLife.net Follow The Political Life on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for weekly updates.

Eric Tanenblatt on Georgia's Legislative Session and Upcoming Elections May 06, 2022

Eric Tanenblatt is the Global Chair of Public Policy and Regulation at Dentons, the world's largest law firm. He also leads the firm's US Public Policy Practice, leveraging his three decades of experience at the very highest levels of the federal and state governments.

Eric also heads up the firm’s 50-state practice. To name just a few of his accomplishments, Eric has served in the administration of three U.S. Presidents, as senior advisor to U.S. Senators and Governors, and helped coordinate the 2004 G8 Economic Summit, which was hosted in Sea Island, Georgia.

In Georgia, Eric also served as chief of staff to the former Governor Sonny Perdue. Because of his deep roots in Republican politics in the state, Eric updated Jim on recent activity in the Georgia state legislative session, and provided some insight into the gubernatorial and senate races there.

This is part one of a two part conversation, and next week Jim and Eric will chat about Eric’s past work helping disruptive companies navigate the complicated laws and regulations surrounding the innovation economy – with a particular focus placed on Eric’s work and writing around autonomous vehicles.

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April Mims' Journey from Law School to Government Relations Part II Apr 24, 2022

We are excited to present part two of Jim’s interview with April Mims, the SVP of Public Policy at hims & hers. In our previous episode April shared a bit about her journey through law school and her experience serving as the Director of Public Policy at Lyft before joining the team at hims & hers.

In this week’s episode, Jim and April discuss her work at hims & hers, a direct-to-consumer telehealth and wellness platform dedicated to de-stigmatizing healthcare and making it easier for people to access the care they need. The company was launched as “hims” back in November of 2017 with the goal of providing more accessible healthcare for men - particularly sexual health, skin care, and and hair loss - all from the convenience of a laptop or smartphone. “Hers” was launched about a year later (late 2018), and the company went public in January of 2021.

Since then, the company has been approved to provide synchronous telehealth care in all fifty states and asynchronous care in the majority of them. It is April’s job to work with the handful of states that have not yet approved asynchronous care and help them understand this method of care, why it’s safe, why it’s convenient, and how it will create better access to care across the board.

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April Mims' Journey from Law School to Government Relations Part I Apr 15, 2022

April Mims is the SVP of Public Policy at hims & hers. Prior to taking this position, she worked as the Director of Public Policy at Lyft, where she negotiated new regulations for the ride-share industry back in her home state of Texas. April grew up outside of Houston before heading to North Carolina to earn her bachelor’s degree from Duke University; she later earned her J.D. at Georgetown University.

While studying at Georgetown, she realized that she wanted to forego the white-shoe law firm route and focus instead on public policy. In part one of this conversation, April reflects on her time as a law student, discusses her experience as a Law Clerk at the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and shares some of what she learned during her time as the Public Policy Director at Lyft during the early 2010s. Be sure to tune in next week when we share part two of our conversation with April, in which we’ll focus on her work at hims & hers and how her previous experience has helped her succeed in her current position. Help us grow! Leave us a rating and review - it's the best way to bring new listeners to the show. Don't forget to subscribe!

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Texas Politics Revisited with A.J. Bingham and Andrew Cates Apr 08, 2022

Today's episode features the returning guest, A.J. Bingham, Founder and CEO of The Bingham Group, LLC. An Austin, TX based lobbyist, we previously discussed A.J.'s journey to launching Bingham Group. He is joined by Andrew Cates, a recent addition to Bingham Group, who will head up Bingham Group's work at the Texas Legislature as a Managing Principal.

The Bingham Group, LLC is a full service lobbying firm representing clients before municipal governments in Austin Metro, and the legislative and executive branches of Texas government.

Bingham Group produces their own weekly podcast titled “The BG Podcast ” where they interview Austin’s leaders and influencers. “A conversation at the intersection of business, policy and community.” You can find the podcast on sound cloud, Google play or iTunes.

To continue the conversation with A.J. and Andy you can connect with them via the following platforms

Instagram: @binghamgroup

Twitter: @binghamgp

Facebook

BG Podcast

Email: aj@binghamgp.com and andrew@binghamgp.com

www.binghamgp.com

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Steve DelBianco - The Tech Industry's Toughest Advocate Apr 03, 2022

Steve DelBianco is the President and CEO of NetChoice, a trade association that works to make the Internet safe for free enterprise and free expression. NetChoice helps tech companies overcome the obstacles presented by entrenched incumbent businesses.

Steve grew up in Western Pennsylvania and is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, where he earned bachelors degrees in economics and business engineering, and his MBA. Shortly after graduation, Steve started his own consulting firm, Financial Dynamics, in 1984. That firm initially consulted on software development and eventually transitioned to Internet-based applications.

Steve sold Financial Dynamics in 1997 and started a new company called eRealty, an online realtor service, in 1998. When his new company faced backlash from a national organization of realtors, Steve realized that he needed to start a trade association focused exclusively on breaking down barriers to online and e-commerce for other entrepreneurs. Shortly thereafter, Steve sold eRealty and founded NetChoice.

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How REEF is Transforming Open Urban Spaces Across the U.S. Mar 25, 2022

Ron Bilbao is Vice President and Head of Public Affairs at REEF Technology. REEF transforms static parking facilities into thriving mobility and logistical hubs. Their mission is to be the ecosystem that connects the world to your block.

Ron is a Miami native with 15 years’ experience in public policy and government. Through his firm, November Strategies, he advised countless local, state and federal candidate and issue campaigns. Prior to REEF, Ron worked on the legislative team at the National Education Association’s Florida affiliate, the largest association of professional employees in the South.

He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A first-generation college student, he founded the school’s first Latino Center to advance opportunities for current and future Hispanic students.

Ron then continued his advocacy at the ACLU, defending and promoting civil liberties in Florida. Ron worked as Political Director for SEIU - the nation’s largest healthcare union, representing nurses, doctors, and healthcare professionals – in Miami.

He was named one of Miami’s “Leaders of the Future” by LatinoLeaders Magazine as and one of the “30-under-30 Rising Stars” in Florida Politics. For eight years, Ron served on the Board of Directors of Miami-Dade's oldest and largest LGBT advocacy organization SAVE.

Ron is of Venezuelan-Colombian heritage and lives on Miami Beach with his wife Maria and their husky Lola.

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The Future of International Trade In Light of the Ukraine Invasion Mar 13, 2022

This week on the show we welcome back Rich Gold, who is a Partner at Holland & Knight, and the leader of the firm’s Public Policy and Regulation team. We're also joined by Nasim Fussell - a trade attorney in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office, and a member of Rich's team. Nasim has a wealth of trade legislation and negotiation experience, having served in numerous trade-related roles in the public and private sectors.

Nasim advises clients on trade legislation, negotiations and regulatory issues. Prior to joining Holland & Knight, she was the chief international trade counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, serving under Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). She also served as deputy chief international trade counsel under former Chair Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

Support the people of Ukraine by donating to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

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How Vance Roush is Reinventing Modern Philanthropy Mar 04, 2022

Today on the show we have a conversation with Vance Roush of Overflow.

Overflow is an online stock donation platform that helps nonprofits and churches accept donations of publicly-traded stock.

While most nonprofits deal exclusively with cash donations, many potential donors hold their wealth primarily in stocks, not cash. This fundamental misalignment means nonprofits miss out on countless donations each year.

Overflow is reinventing modern philanthropy by making it possible to donate stock directly to nonprofits.

With a background in technology as a former Googler and in the nonprofit space as a church builder, Vance has experienced first hand the power of generosity and is on a mission to scale that principle through technology. In addition to leading Overflow, he serves as Executive Pastor at VIVE Church.

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David Owen's Journey from San Francisco City Hall to AirBnB & Shef Feb 27, 2022

This week Chris Massey of Craft Ventures and David Mack (D-Mack) guest host the show and interview David Owen of Shef.

Shef is a startup based out of San Francisco that allows consumers to have authentic, homemade meals cooked by local, certified chefs delivered right to their home.

Chris and D-Mack speak with David about:

How David decided to make the move to in-house government relations;
What it was like working for AirBnB in the early days of the company;
How the '08 financial crisis and smartphones paved the way for the creation of companies like Lyft, AirBnB, and Eaze;
How Shef is navigating the patchwork quilt of food-related regulations across the country

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Hidden Tribes and the San Francisco Recall Election Feb 18, 2022

Today on the show we welcome back Chris Massey, the Operating Partner, Government Relations & Public Affairs at Craft Ventures.

Craft Ventures is an early-stage and growth fund dedicated to the craft of building great companies. Comprised of entrepreneurs and operators, they're a team of founders helping founders.

Chris talks about the recent San Francisco recall election, and how the research from More In Common's Hidden Tribes Project can help us understand the outcome.

He also speaks about his work with Craft Ventures, and one of their exciting portfolio companies, Overflow — a company that helps nonprofits easily and securely accept stock and cryptocurrency donations.

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Leading the Infrastructure Industry's Premier Trade Association Feb 11, 2022

This week on the show we speak with Lawrence Slade, the CEO of the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA). He became CEO of the GIIA in January of 2020. GIIA represents investors with over US $1tn AUM. Prior to his role with GIIA Lawrence Slade worked with Energy UK in 2011, becoming their Chief Executive in January 2015. Additionally, he served on the boards of Eurogas and Eurelectric in Brussels. He has been involved in the energy industry since the late 1990’s working in countries all over the world. Lawrence is currently a Board member of Connected Kerb, a Board Trustee and Audit Committee member of the Money Advice Trust (who run the National Debtline and Business Debtline) and is also a Fellow of the Energy Institute.

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The "Gold Brothers" on What to Expect from Congress in the Next Six Months Feb 04, 2022

On this week's episode, we welcome back the "Gold Brothers," Marty Gold of Capitol Counsel and Rich Gold of Holland & Knight. The pair of political insiders walk us through what to expect from the legislative calendar in the next six months before members of Congress completely turn their attention to the midterm elections.

In this episode, we discuss:

Marty explains both the history of the Electoral Count Act of 1887 and how Congress is expected to address its ambiguities.
Both Rich and Marty discuss their expectations for how senators on both sides will approach the Supreme Court confirmation process.
And finally, they get into what can be salvaged from President Biden's Build Back Better legislation and whether or not Senator Manchin will be on board for any sort of proposal.

Get to know how Rich and Marty got into the political life be reliving their previous episodes:

Burning Man Has a Lobbyist. His Name is Rich Gold.

Demystifying the U.S. Senate and the Budget Reconciliation Process with Martin B. Gold

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Cesar Fernandez on the Miami Tech Scene & His Role with Pacaso Jan 28, 2022

This week we welcome back Cesar Fernandez to the show. Cesar is the Director of Public Affairs at Pacaso — A company helping people experience the joy of second home ownership. He's also the founder of the Miami Tech Pod, a weekly show that talks about all the recent news, events, happenings, and trends in the #MiamiTech community.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Mayor Francis Suarez has helped build Miami into a tech hub
What it was like for Cesar to make the transition from being a contract lobbyist to an in-house lobbyist
How Pacaso is changing what it means to own a second home.

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The 2022 Red Wave, & Why Speaker Pelosi is Talking About "Chunks" of Build Back Better Jan 21, 2022

This week on the show we welcome back Rich Gold, who is a Partner at Holland & Knight, and the leader of the firm’s Public Policy and Regulation team.

In this episode, we cover a number of topics:

The impending release of the latest Federal lobbying firm revenue figures
Filibuster reform and the voting rights act - where does Congress go from here?
Why Speaker Pelosi is talking about "Chunks" of Build Back Better
What the wave of Democratic retirements from Congress means for the party's chances in the 2022 elections

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Why Georgia is at the Center of the Political Universe in 2022 Jan 14, 2022

Howard Franklin is the Founder and Managing Partner of Ohio River South, a strategy firm focused on "the New American South."

Splitting time between state capitals and the campaign trail, Howard Franklin has worked across two dozen states to advance the careers and policies of the South’s leading lawmakers.

Howard has been recognized as ‘Top 40 Under 40’ by Georgia Trend Magazine and The Network Journal. He is a member of the Georgia Professional Lobbyists Association, a frequent contributor on CNN, NPR and MSNBC

In this episode, we discuss:

The reaction on the ground in Georgia to the Bulldogs' win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2022 College Football National Championship
The newly elected Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and Howard's role as Co-chair of the Mayor's transition team
The Secretary of the State, Gubernatorial, and U.S. Senate races coming up in 2022.

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What Lies Ahead for Congress & Pres. Biden's Agenda in 2022 Jan 07, 2022

This week on the show we welcome back Rich Gold, who is a Partner at Holland & Knight, and the leader of the firm’s Public Policy and Regulation team.

In this episode, we cover a number of topics:

How has Rich put together one of the top lobbying shops in DC?
What was January 6th like on the Hill?
The impact of COVID-19 and rising inflation on the President's polling numbers & the 2022 Congressional elections
Filibuster reform
The Electoral College Reform Act
The future of Build Back Better

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Throwback: A Conversation with Legendary Investor Jim Rogers Jan 03, 2022

Jim Rogers, a native of Demopolis, Alabama, is an author, financial commentator and successful international investor. He has been frequently featured in Time, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Barron's, Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, and most publications dealing with the economy or finance. He has also appeared as a regular commentator and columnist in various media and has been a visiting professor at Columbia University.

After attending Yale and Oxford University, Jim Rogers co-founded the Quantum Fund, a global-investment partnership. During the next 10 years, the portfolio gained 4200%, while the S&P rose less than 50%. Rogers then decided to retire - at age 37. Continuing to manage his own portfolio, Jim Rogers kept busy serving as a professor of finance at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, and, in 1989 and 1990, as the moderator of WCBS's 'The Dreyfus Roundtable' and FNN's 'The Profit Motive with Jim Rogers'.

In 1990-1992, Jim Rogers fulfilled his lifelong dream: motorcycling 100,000 miles across six continents, a feat that landed him in the Guinness Book of World Records. As a private investor, he constantly analyzed the countries through which he traveled for investment ideas. He chronicled his one-of-a-kind journey in Investment Biker: On the Road with Jim Rogers. Jim also embarked on a Millennium Adventure. He traveled for 1101 days on his round-the-world, Guinness World Record journey. Passing through 116 countries, he covered more than 245,000 kilometers, which he recounted in his book Adventure Capitalist: The Ultimate Road Trip. His latest book "A Gift to My Children: A Father's Lessons for Life and Investing" was published in 2009.

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Throwback: Josh Gray — A Story of Hardship, Perseverance, and Hope Dec 27, 2021

Josh Gray is the Vice President of Strategic Alliances & Policy at The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.

The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation is a 501 (c) 3 non-partisan civic engagement organization that strives to cultivate institutional base-building capacity and intergenerational leadership models at the local, state and national levels.

Josh shares his incredible story of hardship, perseverance, and hope with us this week, and we hear about the power of foster parents, adoption, and mentorship.

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Can "Build Back Better" Come Back from the Dead? Dec 20, 2021

This week on the show we welcome back Rich Gold, who is a Partner at Holland & Knight. Holland & Knight is one of the largest lobbying firms in D.C., and Rich serves as the leader of the firm’s Public Policy and Regulation team.

Rich provides some insights as to what Congress and the President will do next in the wake of Sen. Manchin's announcement yesterday that he will not support the "Build Back Better" proposal.

We also discuss a number of other issues:

Whether Sen. Manchin will remain in the Democratic Party, or if he'll end up becoming an Independent that caucuses with the Democrats;
Senator Cruz's deal to get a vote on sanctions tied to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in exchange for removing holds on numerous presidential nominees;
The impacts of rate increases by the Fed; and,
The impact of several changes in the auto industry to reduce carbon emissions.

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Leveraging Tech to Track and Manage Roll Call Votes Dec 13, 2021

Gerardo Reyes is the founder of eRollCall, a collaboration platform that enables transparent & efficient management of roll call votes at state legislatures, and the U.S. Congress.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Loyola University of Chicago and his law degree from IIT-Kent College of Law, Reyes began a successful legal career as a litigator in the Office of the Corporation Counsel - City of Chicago. He then went on to serve the Mayor in several appointments to key operational departments including the Department of Aviation, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Water. In 1993, Reyes was appointed to the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs where he honed his lobbying efforts as the sole appropriations lobbyist for all city departments and sister agencies. In that capacity he monitored revenue levels for each successive state fiscal year, ensured maintenance of current grant funding levels, and lobbied for additional revenue funding pursuant to the Mayor's fiscal policies. In 1997 he was appointed chief lobbyist for the office of the State’s Attorney – Cook County. Reyes developed legislative lobbying platform and strategy for the executive administration, and served as the legislative adviser to State's Attorney Richard A. Devine in issues pertaining to criminal and civil laws, including complex criminal and appellate litigation, consumer protection, utilities regulation, environmental laws, child support enforcement, labor laws and municipal taxation. In 2001, Reyes helped form the lobbying firm of Joyce, Reyes & Williams, LLC, and, later, re-organized as Reyes, Williams & Associates, LLC. Presently, the firm operates as a sole legal practice under the Law Office of Gerardo Reyes. It currently represents both legislatively and legally numerous private and governmental clients in state and local levels.

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From the Green Zone to Gainwell Technologies Dec 06, 2021

Kristen Ballantine is Vice President of Government Relations at Gainwell Technologies, where she oversees Gainwell's state and federal legislative, policy, and regulatory agendas.

Gainwell is a leading provider of technology, services and solutions that are vital to the administration and operations of health and human services programs. Gainwell is a new company with over 50 years of proven experience, a reputation for service excellence and industry expertise.

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Understanding Stablecoins, and the Ever-Changing World of Crypto Nov 29, 2021

Scott Talbott is Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) in Washington, D.C. and is responsible for its governmental strategies, and directing ETA’s all of policy and advocacy efforts. Talbott has over twenty years of experience advocating for the financial services and FinTech industries.

He has received numerous accolades in his tenure, including being named a top lobbyist by The Hill for eleven years in a row from 2009 to 2020, as well as a “winner” for his work during the economic crisis of 2008 by Washingtonian magazine. In 2010, he appeared in the Oscar-winning film “Inside Job.”

Once named NPR’s favorite bank lobbyist and the voice of the financial services industry, he frequently testifies before U.S Congress, in state capitols, and the Canadian Senate, and is a regular contributor to both national and international media. Talbott received his B.A. from Georgetown University, cum laude, and his J.D. from George Mason University School of Law.

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Demystifying the U.S. Senate and the Budget Reconciliation Process Nov 22, 2021

Martin B. Gold is a partner with Capitol Counsel, LLC. He has over 40 years of legislative and private practice experience, and is a recognized authority and author on matters of congressional rules and parliamentary strategies, and U.S. policy in Asia.

He frequently advises senators and their staff and serves on the adjunct faculty at George Washington University. Before domestic business, professional, and academic audiences, he speaks about Congress as well as political and public policy developments. Gold has been a guest lecturer at Tsinghua University, the Beijing Foreign Studies University, the Beijing International Studies University, Moscow State University, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, the State Parliament of Ukraine, and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

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Growing up with Vice President Kamala Harris Nov 15, 2021

Stacey Johnson-Batiste is the author of Friends from the Beginning, which celebrates the dear friendship and shared experience between Stacey and her close, childhood friend Vice President Kamala Harris. Growing up together in Berkeley in the ’60 and '70s, Stacey and Kamala were born of a time and place bursting with cultural diversity and freedom of expression. This memoir provides a candid, colorful, look at the formative years during which Stacey and Kamala shared and experienced an inclusive environment of community support, love, and non-traditional education—set against the backdrop of roiling political tension, demonstrations held frequently on and around the U.C. Berkeley campus and People's Park, and bold expressions from people from all walks of life. Friends from the Beginning also offers readers a window into Kamala's mother, Shyamala—as observed by Stacey—the brave woman who set the future Vice President on a path of many firsts. While that path was not always easy, Shyamala’s light and legacy shines through on these pages. In addition, Johnson-Batiste introduces several other essential formative figures who informed their early lives and whose influences have played a role in shaping the character of both the author and of our Vice President. Friends from the Beginning is a story of enduring friendship, life lessons described in bright, loving detail, and the courage, sacrifice, and dedication to shared values that have sustained their friendship for decades.

Stacey is a National Sales Channel Manager at AT&T. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco and was an honoree featured in CRN Magazine’s "The Power 100: The Most Powerful Women in the Channel" in 2018.

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How Speaker Pelosi Passed the BIF, & the Impact of the VA & NJ Gubernatorial Elections Nov 08, 2021

John Russell is a member of Dentons' Public Policy practice. Focusing on federal advocacy and strategic communications, John worked for nearly a decade on Capitol Hill, serving on the leadership staffs of a speaker, a House majority whip and the chairman of the House Campaign Committee. In his career, John has worked both extensively and effectively in the legislative, communications and campaign arenas.

Described by the National Journal's Richard Cohen as experienced and discreet, John has built and maintained strong relationships with members of Congress, as well as committee and personal office staffs. His strong and nuanced working knowledge of the policy, political and personal aspects of Washington, DC, allows him to design winning strategies to accomplish dynamic policy and market objectives. John was named a Top Lobbyist for 2018, 2019 and 2020 by The Hill newspaper.

John is devoted to improving literacy in California, Ohio and Washington, DC, and has served numerous nonprofits as a volunteer to help children improve reading skills.

John's sends out a weekly email - Washington on One Page - which captures what happened over the last week in DC, and what's coming in the week ahead. You can sign up by emailing him at john [dot] russell [at] dentons.com.

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An Insider's Perspective on the Virginia Governor's Race Nov 01, 2021

Shawn Day is a Senior Director of Public Affairs at Capital Results – a Virginia-based full-service public affairs and business consulting firm helping a wide range of companies, associations and government entities achieve their public policy and business goals.

Shawn directs integrated communications strategies designed to raise political and public support for clients primarily in the healthcare, technology and energy industries. His background in journalism and understanding of complex public policies provide a unique perspective on crafting effective campaigns to help clients achieve their goals.

Shawn oversees media relations, stakeholder outreach and strategic communications to build coalitions and foster a favorable environment for clients’ business objectives. He manages clients’ relationships with news reporters and opinion leaders, as well as nonprofit groups, trade associations, public policy think-tanks, and civic and business organizations. Shawn has extensive experience conducting in-depth policy research and analysis, and he works with regulatory and government affairs teams to shape messaging, media strategy and other aspects of strategic communications plans.

Prior to joining Capital Results, Shawn worked at The Virginian-Pilot, where he served as the lead editorial writer on state government and politics. He previously served as a news reporter at The Virginian-Pilot, the Daily Press and at newspapers in Oregon and Arizona, and he has written about a variety of issues at the local, state and federal levels. Shawn also is an adjunct professor at Thomas Nelson Community College, where he teaches composition and persuasive writing courses.

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A Look at the Upcoming Governor's Race in New Jersey Oct 25, 2021

This week we discuss the New Jersey Governor's race with Gerry Gibbs, a founding principal at the Trenton, New Jersey-based Capital Impact Group (CIG).

Gerry’s areas of focus are business development and financial services where he utilizes his extensive networks and expertise on behalf of his clients.

Prior to founding CIG, Gerry held high-level positions at the New Jersey Department of Treasury, serving under as Assistant State Treasurer and Director of the Legislative Affairs Unit which assists and oversees the annual budget process. Working with Republicans and Democrats alike, the legislative unit also handled legislator’s constituent requests. While at Treasury, he helped implement the State Alternative Investment Program which invested a portion of the State’s $70 billion pension portfolio to outside money managers and oversaw the Division of Public Finance, Pensions and Investments.

He was a presidential appointee in the Clinton Administration, serving in the U.S. Department of Labor in the Secretary’s public affairs office where he was responsible for preparation of briefing materials for use by department officials; and in the U.S. Department of Commerce where he was responsible for the advance planning for all logistic arrangements for domestic and international travel for the Secretary of Commerce.

He has extensive political campaign experience serving as senior adviser to legislative and gubernatorial candidates, political director in New Jersey for the presidential campaign of Al Gore, and national advance staff member for President William J. Clinton’s re-election campaign.

Most recently, Gerry served as part of an informal policy team to then Gubernatorial Candidate Ambassador Phil Murphy and after the campaign served as member of the Governor-Elect’s Budget Transition Team.

Gerry started his professional career as a legislative assistant for Congressman Donald M. Payne for four years. He founded the New Generation Leadership PAC, a bipartisan organization which raised money for and supported progressive congressional candidates.

A graduate of Howard University with a BA in Political Science, Gerry also holds Series 7 and 63 securities licenses and is a founding principal at Capital Impact Group.

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Rich Gold Returns to Discuss Reconciliation & Infrastructure Oct 18, 2021

We are joined this week by Rich Gold, who is a Partner at Holland & Knight, one of the largest lobbying firms in D.C., where he serves as a leader of the firm’s Public Policy and Regulation team.

Rich provides us with a real-time update on reconciliation, the infrastructure package, and more.

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Throwback: How to Outsource your Compliance Department Oct 11, 2021

On this throwback episode of The Political Life, Jim interviews Elizabeth Bartz of State and Federal Communications - helping companies and lobbyists comply with ethics rules in all fifty states and globally.

About Elizabeth Bartz

Borrowed money and bought the compliance department of State and Federal Associates in 1993.
She moved the department to Akron, Ohio, and bought it over a series of year, ultimately spinning it off into "State & Federal Communications."
She can be seen at all of the major legislative conferences across the country.
She works with contract lobbyists and in-house government affairs professionals, giving her a unique perspective on the industry.

What are State and Federal Communications’ main services?

Compliance for lobbying and campaign finance.
They will start handling lobbying and compliance for European countries soon.
Many European political candidates are hiring American political consultants.

How many companies does State and Federal Communications work with?

100+.
Their compliance department has about 12 people.
Company-wide, it has about 12 attorneys on staff.

Resources Mentioned:

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Sinema, Manchin, Pelosi, and the Struggle to Pass Biden's Legislative Priorities Oct 04, 2021

John Russell is a member of Dentons' Public Policy practice. Focusing on federal advocacy and strategic communications, John worked for nearly a decade on Capitol Hill, serving on the leadership staffs of a speaker, a House majority whip and the chairman of the House Campaign Committee. In his career, John has worked both extensively and effectively in the legislative, communications and campaign arenas.

Described by the National Journal's Richard Cohen as experienced and discreet, John has built and maintained strong relationships with members of Congress, as well as committee and personal office staffs. His strong and nuanced working knowledge of the policy, political and personal aspects of Washington, DC, allows him to design winning strategies to accomplish dynamic policy and market objectives. John was named a Top Lobbyist for 2018, 2019 and 2020 by The Hill newspaper.

John is devoted to improving literacy in California, Ohio and Washington, DC, and has served numerous nonprofits as a volunteer to help children improve reading skills.

John's sends out a weekly email - Washington on One Page - which captures what happened over the last week in DC, and what's coming in the week ahead. You can sign up by emailing him at john [dot] russell [at] dentons.com.

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Rick Wade's Journey to the White House, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Sep 27, 2021

Rick C. Wade is senior vice president of Strategic Alliances and Outreach at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Wade develops and implements programs and initiatives to help the Chamber create new business relationships and partnerships across diverse audiences. He also provides counsel on policy issues and leads special projects. Wade’s wealth of knowledge and experience in both the public and private sectors enable him to give a megaphone to the voice of business across the country and share the positive impacts of the free enterprise system.

Before joining the Chamber, Wade was principal of The Wade Group, a strategic communications and global business development firm, and was a partner at Harves Investment Group, a consultancy that facilitated foreign direct investment into the U.S.

Previously, Wade was a senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to former Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke where he was a liaison to the White House, businesses, trade associations, civic organizations, and local governments. He was a member of the White House task forces on Puerto Rico, Small Business Contracting, Automobile Recovery, Military Families, and Historically Black Colleges & Universities. He also served on the Interagency Business Council and former Vice President Joe Biden’s Task Force on Middle Class America and worked with the White House on implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Wade received his B.S. from the University of South Carolina and an M.P.A. from Harvard University. He was awarded honorary doctorates from Benedict College and South Carolina State University and has received numerous awards for exemplary leadership and public service.

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The Competency-based Revolution in Higher Education Sep 20, 2021

Today on the show we speak to Wesley Smith, the Vice President for Policy and Public Affairs at Western Governors University.

Western Governors University (WGU) is an online university where students can earn an affordable, accredited, career-focused college degree at an accelerated pace.

WGU was born at a meeting of the Western Governors' Association as a solution to a growing need for a college-educated workforce—a need that was not being fully met by traditional higher education. These governors, along with early and enthusiastic leadership from academic and industry innovators, built the foundation that allowed WGU to become what it is today.

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Gary Ginsberg: Author, and Advisor to Pres. Clinton, JFK Jr., and Rupert Murdoch Sep 13, 2021

Gary Ginsberg is the author of the New York Times Best Seller First Friends - The Powerful, Unsung (and Unelected) People Who Shaped Our Presidents.

Gary grew up in Buffalo New York, home to two US presidents. A lawyer by training, he has spent his professional career at the intersection of media, politics, and law. He worked for the Clinton administration, was a senior editor and counsel at the political magazine George, and then spent the next two decades in executive positions in media and technology at News Corporation, Time Warner and SoftBank.

He has published pieces in The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal and was an on-air political contributor in the early days of MSNBC. He lives in New York City with his wife and two sons.

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Michael Cohen on Writing his New Book: Modern Political Campaigns Sep 06, 2021

Michael D. Cohen, Ph.D. is CEO of Cohen Research Group, a leading political, public affairs, and corporate research firm. He publishes the pioneering and award-winning Congress in Your Pocket suite of mobile apps and teaches graduate courses at Johns Hopkins University on research methods, digital strategy, political campaigns, and public policy.

He is the author of Modern Political Campaigns: How Professionalism, Technology, and Speed Have Revolutionized Elections, published in June 2021 by Rowman & Littlefield. Learn more about Dr. Cohen at http://michaelcohen.us.

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Programming Cells at Ginkgo Bioworks, COVID, and the Future of Biosecurity Aug 30, 2021

Matthew McKnight is the Chief Commercial Officer of Ginkgo Bioworks. Headquartered in Boston, Ginkgo Bioworks uses the most advanced technology on the planet—biology—to grow better products. The company’s cell programming platform is enabling the growth of biotechnology across diverse markets, from food to fragrance to pharmaceuticals.

Ginkgo is also actively supporting a number of COVID-19 response efforts, including community testing, epidemiological tracing, vaccine development and therapeutics discovery.

Prior to Ginkgo, Matt spent 7 years as an investor at IndUS Growth Partners and was the President and COO of Decision Resources Group. Matt has worked supporting business development at Palantir Technologies and is an active seed stage venture investor.

Early in his career, he served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. Matt completed a degree in History at Dartmouth College and is a graduate of the joint degree program at the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government where he was a Zuckerman Fellow.

Check out one of Matthew and Jim's favorite blogs - Wait But Why.

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Howard Franklin on the State of Play in Georgia Politics Aug 23, 2021

Howard Franklin is the Founder and Managing Partner of Ohio River South, a strategy firm focused on "the New American South."

Splitting time between state capitals and the campaign trail, Howard Franklin has worked across two dozen states to advance the careers and policies of the South’s leading lawmakers.

After running a nonprofit for former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, Howard served three years in the administration of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. He then spent five years working with the DeKalb, Fulton and Jefferson County governments.

Howard also worked for Stacy Abrams when she served as House Minority Leader in the Georgia legislature. After working for Abrams, Howard began working at an Atlanta-based lobbying firm, before hanging his own shingle and founding Ohio River South.

Howard has been recognized as ‘Top 40 Under 40’ by Georgia Trend Magazine and The Network Journal. He is a member of the Georgia Professional Lobbyists Association, a frequent contributor on CNN, NPR and MSNBC

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A Conversation with Ferox Strategies Principal & Rep. Becerra Alum Debra Dixon on Her Career in DC Aug 16, 2021

Debra Dixon is a principal at Ferox Strategies, a strategic advisory and government relations firm based out of Washington DC.

As former Chief of Staff to then Rep. Xavier Becerra, Debra’s more than a decade and a half of work on Capitol Hill included supporting the Congressman’s efforts on the Ways and Means Committee, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, House Democratic Leadership and the California Delegation. Debra also learned the ins and outs of the non-profit world at the National Immigration Forum where she advocated for immigration reform, workforce needs, and a path to citizenship.

An attorney by trade, Debra bookended her time on Capitol Hill with stints at two federal agencies, serving as Immigration Counsel at the Department of Justice and subsequently as the Chief of Staff at the Department of Education’s Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.

Debra has represented clients in the tech and B2B manufacturing industries. She is an expert at translating legislative and regulatory developments into layperson’s terms on issues such as international trade, supply chain, tax, immigration, and health IT.

Debra’s mother was born in the Midwest, her father in Panama, and they met and married in Ecuador. Wanting their children to receive the best education in the world, they moved to the US, and Debra grew up in Ohio. She has an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College, a law degree from Ohio State, and an LLM with an emphasis on International Trade from Georgetown University Law Center.

ICYMI: We interviewed Debra's colleague, Cristina Antelo, on episode 122.

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Insights on COVID-19 with an Infectious Disease & Public Policy Expert Aug 09, 2021

Barrett Thornhill is a partner at Forbes Tate and advises life sciences companies on legislative issues before the U.S. Congress and on regulatory matters before the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Barrett’s health care focus includes developing thematic and product-specific strategies in the arenas of chronic and infectious diseases, oncology, niche and orphan therapeutics, as well as value-based business models and market management. Before joining the firm he served in similar roles as a Principal at the McManus Group and Partner at the East End Group. He started his career on Capitol Hill, serving as a Healthcare Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), handling the Finance Committee portfolio and prior as a Legislative Assistant for then-Rep. Patrick Toomey (R-PA) and the late Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA). Barrett received his B.A. from Dartmouth College and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a licensed attorney and lives in McLean with his wife and two young sons.

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What you Need to Know About the California Recall Election Aug 02, 2021

Adam Probolsky is the President and founder of Probolsky Research, a non-partisan opinion research organization that conducts polling and analysis for a range of clients including government, non-profit and political candidates.

Adam is also a thought leader. He has contributed to The New York Times, Politico, the San Francisco Chronicle, and MSNBC.

Firm website: https://www.probolskyresearch.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamProbolsky/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adamprobolsky

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamprobolsky/

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A Conversation with Legendary Investor Jim Rogers Jul 26, 2021

Jim Rogers, a native of Demopolis, Alabama, is an author, financial commentator and successful international investor. He has been frequently featured in Time, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Barron's, Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, and most publications dealing with the economy or finance. He has also appeared as a regular commentator and columnist in various media and has been a visiting professor at Columbia University.

After attending Yale and Oxford University, Jim Rogers co-founded the Quantum Fund, a global-investment partnership. During the next 10 years, the portfolio gained 4200%, while the S&P rose less than 50%. Rogers then decided to retire - at age 37. Continuing to manage his own portfolio, Jim Rogers kept busy serving as a professor of finance at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, and, in 1989 and 1990, as the moderator of WCBS's 'The Dreyfus Roundtable' and FNN's 'The Profit Motive with Jim Rogers'.

In 1990-1992, Jim Rogers fulfilled his lifelong dream: motorcycling 100,000 miles across six continents, a feat that landed him in the Guinness Book of World Records. As a private investor, he constantly analyzed the countries through which he traveled for investment ideas. He chronicled his one-of-a-kind journey in Investment Biker: On the Road with Jim Rogers. Jim also embarked on a Millennium Adventure. He traveled for 1101 days on his round-the-world, Guinness World Record journey. Passing through 116 countries, he covered more than 245,000 kilometers, which he recounted in his book Adventure Capitalist: The Ultimate Road Trip. His latest book "A Gift to My Children: A Father's Lessons for Life and Investing" was published in 2009.

The Tech Solution Changing the Way Lawmakers Connect with Constituents Jul 19, 2021

This week we sit down with Alex Kouts of Indigov - a next-generation constituent experience management platform designed for the government.

Indigov has built a modern constituent service platform for government that has reduced average response time from months to a matter of minutes/hours and given representatives unprecedented capabilities and data insights that are changing the way they do their jobs and structure their teams.

Before founding Indigov, Alex worked in the startup space for years managing teams and developing software products. He also enjoys teaching, and has lectured at numerous universities in the U.S.

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Life as an Official White House Staff Photographer for President Obama Jul 12, 2021

Lawrence Jackson is a former official White House staff photographer for President Barack Obama, and currently serves as the official White House photographer for Vice President Kamala Harris.

When Lawrence Jackson took the job as White House photographer in early 2009, he knew he’d have a front row seat to history. What he didn’t expect was the deep personal connection he would feel, as a fellow African American, with the President of the United States. Yes We Did is filled with Lawrence’s intimate photographs and reflections, as well as first-person recollections from President Obama, everyday citizens, and notable personalities including Bono, Stephen Curry, Valerie Jarrett, Admiral Mike Mullen, and others. The book is a celebration of the most inclusive and representative White House in history – where in between momentous and pivotal decisions, the President and First Lady opened the doors of the People’s House to schoolkids, athletes, senior citizens, hip-hop artists, and more.

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What it's Like to Found & Run One of Florida's Largest Lobbying Firms Jul 05, 2021

As a co-founding member of Capital City Consulting, Nick Iarossi has worked on local, state, and federal government policy issues for over 20 years. Recently named by Influence Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Florida, Nick is considered the best in his field representing a diverse client base before Florida’s government including: financial services, insurance, environmental, gaming, retail, education, alcohol, information technology, tobacco, and procurement.

Over the years, Nick lobbied to pass countless pieces of legislation on behalf of his clients and secured over a billion dollars in legislative appropriations. Nick is often relied on by clients to assist on various public affairs aspects such as crisis management, message development, and political branding.

Before starting his firm, Nick practiced law and government affairs at a prominent Florida law firm after working in the Senate Majority Office and Office of Insurance Regulation as a law clerk. Nick graduated from Florida State University with honors, where he served as student body president and also received his JD from Florida State University Law School.

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A Day in the Life of Todd Piro - Host of FOX & Friends First Jun 28, 2021

Todd Piro currently serves as a co-host of FOX & Friends First (weekdays 4-6 AM/ET) alongside Jillian Mele. He also contributes to the "Breakfast with Friends" diner series, which showcases how Americans across the country feel about the political news driving the day. He joined the network in June 2017.

Prior to joining FNC, Piro was the weekday morning anchor on WVIT-TV's NBC Connecticut Today and also acted as a guest anchor for various NBC platforms, including Early Today, First Look and The Place for Politics. During his career in news, he has covered some of the most prominent national news stories, including the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, Hurricane Sandy and the record breaking blizzard of 2013.

Piro previously served as a morning anchor at the CBS-affiliated station, KPSP Local 2 News in Palm Springs, CA. Before embarking on a career in television, he practiced law for five years in Los Angeles at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP.

Piro received degrees from Dartmouth College and the University of California Los Angeles School of Law.

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From Congressional Staffer to Tech Entrepreneur Jun 21, 2021

This week we speak with Melissa Dargan, a former Congressional House staffer turned tech entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder of TourTrackr.com (product of Appmy, LLC), a platform that digitizes the tour management process for Members of Congress. During quarantine, Melissa also created Congre$$: A Personal Finance YouTube Series for Congressional Staff interested in money tips.

She started her political career working in Congress for Rep. Ed Royce and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. After almost 5 years on Capitol Hill, Melissa left government and was part of a two-person team that launched the Congressional App Challenge (CAC). This nationwide initiative engages 300+ Members of Congress in technology and inspires students to learn Computer Science.

Fun facts: Melissa does not drink coffee (she's just naturally energetic). When she is not talking politics, money or technology, Melissa enjoys trying new things. She earned an MBA from Yale School of Management (where she met Garrett, her significant other) and completed her B.A. in Political Science and B.S. in Business Administration at UC Berkeley - GO BEARS!

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Looking back on 25 Years as George H.W. Bush's Chief of Staff Jun 14, 2021

Jean Becker, the author of The Man I Knew, George H.W. Bush was President George H.W. Bush's chief of staff for nearly twenty-five years, from March 1994 until his death on November 30, 2018.

As chief of staff, Jean had a ringside seat to the never-boring story of George Herbert Walker Bush's life post-presidency, including being at his side when he died and subsequently facing the challenge-and great honor-of being in charge of his state funeral.

Full of heart and wisdom, THE MAN I KNEW is a vibrant behind-the-scenes look into the ups and downs of heading up the office of a former president by one of the people who knew him best. This book tells the story of how, after his devastating loss to Bill Clinton in 1992, President George H.W. Bush rebuilt his life, found a way to make a difference, and how, by the time he died in November 2018, was revered by his country and the world. Bush's post-presidency journey was filled with determination, courage, love, hope, humor, fun, and big ideas. He became best friends with the man who defeated him; developed the odd habit of jumping out of airplanes; and learned how to adjust to life in a wheelchair, after having lived most of his life as a high-energy athlete. He joyously saw two sons become governors of their states, one of whom would go one to become President of the United States. What happens when you go almost overnight from being the most important and powerful person in the world to a private citizen? THE MAN I KNEW tells just such a story, of one man's humble journey from president to man of the people.

Click here for more information on THE MAN I KNEW, and to purchase a copy for yourself.

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Leveraging Tech to Connect Communities Jun 07, 2021

Laura Claster Bisesto is Head of Policy & Privacy at Nextdoor, where she leads Nextdoor’s privacy counseling program and is responsible for developing Nextdoor’s global product policy, public policy, and government relations programs. Laura has extensive experience advising technology companies at different stages of growth, including Lyft, Checkr and Verizon Media, which owns internet brands such as Yahoo, Aol, HuffPost, TechCrunch, and Tumblr, prior to divestiture.

Prior to going into tech, Laura spent five years as a Deputy District Attorney in San Diego and San Francisco counties where she served as lead prosecutor in over two dozen jury trials with charges that ranged from misdemeanors to serious and violent felonies.

Laura received her J.D. from U.C. Hastings. In law school, she externed for California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald M. George, and after law school, she clerked for the California Supreme Court’s criminal central staff. Laura is a proud Bruin and received her undergraduate degree from UCLA.

Laura lives in Orinda with her husband and son. She serves on the UC Hastings Alumni Association Board of Governors and volunteers on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), an organization that supports foster youth through advocacy and mentorship.

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Former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter on Running an Iconic American City May 31, 2021

Michael A. Nutter is a senior advisor in Dentons' Public Policy group and member of its Local Government Solutions team, composed of former local government elected and appointed officials who have played integral roles in city halls and county governments. This group works with local governments seeking solutions to complex challenges requiring an interdisciplinary approach.

A former mayor of Philadelphia, Michael's primary focus is now assisting local governments on achieving their economic development, financing and infrastructure goals, including advising on downtown and neighborhood revitalization, green cities initiatives, commercial adaptive reuse, tax credit financing, public-private partnerships, federal government advocacy, global trade missions and many other areas.

Michael brings to Dentons a strong government and public service background. After serving almost 15 years in the Philadelphia City Council, he became the 98th mayor of Pennsylvania's largest city in January 2008. At his inaugural address, Michael pledged to lower crime, improve educational attainment rates, make Philadelphia the greenest city in America, attract new businesses and residents to the city and, above all, to lead an ethical and transparent government focused on providing high-quality, efficient and effective customer service.

By the end of his tenure eight years later, homicides were down and high school graduations were up. The city added miles of bike lanes to its network of bicycle infrastructure. The city's population grew each year he was in office. The City Council passed his Actual Value Initiative, the city’s first-ever property assessment system overhaul, transforming a broken and corrupt system into a fair, accurate and understandable one. And thanks to Michael's strong financial stewardship, the city emerged from the worst economic recession since the Great Depression with its credit rating upgraded to the “A” category by the three major credit rating agencies—its best financial report card since the 1970s.

After leaving public service, Michael remained active in public policy, government and civic life. As founder and principal advisor of Michael A. Nutter Advisors LLC, he focused on policy development and thought leadership in the areas of education, governing and leadership, politics, public policy and public safety, advising clients on policymaking, media communications, strategy development, crisis management, government relations, political engagement and corporate governance.

At Dentons, Michael continues to leverage his experiences inside city hall as mayor and in his City Council seat. He has access to a broad national and international network of relationships developed over more than three decades, advising local governments on what works and what doesn't. He also provides strategic advice to private businesses and organizations, in the US and abroad, on how to develop or expand their relationships with US local governments.

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The Latest on Infrastructure & What to Expect this Summer on the Hill May 24, 2021

John Russell is a member of Dentons' Public Policy practice. Focusing on federal advocacy and strategic communications, John worked for nearly a decade on Capitol Hill, serving on the leadership staffs of a speaker, a House majority whip and the chairman of the House Campaign Committee. In his career, John has worked both extensively and effectively in the legislative, communications and campaign arenas.

Described by the National Journal's Richard Cohen as experienced and discreet, John has built and maintained strong relationships with members of Congress, as well as committee and personal office staffs. His strong and nuanced working knowledge of the policy, political and personal aspects of Washington, DC, allows him to design winning strategies to accomplish dynamic policy and market objectives. John was named a Top Lobbyist for 2018, 2019 and 2020 by The Hill newspaper.

John is devoted to improving literacy in California, Ohio and Washington, DC, and has served numerous nonprofits as a volunteer to help children improve reading skills.

John's sends out a weekly email - Washington on One Page - which captures what happened over the last week in DC, and what's coming in the week ahead. You can sign up by emailing him at john [dot] russell [at] dentons.com.

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The Voice of the Vending Machine Industry May 17, 2021

Wes Fisher is the Director of Federal and State Affairs at the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA), the national trade group representing the $31 billion US convenience services industry (vending and unattended retail). He leads state government affairs and grassroots organizing across the US and works closely with NAMA’s state councils. He has traveled across the nation to testify before state and local governments, provide legislative briefings, and host state lobby days. Prior to joining NAMA in 2018, Wes led state legislative outreach and membership across fifty states for the American Legislative Exchange Council and has previously held several roles in politics and public policy, including interning in the Office of Congressman Bob Goodlatte (VA-06). Wes has a degree from James Madison University in Political Science and is a Virginia native.

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Helping Tech Startups with National Campaigns May 10, 2021

Michael O'Brien is the founder and principal of MOB Advocacy. He has more than ten years experience as a state and local lobbyist. Michael has lobbied governors, mayors, legislators, state and local agencies and regulators in more than 40 states. Before launching MOB Advocacy, Michael led the nation-wide state and local program for RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment). Prior to RISE, Michael launched Molina Healthcare's political and grassroots advocacy programs, created strong public-private partnerships as the director of state government relations for The Washington Center, and developed a federal, state and grassroots advocacy program for The National Conference for Community & Justice.

Michael also provides mentoring to startups at Halcyon and Seed Spot - impact incubator organizations in the D.C. area.

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The Politics and Public Policy Issues of the Cannabis Home Delivery Industry May 03, 2021

Katie Neer is the Head of Industry Affairs at Lantern, an e-commerce marketplace that facilitates cannabis home delivery. Headquartered in Boston, MA, Lantern currently operates in Massachusetts, Michigan, and Colorado.

Prior to joining Lantern, Katie was in private practice and gained in-house cannabis experience as the Director of Government Affairs at Acreage Holdings, a multi-state-operator. She was Chair of the New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association.

Katie also previously served as Assistant Secretary for General Government and Financial Services in the New York State Governor’s Office. At the Governor’s office, Katie was a member of the state operations team overseeing policy and operations for six agencies: the Department of Financial Services (DFS); the State Insurance Fund; the Department of State; the Department of Tax and Finance; the Office of General Services; and the Gaming Commission. During her time in the Governor’s Office, Katie was responsible for negotiating and overseeing the implementation of several key policy initiatives, including Paid Family Leave, Ride-Share, and the DFS’s cybersecurity regulations.

Katie was listed as an attorney on The Best Lawyers in America, “Ones to Watch,” List for Administrative and Regulatory law in 2021. In 2018, she was profiled as an Albany 40 Under 40 Rising Star. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood in New York.

A member of the New York State Bar, she received her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law, her M.P.A. from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and her B.A. in political science from SUNY Albany, where she earned the 2009 SUNY Chancellor’s Award of Excellence and played Division I Lacrosse.

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What Makes a Great Lobbyist? EU Headhunter & Kickboxing Champ Mark Dober Tells All Apr 26, 2021

Mark Dober is the Founder of Dober Partners, an Executive Search & Consultancy firm operating in Brussels and around Europe since 2010. Dober Partners headhunts senior communication and public affairs executives for corporates, associations, consultancies and law firms.

Mark has recruited many senior communication, public affairs and association leaders in Brussels and around Europe over the last decade. He has also been a shareholder in Ellwood Atfield and led their Brussels office since 2011. He has consulted with over 50 European association leaders, right up to the President of BUSINESSEUROPE and DG of the European Roundtable of Industry. He has also worked with major corporations including Johnson & Johnson, Novartis and GSK among others.

He was formerly APCO’s first employee in Europe and set up their Brussels office in 1995, acting as Managing Director in various roles until 2010. Mark was involved with recruiting many key positions around Europe for APCO Worldwide and its clients during 16 years of rapid growth at the company. Prior to APCO, he joined the London office of Hill & Knowlton and left its Brussels office as Associate Director.

Mark has twice been voted ‘European Consultant of the Year’ by ‘Public Affairs News’ and members of ‘The European Public Affairs Directory’. He has authored numerous reports on public affairs and communications including ‘Key Success Factors for European Associations’, ‘EU Media Relations’, ‘High Performance Secretariats’, ‘European Association Remuneration’ and ‘European Corporate Affairs Remuneration’.

He has a Masters in Political Science from the PUC University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Mark speaks English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. He was the European kickboxing champion in 2002 and the European jiu-jitsu champion in 2011

Dober Partners publishes the "Best in Brussels" report annually - the first and only independent resource for organizations wanting to identify, compare and choose the best partners in Brussels for their advocacy needs. Mark also wrote a book, High Performance Secretariat, which breaks down the key attributes of high performance trade association leaders.

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Lobbying in the European Union with Kajsa Stenström Apr 19, 2021

Kajsa Stenström is the managing partner of Managing Partner, Stenström Consulting. The company offers advice on EU policy and regulatory developments and provides services to clients from different countries and different industry sectors.

Kajsa has more than 20 years of experience in providing strategic advice to clients in the area of EU affairs. She first came to Brussels to work at the European Commission. Since then, she has set up and managed a unique public affairs department within a law firm and has also established a successful independent public affairs consultancy in Brussels.

Kajsa has managed a series of lobbying campaigns in several policy areas, including data privacy, financial services, digital policies, trade and external relations, consumer goods and energy. She is an experienced lecturer on EU lobbying and regularly contributes to books and publications on EU affairs.

She teaches EU Lobbying and Effective influencing at Lille University, France (Master 2 level). For 15 years Kajsa has been a Board member of the Society of European Affairs Professionals, which acts for transparent and ethical lobbying. She is a Swedish national, was educated at the Sorbonne University in France and is fluent in five languages.

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Stuart Thomson on Lobbying in the United Kingdom Apr 12, 2021

Stuart Thomson is the Head of Public Affairs at BDB Pitmans. He is a public policy and communications specialist advising clients on all elements of their public affairs strategies including political and corporate communications and reputation management. He is a CIPR Chartered PR Practitioner (Chart. PR).

His work also includes consultation and planning communications and he has advised on a number of high profile media relations and crisis communications programmes.

Stuart is an honorary research fellow at the University of Aberdeen and is the author of several books including ‘New Activism and the Corporate Response‘ (heralded as a book that “every aspiring business leader should read” by MIS Asia), ‘Public Affairs in Practice’ and ‘The Dictionary of Labour Quotations‘. His most recently published book, ‘Public Affairs: A Global Perspective’ has been called ‘an absolute treasure-trove’ and is a recommended read by the Government Communication Service (GCS).

Stuart regularly writes and lectures on a range of business and political issues and as well as blogging for BDB Pitmans he contributes to the Huffington Post and has a monthly opinion column for Finito World. He is an adviser to the Entrepreneurs Network (TEN), a speaker and chair at conferences, and has appeared regularly in the media.

He won the ‘Best Current Affairs Influencer’ category at Vuelio’s Online Influence Awards 2020.

Stuart runs a number of training programmes for the CIPR and PRCA including a Diploma in Public Affairs Management.

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Kristin Smith on the latest in Blockchain and Crypto Policy Apr 05, 2021

Kristin Smith is the Executive Director of the Blockchain Association, the Washington DC-based trade association representing the most prominent and reputable organizations in the crypto industry. The mission of the Blockchain Association is to improve the public policy environment so that crypto networks can thrive in the United States. Kristin sets the association’s public policy strategy and leads engagement with industry and outreach to policymakers. Prior to leading the Blockchain Association, Kristin helped blockchain and technology companies achieve their public policy objectives in Washington. She served as a Senate and congressional aide on Capitol Hill for nearly ten years, much of which was spent focusing on technology policy. She co-founded HODLpac and currently serves on the organization’s board of directors, sits on the Board of Advisors of the Filecoin Foundation, and is featured on Fortune’s 2020 40 Under 40 list.

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An Inside Look at the Motion Picture Association with Alicia Leahy Mar 29, 2021

This week we speak with Alicia Leahy, the Vice President for Federal Affairs for the Motion Picture Association ("MPA").

The MPA is the leading advocate of the film, television and streaming industry around the world. MPA’s members are Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Universal and Warner Bros. In this role she informs Members of Congress and their staff, Agency and Administration officials on issues affecting the industry, primarily in areas such as trade, copyright and tax policy.

Prior to joining the MPA, Alicia worked for more than a decade as a senior development and marketing officer for several non-profit organizations. Alicia began her career on Capitol Hill first as an intern and then as a staff member for the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. Alicia graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Political Science.

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Rich Gold on the American Rescue Plan, the Return of Earmarks, & More Mar 22, 2021

We are joined today by Rich Gold, who is a Partner at Holland & Knight, one of the largest lobbying firms in D.C., where he serves as a leader of the firm’s Public Policy and Regulation team.

Rich provides us with a real-time update on the status of the American Rescue Plan, the return of earmarks (now known as "community project funding"), and the next round of legislation that Congress will take up in the coming months.

Be sure to check out Rich on Holland & Knight's new podcast - Eyes on Washington. In the inaugural episode of the podcast, Rich sits down with Quorum to discuss the return of earmarks.

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Mike Cuzzi's Journey from Americorps to the Obama Campaign Mar 15, 2021

Mike Cuzzi is a Principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs, a full-service, bipartisan consulting firm specializing in federal and state government relations, public affairs and strategic communications, and advisory services.

Mike’s expertise is focused on energy and environmental issues. He is based in Maine and is assisting the firm in building out its Northeast Regional capabilities for states including Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Mike has two decades of experience working with businesses, industry associations and political leaders throughout New York, Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire.

Prior to joining Cornerstone, Mike held senior positions at a major global renewable energy company, a Washington, D.C.-based strategic communications consultancy, and managed his own government relations practice servicing clients across the northeast and Washington, D.C.

He has two decades of political campaign experience and relationships, having previously served in senior positions on both presidential and congressional campaigns. Mike has extensive experience advocating before state and federal legislative and regulatory bodies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Department of Energy, Congress and the White House. Mike’s practice focuses on clean energy and climate change, blending his experience in both the public and private sectors.

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An Expert's Insights on Polling & Market Research Mar 08, 2021

Victoria Waddail is Senior Director of Research and Analysis at Cygnal, LLC. She joined the firm following its acquisition of Harper Polling in 2020. Victoria joined Harper Polling before the 2014 cycle.

In her current role, Victoria provides expert guidance to clients in survey instrument design, leads the writing and presentation of analysis, and assists in strategic advisory for the firm’s wide array of political and public affairs clients. Over her career, Victoria has worked on hundreds of surveys for members of Congress, state legislative caucuses, corporations, public policy groups and trade associations, and party organizations.

She gained experience at the DC-based public opinion research firm Public Opinion Strategies, and studied the principles and methods of public policy analysis from prominent policymakers as a Summer Institute Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Victoria is a RIVA-trained focus group Moderator.

Victoria also spent five years as a contract lobbyist in Pennsylvania with clients spanning a variety of fields including pharmaceuticals, broadband expansion, and criminal justice reform.

Victoria is a 2016 graduate of the Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series, a professional leadership program designed to train women to be more effective leaders in government, business, and the community. She is a board member of the Junior League of York. She graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Washington and Lee University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Mathematics and is President of the University’s Keystone Alumni Chapter. Originally from Towson, MD, Victoria now lives in York, PA with her husband Chris and son Theodore.

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An Insider's Perspective on San Francisco's Tech Exodus Mar 01, 2021

Jennifer Stojkovic is a preeminent governmental affairs leader for the world’s largest tech companies in the capital of innovation, San Francisco. In her role as Executive Director of sf.citi, Jennifer advocates for leading tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Airbnb, to build sound policy with legislators across the political spectrum. She speaks both locally and internationally on the intersection between tech and government and is regularly covered in the national press.

In addition to Jennifer’s government affairs leadership, Jennifer specializes in convening cross-sector stakeholders and building partnerships for the future of food technology. In 2020, she founded the Vegan Women Summit (VWS), a global media and events platform dedicated to supporting women on their path to building a kinder, more sustainable world. The VWS community spans over 20,000 women CEOs, founders, investors, and advocates for the future of food, fashion, beauty, and biotechnology across six continents. Jennifer is an ethical vegan, as well as an accomplished athlete, rescue diver, and world traveller (though COVID thwarted her plans, she plans to cross off her seventh continent very soon). Spending her time between her native Canada and adopted home of California, she can most often be found hiking with her husband, Pavle, and her two dogs, Vexy and Alfie.

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Josh Gray: A Story of Hardship, Perseverance, and Hope Feb 22, 2021

Josh Gray is the Vice President of Strategic Alliances & Policy at The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.

The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation is a 501 (c) 3 non-partisan civic engagement organization that strives to cultivate institutional base-building capacity and intergenerational leadership models at the local, state and national levels.

Josh shares his incredible story of hardship, perseverance, and hope with us this week, and we hear about the power of foster parents, adoption, and mentorship.

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Abigail Slater's Journey from Dublin to the White House Feb 15, 2021

Abigail Slater is a Senior Vice President for Policy and Strategy at Fox Corporation in Washington, DC. She is a seasoned policy professional with expertise in a host of communications issues.

From 2018-2019 she served on the White House National Economic Council where she managed the technology, telco, and cyber policy portfolio. Her prior roles include General Counsel at the Internet Association and a decade of government service at the FTC.

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Bridging the Digital Divide Feb 08, 2021

Hugh Martin is chairman and CEO of Lacuna Technologies, Inc, the leading provider of open source digital tools that allow cities to create and enforce dynamic transportation policies.

Hugh joined Lacuna in November 2018. Previously, Hugh was VP of Strategy for Verizon Smart Communities. He joined Verizon through the acquisition of Sensity Systems by Verizon in October 2016. As its founder and CEO, Hugh created the vision for Sensity Systems and the Light Sensory Network and is responsible for steering the company’s strategic course.

His 35-year track record as an entrepreneurial leader of cutting-edge technology companies, new ventures, and high-growth businesses includes serving at the helm of numerous highly successful organizations.

In 2011, he was named CEO for Fortune magazine’s ‘Executive Dream Team: The startup edition,’ acknowledged for his ‘management chops’ and for successfully taking public two companies, in two different industries. More recently, the World Economic Forum recognized Hugh and Sensity as a Technology Pioneer.

In addition, Hugh serves as the Chairman of Whole Biome, a startup in the Microbiome space and is also a board member of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

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Building Amazon & Pinterest's Public Policy Shops Feb 01, 2021

Braden Cox is the Head of US Public Policy and Social Impact for Pinterest. He develops public policy strategy at the federal, state and local levels to support Pinterest’s mission to help inspire people to create a life they love.

Before Pinterest, Braden was the Director of Public Policy at Amazon, where he launched the state and local public policy program and led Amazon’s advocacy on sales tax issues. Over eight years, he built a 30-member team of issue experts, regional geographic owners, and economic development specialists. He also created a national network of state and local lobbying consultants and associations, and the company’s first-ever corporate political contributions program.

The early days of the Web influenced Braden’s technology-focused career path. He became a network administrator during a college co-op at IBM in Research Triangle Park, NC, and an in-house attorney at a software startup in Alpharetta, GA, during the dot-com boom (and bust). Braden was also a tech policy guru at a think tank and counseled on policy issues for NetChoice, a technology association in Washington, DC. Braden is a proud “double dawg” with degrees from the University of Georgia Honors Program and School of Law.

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When Florida Politics and the Booming Miami Tech Scene Converge Jan 25, 2021

This week we have Cesar Fernandez of Converge Government Affairs on the show.

Cesar has spent his career navigating some of Florida’s most challenging issues facing companies, political campaigns, and government. He has been at the forefront of advocacy in the innovation and technology sector, held senior positions in six political campaigns, and worked in the Florida Senate.

Prior to joining Converge Government Affairs, Cesar was on the Public Policy team at Uber for nearly four years. Cesar managed Uber’s government affairs work before state and local government in Florida for three years and was instrumental in the passage of statewide ridesharing regulations. His advocacy at Uber also extended to autonomous vehicle legislation, negotiating a multi-million dollar settlement with Miami-Dade County, and leading strategy for contract negotiations with a half-dozen Florida airports.

Shortly after, Cesar transitioned to a role on Uber’s Public Policy team for Central America and the Caribbean, where he represented the company’s interest before the national governments of seven countries.

In addition to his work in corporate government affairs, Cesar has extensive experience managing political campaigns. Most recently, he served as the Deputy Campaign Manager for Political and Constituency Outreach for Mayor Andrew Gillum’s campaign for Governor. Cesar also served as the Political Director on Governor Charlie Crist’s 2014 bid for Governor, and managed the campaign of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman as well as other successful state and local races in Florida.

Cesar is also host of The Miami Tech Pod, a weekly show that talks about all the recent news, events, happenings, and trends in the #MiamiTech community.

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"Men of Talents" - Lobbying Congress in the 19th Century Jan 18, 2021

This week on the show we have Dr. Daniel Peart, a Senior Lecturer in American History at Queen Mary University of London in the UK.

Daniel is the author of Era of Experimentation: American Political Practices in the Early Republic and Lobbyists & the Making of US Tariff Policy, 1816-1861. The latter was awarded an Honorable Mention in the British Association for American Studies 2019 Book Prize competition. His current project is a book on the development of the Speakership of the US House of Representatives from the First Congress to the Civil War. Part of that research has already appeared in an article in the US Capitol Historical Society's newsletter The Capitol Dome (no. 55, part 2), which you can read here.

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What it's Like Running One of the Largest Lobbying & Policy Groups in the U.S. Jan 11, 2021

Darrell Conner is a government affairs counselor at K&L Gates' public policy and law practice group, one of the largest policy groups in the United States.

As a government affairs counselor for K&L Gates, he has more than 26 years of experience working with Congress and the executive branch. Since 2017, he has been recognized by The Hill as one of the nation’s Top Lobbyists.

Darrell's practice focuses on federal government relations, where he represents clients on a range of matters, including:

Domestic and international shipping (including military sealift);
Fisheries and natural resources;
Domestic energy policy;
Transportation and infrastructure;
Port and maritime security;
International trade; and
Federal appropriations and budget.

He also has extensive legislative experience in general public policy analysis and planning, strategic counseling, and coalition management and coordination. Darrell also assists clients in incorporating public policy into their strategic planning, integrating public relations into their legal and advocacy activities, and legislative drafting.

His principal representations include fishermen and other fishery stakeholders, cargo and passenger vessel operators, a ship classification society, transportation product manufacturers and service providers, and a leading coalition of U.S. maritime interests.

He has worked with the Department of Transportation (including the office of the Secretary, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the Maritime Administration), the Department of Commerce (specifically, the office of the Secretary, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Marine Fisheries Service), the Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Coast Guard), and the Department of Defense.

Darrell is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the International Propeller Club of the United States, and is a past president of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the International Propeller Club.

He served on the staff of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the U.S. House of Representatives under its ranking member, Congressman Bob Davis (R-MI).

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From D1 Baseball to Advocating for the Outdoors Jan 04, 2021

Fred Ferguson serves as Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications for Vista Outdoor, Inc. (NYSE: VSTO) and its 40+ consumer brands. In this capacity, Ferguson supports the investor relations portfolio and directly manages corporate communications, government relations and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting. Ferguson’s duties support corporate strategy and objectives while also bolstering brand-level planning and execution.

Fred began with Vista Outdoor Inc. in 2017 following a career in the United States House of Representatives where he served as Chief of Staff to a senior Member of Congress. Ferguson’s specialty was outdoor recreation, natural resources and energy policy and he successfully drafted and negotiated 19 bipartisan bills that become Public Law.

He is widely known for his managerial strengths, long-term vision and culture-building mindset. He has been recognized as a Top Corporate Lobbyist by The Hill (2019 and 2020) and the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics (2020).

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How to Learn the Rules of Networking Dec 28, 2020

This week on the show we have Chaz Cirame, the founder and principal of CC: External Affairs. Cc: External Affairs helps corporations, trade associations, public affairs firms and non-profits develop long-term partnerships to reach and exceed their goals - be they shaping public opinion, achieving legislative outcomes, or building lasting strategic alliances.

A veteran of dozens of political and issue campaigns, Chaz has also served in senior Fundraising and political roles for a variety of campaign and non-profit organizations including serving as Political Director of the Maine Republican Party. Immediately before starting Cc: External Affairs, Inc., Chaz served on the senior leadership team of the American Legislative Exchange Council where he ran Public Affairs, Fundraising/Membership and Conferences. While at ALEC, Chaz and his team shattered organizational records for fundraising, legislative outreach, private sector member recruitment and conference attendance.

Chaz is an alumnus of the University of Maine Augusta, where he worked his way through college as an aide to the Maine State Senate Leadership. Chaz is a past President of the Washington Area State Relations Group, an association of D.C.-based state government affairs professionals, He currently serves on the board of directors of the America’s Future Foundation.

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What Demographics Can Tell Us About the Future of U.S. Politics Dec 21, 2020

Kenneth W. Gronbach is the principal at KGC Direct, LLC.

Ken is a gifted keynote speaker and nationally recognized author, expert and futurist in the field of Demography and Generational Marketing. He makes the science of shifting demography come alive with real life examples which make it relevant to today’s culture, business climate and economy.

With nearly three decades experience in retail advertising and marketing, Ken saw the direct results of shifting demographics in his clients’ profits. Eventually, his passion for the subject changed the direction of his career, to the benefit of readers of his books and attendees of his keynotes and other presentations.

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Overseeing U.S. Government Relations for UPS Dec 14, 2020

Michael Kiely is the President, U.S. Government Affairs at UPS, a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight, the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to manage the world of business more efficiently.

Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.

Michael has spent his entire career at UPS.
He started out in UPS' training program driving a truck, then spent 8 years working on financial issues for the company, including a stint as the Finance Director for UPS North Europe.
Upon returning to the U.S., he took a position in 2004 as VP of Government Affairs for the company, and has remained in that sector ever since.
Michael now oversees federal, state, and local government affairs for the company.

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A Conversation with Susan Collins' Pollsters Dec 07, 2020

Erik Iverson is President, and Hans Kaiser is a partner at Moore Information Group, a full-service public opinion research firm offering a complete menu of quantitative and qualitative research services

As President and Managing Partner of Moore Information Group, Erik Iverson has nearly two decades of political and public affairs experience. His clients include members of the U.S. Senate and House, governors and other state and locally elected officials. A nationally recognized pollster and focus group moderator, Erik also provides strategic counsel and opinion research expertise to corporations, trade associations, hospitals and non-profits across America.

Hans Kaiser directs research projects for corporate and political clients, ranging from health care and energy companies to U.S. Senate and Congressional campaigns. Hans draws on more than 35 years of experience in business, public affairs and politics to provide his clients with a well-rounded perspective when designing and interpreting research data.

Since Hans began working for Moore Information Group in 1995, he has been instrumental in expanding the company’s political and corporate client base.

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A Vermont Public Affairs Firm with a National Reach Nov 30, 2020

Leonine Public Affairs is a public affairs firm specializing in government relations, lobbying, and campaign & association management.

The firm does a significant amount of state government affairs and public relations in Vermont. It also runs FOCUS, a 50-state government affairs consulting and legislative tracking service that has become one of the premiere services in the country. FOCUS serves clients throughout the United States and internationally, including management of The Advocacy Group.

On the show today is Nick Sherman, who has been one of seven partners at Leonine Public Affairs (LPA) since 2014 and has served as president of LPA’s Government Affairs practice since 2019.

Prior to becoming a partner, Nick worked as an associate lobbyist at LPA (then known as KSE Partners) since November of 2005. Before that, Nick worked as a musician and producer with various bands in the Burlington, Vermont area.

We also speak with Alexandra (Alex) MacLean, who is a Partner and President of Public Relations and Issue Campaigns at LPA. From 2008 to 2012 Alex worked for Governor Shumlin as his Chief of Staff in his capacity as Senate Pro Tem and then Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs and Deputy Chief of Staff once he was elected Governor.

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Sedera's Innovative Insurance Alternative: Medical Cost Sharing Nov 23, 2020

Jenny Aghamalian leads the Public Affairs and Strategy team at Sedera - a non-profit Medical Cost Sharing community that offers an innovative, non-insurance approach for managing large health care costs. Jenny is part of the executive leadership team and reports directly to the CEO. Jenny oversees the company’s legislative and regulatory strategy, policy development and enterprise-wide communication.

Prior to joining Sedera, Jenny spent a decade as a public affairs executive for a fortune 100 insurer, with responsibility for state legislative and regulatory matters throughout a multi-state region. Jenny started her career as a policy analyst for a bi-partisan Texas legislative caucus, followed by roles in the Capitol offices of several Texas legislators. Her passion for healthcare policy stems from time spent as a lobbyist for more than 50,000 physician members of the Texas Medical Association.

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The Future of Autonomous Vehicles & Transporting Goods Nov 16, 2020

Greg Rogers is the Public Policy Manager at Nuro, a company focused on unlocking the benefits of robotics for everyday life. In 2017, Greg co-founded The Mobility Podcast, a podcast that explores the intersections between transportation, technology, and policy. In the same year, Greg co-founded Connected CarTalkDC, a network of hundreds of transportation and technology professionals who meet regularly in Washington, DC. Before joining Nuro, Greg was the Director of Government Affairs and Mobility Innovation at Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE). He specializes in federal and state policies around autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, and emerging technology. He was previously the Assistant Editor of Eno Transportation Weekly (ETW) and a Senior Policy Analyst at the Eno Center for Transportation, where he reported on transportation policy developments in Congress, the Administration, and state legislatures. Greg previously worked on both sides of the aisle in the House of Representatives, represented public and private sector clients before Congress and federal agencies for government affairs firms, and helped guide POLITICO Pro’s expansion into federal and state government markets. A burgeoning interest in transportation technology led Greg to make a career pivot several years ago. He left behind a career as a government affairs consultant and became an Uber/Lyft driver in order to develop first-hand experience in new mobility. This inspired him to co-found The Autonomer, a news website focused on automation and transportation policy issues, in 2015. Greg received his B.A. in Political Economy from the University of California at Berkeley and studied Political Science at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. His insights and recommendations for developing sound autonomous vehicle policies have appeared in outlets including Washington Post, WIRED, The Autonocast, Car and Driver, The Verge, and testimonies before Congress.

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From the U.S. Senate's Office of Legislative Counsel to Autonomous Vehicle Policy Expert Nov 09, 2020

Robert Grant is the VP of Government Affairs for Cruise, an autonomous vehicle company developing self-driving technology in San Francisco, CA - one of the world’s most demanding urban environments. In his role, he spearheads Cruise’s legislative, regulatory, and policy priorities throughout the United States and abroad.

Robert joined Cruise after spending more than 20 years working in and with governments, having held leadership positions in the United States Senate, the Department of Treasury, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Most recently, Robert led the global policy efforts for the self-driving startup, Aurora Innovation, and the ridesharing company, Lyft.

Robert earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia and his J.D. from Tulane University School of Law.

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A Conversation with the DCCC's Chief Diversity Officer Nov 02, 2020

Tasha Cole is the Chief Diversity Officer for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ("DCCC"). The DCCC is the official campaign arm of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, and the only political committee in the country whose principal mission is to support Democratic House candidates every step of the way to fortify and expand their new Democratic Majority.

Tasha has served as CDO for the past year, and is responsible for managing and executing the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in several areas including operations, vendor recruitment, staffing, Congressional outreach and engagement and voter mobilization.

Prior to joining DCCC, she worked at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, where she supervised the fundraising efforts and resource development operation for the Foundation’s revenue budget.

Before that, Tasha served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Frederica Wilson, Communications Director for U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek, and won an Emmy as a TV producer/reporter.

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Steven Palmer on Building a Successful Career in Multi-state Government Affairs Oct 26, 2020

Steven Palmer is a partner at Forbes Tate Partners, a federal and state government affairs firm with areas of specialty including health care, energy, natural resources, financial services, transportation, trade, tax, tech and telecommunications, appropriations, and agriculture.

With over two decades of international, multi-state, and federal government relations experience, Steven is adept at advocating for clients and their business initiatives while effectively navigating their public policy challenges and legislative concerns.

Steven helps lead FTP’s growing State & Local practice, which leverages the firm’s relationships in statehouses from coast to coast in all 50 states.

Before joining Forbes-Tate, Steven served as Managing Director and National Director of Grayling/Dutko Worldwide’s State and Local Government Affairs practice, where he led all lobbying efforts for clients across the country.

Over the course of his career, Palmer has served as a senior staff member in the United States Congress, managed state-wide campaigns, and has consistently worked for clients on some of the nation’s most pressing public policy matters since entering the private sector.

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Making the Move from Wall Street to K Street Oct 19, 2020

Cristina Antelo is a founding principal at Ferox Strategies. Cristina has spent more than a decade representing multinational corporations at Washington’s best-known government relations firms.

She began her lobbying career in 2004, representing Fortune 500 clients at top-ranked, bipartisan government and public affairs firms in Washington, D.C. Her past clients include major chain retailers, spirits companies, national theme and amusement parks, pharmaceutical firms, and nutrition and wellness companies. Her policy areas of expertise include financial services, tax, trade, border security, transportation and infrastructure, and crisis management.

She has been featured in Washingtonian magazine in “Success Stories of Washingtonians of Latino and Hispanic Descent” and identified as a "Top Lawyer," “Power Player,” and “Most Influential 40 and Under Leader” in other regional publications.

As a founding member and former President of the Hispanic Lobbyists Association and a long stint as the interim CEO of the non-profit Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), Cristina has served as both a leader and an advocate, promoting communication, ethics, education, and bipartisanship.

Before transitioning to government relations, in the early 2000s Cristina worked as a Wall Street investment banker and wealth management advisor at major Wall Street firms including Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan. She also served as a legal fellow with the Senate Democratic Steering Committee, then chaired by former Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Tom Daschle (D-SD).

Today, Cristina is active in charitable work, contributing her time on the Board of Directors of the CHCI, serving under Chairman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), as well as the board of the National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) Action Fund supporting conservation of endangered species and habitats. Cristina further serves on the finance committee for the March of Dimes' annual Gourmet Gala, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars boosting maternal and infant health worldwide. Finally, Cristina is also on the Board of Directors for her alma mater, the Brooks School in North Andover, MA, and volunteers with Common Threads, focusing on nutrition education for children.

A native Spanish speaker, Cristina was born in Dallas and graduated from Georgetown University and the George Washington University Law School. She is married with two young daughters.

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A Look at International Trade & Diversity on Capitol Hill Oct 12, 2020

Nicole Venable is a lobbyist with Invariant. She has more than two decades of experience in the private sector, on Capitol Hill, and in the Executive Branch. Recognized by The HilI as one of the “Top Lobbyists of 2018,” Nicole has policy expertise on issues ranging from tax reform and trade to health care, tech, labor, and telecommunications.

Nicole joined Invariant from The Bockorny Group, where she was their lead Democrat for 8 years. Previously, she was an executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s congressional and public affairs division, where she led Democratic outreach to Capitol Hill and third parties while building advocacy campaigns for broad-based industry coalitions. Additionally, she served as chief of staff to a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and in the Clinton White House.

Nicole serves as a national trustee for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and as a board member of the Washington International Trade Association Foundation, and she is a member of the Trade Policy Forum and the Washington Government Relations Group. She serves as the Legislative and Public Policy Co-Chair of the Eastern Area of The Links, Inc., a national service-based organization comprised of senior professional African-American women.

Nicole is a founder of the Black Girl Magic (BGM) Network, an association of female lobbyists of color; established the Lady Von Endowed Scholarship at Spelman College; and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Nicole graduated from Spelman College and earned her Master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

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The Importance of Mentoring in Politics Oct 05, 2020

Ernie Jolly is the Associate Vice President for Legislative Affairs at the Mortgage Bankers Association, where he focuses on engaging House Democrats.

Ernie joined MBA from Capitol Hill, where he most recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY). Prior to his various roles in Congressman Meeks’ office, including Deputy Chief of Staff, Legislative Director and at the beginning of his career, as a legislative assistant, Mr. Jolly was a policy analyst at the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), and a tax fellow on the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.

He earned his J.D. from American University Washington College of Law, and a B.A. in American Studies from Cornell University.

If you're interested in connecting with Earnie, you can reach out to him at e.c.jolly@gmail.com or ejolly@mba.org. Learn more about Ernie's fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, here.

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George Jepsen on the World of Attorneys General Sep 28, 2020

George Jepsen is a partner in the law firm of Jepsen Rowthorn, LLP, where he works with former Connecticut Deputy Attorney General, Perry Rowthorn.

George assists clients in navigating the unique world of state attorney general inquiries, investigations, and litigation.

As Connecticut’s attorney general from 2011-2019, George has years of experience in a leadership capacity on national bi-partisan AG investigations and litigation, including mortgage servicing abuses in the wake of the ’08 economic collapse, major data breaches (Home Depot, Equifax, Anthem, among others), Wall Street financial malfeasance in the lead up to the ’08 crisis (Standard & Poors, Moody’s, RBS, LIBOR), the Volkswagen emissions scandal, the opioid crisis, and price fixing in both the e-book and the generic drug markets.

In 2016-17, George served as president of the National Association of Attorneys General, highlighted by a presidential initiative entitled, “Evolving Changes in the American Health Care Marketplace.”

Prior to his election as attorney general, George served 16 years in the Connecticut General Assembly, including six years as senate majority leader (1997-03). He earned his B.A. at Dartmouth College, and his J.D. and MPA from Harvard.

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Looking Back on a Career in Democratic Politics Sep 21, 2020

Richard Sullivan is a partner with State Federal Strategies - a firm with a unique ability to assist clients through partnerships with the federal and state governments as well as other entities.

Richard has over 30 years of policy, legislative, and political experience, and has represented some of the nation’s leading corporations and national associations before federal and state government entities.

His past employment positions include counsel to the Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served as national finance director for the Democratic National Committee for President Clinton’s re-election campaign in 1996 and as national fundraising director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).

He is the only known Democratic activist to lead national record-breaking fundraising efforts at all four major Democratic Party Committees (DNC, DSCC, DCCC and DGA).

Richard received a B.A. with honors from the University of South Carolina in government affairs and economics and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

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Lobbying in D.C. During the Covid-19 Crisis Sep 14, 2020

This week on the show we've got two Senior Policy Advisors from Holland & Knight's Regulatory & Government Affairs practice - Shawna Watley and Beth Viola.

Holland & Knight's government affairs practice been recognized among the top 10 federal lobbying and law firms in Washington, D.C., by Influence, National Journal, Roll Call and Washington Business Journal.

Shawna Watley is a senior policy professional and strategist with more than 16 years of experience in public policy, political, legislative and regulatory counseling, and creative solutions to corporate, nonprofit and governmental issues at the federal level. She has cultivated working relationships on the federal, state and local levels of government. This includes professional relationships with leaders in the House of Representatives and the Senate, moderate Democrats and the Congressional Black Caucus.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Shawna was the principal owner of the Francis Group LLC, where she was retained by clients to lead efforts in government relations and develop strategy, programming and implementation for federal policy initiatives. She also previously served as director of congressional affairs for the Democratic Leadership Council and the Public Policy Institute, where she was responsible for the development of strategy, programming and implementation for the Congressional Affairs Department.

Shawna has a podcast - WIILD Courageous Conversations - for women invested in leadership development. She was also part of the team that produced "Colored My Mind," a film that won "Best Documentary" in the Emerging Filmmakers showcase at Cannes Film Festival 2013.

Beth Viola is a senior policy advisor in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office where she is among the leadership team for the firm's Energy and Natural Resources Industry Sector Group. Ms. Viola focuses on energy and the environment, tax, trade, appropriations and public relations.

Beth has helped her clients impact federal energy legislation including the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005. She has also guided clients through regulatory matters including the Clean Power Plan and implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.

In addition to her domestic policy work, Ms. Viola has guided clients through major international climate negotiations, including United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meetings and development of the Paris Agreement, as well as Arctic climate issues and the Arctic Council. She frequently speaks on domestic and international energy and climate issues and has been quoted extensively in the media.

Previously, Beth served as a senior advisor to the White House Council on Environmental Quality. In this role, she advised the president, vice president and senior government officials on environmental and energy issues, concentrating on climate change, natural resources and smart growth. She was also the primary White House liaison on these issues to elected officials, industry, environmental, religious and labor leaders, as well as the media.

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Politics, Partnerships, and Publishing in the New American South Sep 07, 2020

Howard Franklin is the Founder and Managing Partner of Ohio River South, a strategy firm focused on "the New American South."

Splitting time between state capitals and the campaign trail, Howard Franklin has worked across two dozen states to advance the careers and policies of the South’s leading lawmakers.

After running a nonprofit for former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, Howard served three years in the administration of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. He then spent five years working with the DeKalb, Fulton and Jefferson County governments.

Howard also worked for Stacy Abrams when she served as House Minority Leader in the Georgia legislature. After working for Abrams, Howard began working at an Atlanta-based lobbying firm, before hanging his own shingle and founding Ohio River South.

Howard has been recognized as ‘Top 40 Under 40’ by Georgia Trend Magazine and The Network Journal. He is a member of the Georgia Professional Lobbyists Association, a frequent contributor on CNN, NPR and MSNBC

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How to Run Successful Multistate Government Relations Campaigns Aug 31, 2020

Kristina Howard is the Managing Director at Tusk Strategies, which specializes in helping companies analyze and navigate regulatory and political challenges at local, state and national levels.

Kristina provides strategic, legislative, and regulatory advice while managing multi-jurisdictional campaigns on behalf of Tusk clients.

Kristina brings 15 years of experience working at the intersection of law, policy, and politics at two global law firms, the National Federation of Independent Business, the American Enterprise Institute, and the Massachusetts Legislature. She has managed issue and advocacy campaigns at the federal level and in all 50 states.

Her policy expertise is broad-based spanning privacy, healthcare, e-commerce, and gig-economy. Kristina also draws upon her niche knowledge of having working with State Attorneys General in their role as regulator, policymaker, and politician.

Kristina earned a B.S. Degree in Political Science from Northeastern University, where she graduated first in her class and a M.S. Degree in Political Science from American University, where she graduated with the highest honors.

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How to Find a Job in Public Affairs Aug 24, 2020

John Hesse is the Managing Partner of DHR International’s Corporate Affairs Practice. DHR International is a global executive search firm with expert consultants who provide executive recruitment, management assessment, & succession planning.

In his role, John identifies skilled communications and public affairs professionals who advance an organizational mission by engaging and influencing external audiences.

Prior to joining DHR, John served as the Government & Public Affairs Practice Leader for The McCormick Group, working on retained searches for lobbyists, government relations and public affairs professionals for corporations, associations, law firms and consulting firms, as well as state, federal and international government affairs opportunities.

He also provided confidential candidate representation to lawyers, lobbyists, and public affairs professionals seeking new roles. A key aspect of his work involved representing senior government officials and legislative staff seeking a transition to the private sector.

Earlier in his career, John spent time managing his own consulting firm, CERO Strategies, LLC, as the Chief Legal Officer and Vice President of Government and Public Affairs at SOHO Resource Group, Inc. and as a Senior Attorney and Director of Government Relations for Direct Selling Association.

John earned a Bachelor of Arts in American Government from Franklin & Marshall College and his Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law.

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A Health Care Expert's Journey: from the White House to the Ways & Means Committee Aug 17, 2020

Lauren Aronson is a health policy expert with an insider’s understanding of how to navigate the political landscape in order to get things done in Washington.

She joined Mehlman Castagnetti in May 2015 after serving in senior positions in both the Executive Branch and the United States Congress.

Most recently, Lauren directed the Office of Legislation at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) where she led the agency’s interactions with Capitol Hill. In this role, Lauren developed and executed legislative strategy for conveying CMS policy positions to Congress.

Before joining CMS, Lauren served as a Professional Staff Member for the Committee on Ways and Means in the U.S. House of Representatives. Lauren also served in the Obama White House as the Policy Director in the Office of Health Reform, in which capacity she played an instrumental role in helping the Administration’s team enact the landmark ACA, President Obama’s signature health care law.

Lauren worked with Congressional staff on the President’s health policy priorities, briefed senior Administration officials and represented the White House at meetings with key stakeholders.

Earlier in her career, Lauren was Health Policy Advisor to then-Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), a member of the House Democratic Leadership and Committee on Ways and Means. She also worked as a Policy Analyst with Christopher Jennings at Jennings Policy Strategies.

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Building Teams & Providing Counsel to Silicon Valley’s Most Disruptive Startups Aug 10, 2020

Corey Owens is the Managing Partner at Box B Strategies, a public affairs advisory firm that provides counsel to Silicon Valley’s most disruptive startups and their publicly-traded counterparts.

Corey earned a B.S. at Truman State University, and an MPS at George Washington University;
He began his career at the ACLU as an assistant to the Chief Legislative Counsel;
He then became the Director of Communications at the Constitution Project, before becoming the Sr. Campaign Communications Specialist at the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union;
Following those roles, he was a Manager of Public Policy at Facebook, Head of Global Public Policy at Uber, and the Head of Global Public Policy at WeWork;
Since 2017, Corey has been operating his own consulting shop, Box B Strategies.

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How to Make the Move From D.C. to VC-backed Startups Aug 03, 2020

Justin Kintz is the VP, Head of Global Public Policy at Uber, the technology platform that uses a massive network, leading technology, operational excellence and product expertise to power movement from point A to point B.

Justin graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in political science;
He started his career as Special Assistant - External and Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Dept. of Interior;
He then worked as a Manager, Special projects for the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, and as Corporate & Public Relations Manager for the European-American Business Council;
Following those positions, he took a role as Director, Government Affairs for Orbitz Worldwide;
In September 2013, he joined Uber, where he has worked his way up to his current position.

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Saat Alety on How to Build a Successful Career on Capitol Hill Jul 27, 2020

Saat Alety is the Director of Federal Affairs and Public Policy at Allstate, the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. In this capacity, Alety leads the company’s advocacy efforts with Congress, the White House, and federal agencies, in addition to its public policy development. Previously, Alety served as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. As Sen. Scott’s senior policy advisor on financial services issues, Alety also served as the Majority Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development. Prior to his tenure as a Senate staffer, Alety spent almost three years as Communications Director to U.S. Representative Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. While spokesperson, Alety was also a Legislative Assistant to Rep. Royce for his housing and capital markets portfolio on the House Financial Services Committee. In addition to his Capitol Hill experience, Alety has held positions with the Financial Services Roundtable (now Bank Policy Institute), the leading trade association for the financial services industry, and Senator Mitt Romney's 2012 Presidential campaign. Alety began his career in the office of U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL).

He currently serves on the board of the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the grant committee for The Allstate Foundation. Alety is also an alumni advisor for the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association

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Carlyle, Speaker Boehner, and the Capitol Lounge: Meet Stacey Dion Jul 20, 2020

Stacey Dion is the Managing Director and Global Head of Government Affairs at The Carlyle Group.

Stacey leads The Carlyle Group’s global government relations and public policy functions. She is the leader of teams in the U.S., Asia and Europe and employs a strategic, innovative and proactive approach to building best-in-class global government affairs practices.

In her current role, Stacey oversees and helps shape Carlyle’s global legislative and regulatory activities and is establishing the organization as a resource for public policy insights in government and broader stakeholder circles.

Stacey earned her B.A. at Merrimack College, and her J.D. at Catholic University;
She was a pension law specialist for the U.S. Dept. of Labor before transitioning to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, where she developed, drafted, and analyzed legislation for Committee action;
Stacey then became the Tax and Pension Policy Advisor to then-Maj. Leader John Boehner, and was responsible for drafting the Pension Protection Act of 2006;
She was then promoted to Policy Advisor and Counsel for Boehner, and was his lead staffer for negotiating and drafting the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008;
Stacey then moved on to Boeing as VP of Corporate Public Policy, where she led Boeing’s corporate public policy team of executives and analysts;
She joined Carlyle in 2017.

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From Big Law to Legal Tech and Government Relations Jul 13, 2020

Ken Friedman is the Vice President, Legal and Government Affairs at LegalZoom. LegalZoom is one of those companies that almost needs no introduction - it's the nation's leading provider of personalized, online legal solutions and legal documents for small businesses and families.

Ken attended UC San Diego, where he earned his B.A. in political science and communications;
He then went on to earn his J.D. at USC Gould School of Law;
After law school, Ken spent nine years working for Sidley Austin, LLP in the firm's litigation group, where he handled consumer class action defense, products liability, unfair competition and business practices, breach of contract, and other matters;
Ken then moved on to LegalZoom, where his areas of responsibility includeareas of responsibility include risk management, government relations, corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, employment issues, crisis communications, advertising review, and corporate regulatory compliance.

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From NYC Deputy Mayor to Cutting Edge Tech Executive Jul 06, 2020

Cas Holloway is the head of Public Enterprise at Unqork - a completely visual, no-code application platform that helps large enterprises build complex custom software faster, with higher quality, and lower costs than traditional approaches. All without a single line of code.

Cas received his B.A. from Harvard University
After graduating, he went to work for the legendary head of the New York City park system - Henry Stern - for three years.
Cas then earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, and then worked as an associate at Cravath, Swaine, & Moore, as a clerk on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and as an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton.
He then served as Chief of Staff to the New York City Deputy Mayor for Operations for four years, before becoming Deputy Mayor for Operations himself for another four years.
After that, Cas spent nearly 7 years at Bloomberg LP before joining Unqork.

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Overseeing Legal & GR for the Largest On-Demand Alcohol Delivery Platform Jun 29, 2020

Jaci Flug is the General Counsel/Senior Vice President at Drizly.

Drizly is the nation's leading e-commerce platform for on-demand alcohol delivery. Drizly connects consumers with local retailers, for delivery of beer, wine, and spirits in under 60 minutes.

Jaci started her career working as Assistant D.A. in the Bronx District Attorney's office;
She then went on to be an administrator for New York City's Assigned Counsel Plan;
From there, Jaci became the General Counsel of the New York State Liquor Authority;
She then moved on to serve as the General Counsel & VP of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, before heading to Drizly.

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Chief of Staff, Sports Agent, Lobbyist, & More - The Life of Lenny Lopes Jun 22, 2020

Leonard "Lenny" Lopes is the President of The Victor Group, LLC, and Leonard Lopes Law Firm, LLC.

The Victor Group, LLC is based in Rhode Island. It's a full-service government relations & lobbying firm with an extensive range of clients. Leonard Lopes Law Firm, LLC is a boutique law firm focused on the representation of college coaches, athletic directors and radio and TV personalities in all aspects of their employment agreements and media and television contracts.

Lenny got his start in politics working for U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI);
After law school, he held dual part-time positions for the Massachusetts Attorney General, and the Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor;
He then went on to serve as Chief of Staff for Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch, and ran the office as the state was grappling with the Station fire tragedy;
After his time with Attorney General Lynch, Lenny moved into lobbying and government affairs, and eventually started his own firm
Lenny is also a sports agent, and represented former Red Sox pitcher Oil Can Boyd.

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A Diplomat's Journey into Government Affairs Jun 15, 2020

Courtney Gillespie is the Director of Government Affairs for TaskRabbit. TaskRabbit is a leading task management network that conveniently connects people with "Taskers" to handle everyday home to-do’s such as furniture assembly, handyman work, moving help, and much more.

Acquired by Ingka Group in 2017, TaskRabbit operates in more than 70 markets across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France, and is headquartered in San Francisco.

Courtney started her career working as a tour manager in Europe for Contiki tours.
The experience led her to pursue a degree in foreign service - she received her masters in the field from Georgetown University.
After graduating, Courtney served as a Presidential Management Fellow, doing stints with the U.S. Navy, and the Department of Energy.
She then moved on to serve as a foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State, doing work in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Bern, Switzerland.
After her time at the State Dept., Courtney moved to San Francisco - after doing some work at Twitter, she landed at Gilead Sciences, where she rose to become Associate Director, Policy.
In Courtney's current role as Dir. of Government Affairs at TaskRabbit, Courtney oversees U.S. (state and federal) and international government affairs for the company.

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Marcus Mason Responds to George Floyd's Death Jun 08, 2020

Marcus Mason returns to the show today to respond to the death of George Floyd.

Marcus is a senior partner at The Madison Group, and the immediate past president of The Washington Government Relations Group (WGRG) - a non-partisan, independent, volunteer association that was founded to enrich the careers and leadership abilities of African-American government relations professionals. Members represent corporations, financial institutions, law firms, trade associations and non-profit organizations on a broad range of policy areas in state, federal, and international arenas.

The organization aims to foster meaningful dialogue between its members and pertinent, senior-level policymakers to facilitate superior public policy solutions.

A Preview of Privacy Legislation Post-COVID-19 Jun 01, 2020

Andrew Kingman is a Senior Managing Attorney at DLA Piper, and General Counsel at the State Privacy & Security Coalition.

Kingman counsels his clients on state privacy and cybersecurity laws, regulations, and compliance. As General Counsel to the State Privacy & Security Coalition, he represents leading technology, media, and retail companies as a legislative strategist and advocate on cybersecurity and privacy issues at the forefront of the policy arena in all 50 states.

Andrew got his start in politics working in the Massachusetts state legislature, and on a statewide campaign.
He then did a stint at Stateside Associates before heading to Suffolk University Law School.
After law school, Andrew practiced law at Goodwin Procter LLP, and then moved on to AT&T as a Regional Director for Government Affairs.

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Building a Network for Women in Politics & Policy May 25, 2020

Amy Whited is the founder of Pink Granite, a non-partisan community of women supporting women.

Pink Granite's members and contributors each work or aspire to work in Texas politics and public policy. Consultants, activists, elected officials, lobbyists, staff, students, interns, and yes - even supportive men, all have a place at Pink Granite regardless of experience level or political affiliation.

Amy has been involved in politics for over fifteen years as a campaigner, a staffer, and now as a government relations director. She's also worked as a creative director, freelance writer and web-designer.

Those worlds all collide at Pink Granite. Over the years she's managed to transition from state to state, build relationships, and advance a career in politics despite the hurdles a cross-country move (or 4!) can bring to this business.

Reach out to Amy to learn more about Pink Granite, or how you can start your own chapter at info@pinkgranitetexas.com.

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Making the Move from Prosecutor to Government Relations May 18, 2020

Laura Bisesto is the Head of Policy at Checkr. Checkr’s mission is to build a fairer future by improving understanding of the past. Their platform makes it easy for thousands of customers to hire millions of people every year.

Using Checkr’s advanced background check technology, companies of all sizes can better understand the dynamics of the changing workforce, bring transparency and fairness to their hiring, and ultimately build a better future for workers.

Laura attended UCLA for her undergraduate degree, and attended law school at Hastings College of Law;
After law school, Laura worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the City and County of San Francisco.
From there, Laura headed to Lyft, where she became a Senior Public Policy Manager
Laura then moved on to Oath (now known as Verizon Media) to serve as Head of State Public Policy
In December of 2019, she became Checkr's first head of Policy, where she oversees federal, state, and local government affairs.

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Building Trust and Effectiveness in Congress May 11, 2020

Brad Fitch is the President and CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation ("CMF"). Founded in 1977, CMF is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit organization with a mission to build trust and effectiveness in Congress. CMF does that by enhancing the performance of the institution, legislators and their staffs through research-based education and training, and by strengthening the bridge and understanding between Congress and the people it serves.

Brad began his career as a radio and television reporter in the 1980s, and then went to work on Capitol Hill in 1988 where he served for 13 years.
He worked in a variety of positions for four Members of Congress, including: press secretary, campaign manager, legislative director, and chief of staff.
Fitch left Congress in 2001 to work for the Congressional Management Foundation.
As Deputy Director of CMF, he served as a management consultant for Members of Congress, offering confidential guidance, conducting staff training programs, and writing publications on enhancing the performance of individual congressional offices and the institution.
He left CMF in 2006 to form a new company, Knowlegis, in affiliation with Capitol Advantage. Knowlegis is now a part of CQ-Roll Call Group, where Fitch served as a Vice President until 2010 when he returned to CMF.

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Addressing Ventilator Demand as the COVID-19 Pandemic Unfolds May 04, 2020

Geoffrey Becker is Director, State Government Affairs for Medtronic - a global leader in medical technology, services, and solutions. He covers sixteen states for Medtronic by working to partner with policymakers, healthcare professionals, and industry stakeholders to advance new ways to develop solutions to deliver better patient outcomes.

Geoffrey has had a number of high-level jobs in government affairs and state politics. He's been a deputy chief of staff to the Governor of Florida, Executive Director of the Florida GOP, and has held contract and in-house government affairs roles.

We discuss Geoffrey's career, and what it's been like to be a part of the push to build and deliver ventilators in response to COVID-19.

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Successful Advocacy in the Age of COVID-19 Apr 27, 2020

Jeb Ory is the CEO and Founder of Phone2Action. Phone2Action is the world's leading technology company for civic participation and stakeholder engagement. The platform has empowered advocates to make over 27 million connections with elected officials.

25% of all messages from constituents to the U.S. Congress are sent using Phone2Action's platform, through emails, phone calls, and more.

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Governing in Times of Crisis Apr 20, 2020

Former Governor of Puerto Rico Luis G. Fortuño is the head of Steptoe & Johnson's corporate practice. He represents investment funds and Fortune 500 companies in regulatory, public policy, public-private partnership (P3) and project finance, finance, and other corporate matters in the United States and throughout Latin America.

Luis' 12 years of government service includes serving as Puerto Rico’s governor and as its sole representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. Under his leadership as governor from 2009 to 2012, Luis's signature public-private partnerships law paved the way for two of the largest recent infrastructure investments in the U.S., one in Puerto Rico’s highway system and the island’s main international airport. Other P3 transactions during his tenure included schools, energy projects, and ferry services.

Luis served from 2005 to 2008 in the US House of Representatives, holding the roles of vice-president of his House Republican freshman class and later as vice-chair and then chair of the Congressional Hispanic Conference during the 109th and 110th Congresses, respectively.

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Building a Platform for Smart Cities Apr 13, 2020

Bret Beringer is the Chief Engineering Officer at Fybr, an end-to-end internet of things solutions provider, collecting and delivering data to advanced analytic tools to solve business and community-based issues. Fybr works in the transportation, power, and water management spaces, and also covers safety and quality of life issues for customers worldwide.

Bret attended the University of Missouri.
His first job out of school was working for a small development company that also handled manufacturing
He then moved on to working for a major semiconductor manufacturer
Bret then ran his own consulting firm for years, before joining Fybr.

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The Future of Voting is Mobile Apr 06, 2020

Today on the show we shave Sheila Nix, the President of Tusk Philanthropies.

Sheila is an American political strategist, most recently serving as Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden. She is currently the President of Tusk Philanthropies, where she leads efforts to dramatically increase voter turnout and participation in U.S. elections through mobile voting. She has coordinated successful pilots in West Virginia, Denver and Utah County that allowed some voters, including deployed military members, to vote by using a blockchain based mobile voting application that increases security and ease of voting.

Previously, she served as a Deputy Assistant to President Obama, was Chief of Staff to Vice President Biden on the 2012 re-election campaign, helped develop policies as Deputy Governor of Illinois and Chief of Staff to two U.S. Senators, and coordinated resources to fight poverty and disease in Sub-Saharan Africa as the U.S. Executive Director of Bono’s ONE Campaign.

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Making the Move from Distinguished Congressional Staffer to Transportation & National Security Expert Mar 30, 2020

Today we sit down with Stephen Martinko, Government Affairs Counsel at K&L Gates.

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents. The firm represents leading multinational corporations, growth and middle-market companies, capital markets participants and entrepreneurs in every major industry group as well as public sector entities, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations and individuals.

Stephen earned his B.A. in History/Public Policy from Brown University
While attending Brown, Stephen interned for Ohio Senator George Voinovich
Following graduation, he moved to Washington, D.C. where he landed his first paid job on the Hill working for Congressman Jim Gibbons
Stephen continued working on the Hill for Congressman John Porter, and then moved on to the House Republican Conference
After a few years, Stephen took a position with Pennsylvania Congressman Bill Shuster, and eventually served as his Chief of Staff
Following his time with Rep. Shuster, Stephen moved to Pittsburgh and became the Executive Director of the Port of Pittsburgh Commission
Stephen eventually moved back to D.C. and took a job with K&L Gates, where he continues to work today.

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From Educator to Tech Executive Mar 23, 2020

Today on the show we have Qiana Patterson, Vice President of Strategic Development for HopSkipDrive. Qiana is a former educator who brought her teaching skills to the tech industry. Qiana talks to us about her move from the classroom to tech and what she sees for the future of school transportation.

HopSkipDrive uses sophisticated technology to provide safe and reliable transportation for schools and families.

Qiana received her BA from the University of Washington and her MBA from the University of Southern California
Following her graduation, Qiana became an educator and then dean of a middle school.
After seven years as a traditional educator, Qiana left the classroom to work for Educational Networks, Inc.
Qiana held many positions during her time at Educational Networks, Inc, from Product Manager to Senior Vice President of Operations.
Qiana then became the founding Chief Operating Officer of Edlio, Inc.
Following Edilo, Inc., Qiana went to work for HopSkipDrive where she currently serves as the Vice President of Strategic Development.

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Providing a Voice for the Innovation Economy Mar 16, 2020

On today’s episode, we sit down with David London, Vice President of Public Policy & Politics at TechNet. Inspired by the internet boom of the '90s, David moved from Washington, D.C. to California to pursue a career in government affairs and the tech industry. David talks to us about his career path and the issues affecting the tech world.

TechNet is the national, bipartisan network of technology CEOs and senior executives that promotes the growth of the innovation economy by advocating in support of a targeted policy agenda at the federal and 50-state level.

David is a native of Washington, D.C.
He started his career in politics working for the Maryland Democratic Party
David went on to work for Maryland State Senator Ulysses Currie.
Following the internet boom, David moved to California and briefly worked for the Valley Transportation Authority.
David then went on to work for Cisco, where he spent the next two years in customer advocacy.
David’s next career move came when his former boss at Cisco offered him a job at eBay. He spent the next twelve years there in various roles.
Following his time at eBay, David briefly worked for a startup, and then moved on to his current role at TechNet.

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Building a Community for Public Affairs Professionals Mar 09, 2020

Today we sit down with Doug Pinkham, President of the Public Affairs Council. Doug talks to us about the Public Affairs Council, and how his career in public affairs led him to his current role.

The Public Affairs Council is the leading association for public affairs professionals worldwide. Their mission is to advance the field of public affairs and to provide members with the executive education, expertise, and research they need to succeed, while maintaining the highest ethical standards.

The Council’s staff of professionals have experience in a host of communications-related areas, including lobbying, public affairs, and social media. They host more than 100 webinars and events annually, and most offer a virtual option.

Doug received a B.A. in English from The College of Wooster.
While in college, Doug interned for Oregon Public Television.
After graduating, Doug moved to Washington, D.C., where he did PR for the Association for Wholesale Florists.
Doug then went on to work for the American Gas Association as a Senior Editor.
After 15 years at the American Gas Association, Doug moved on to the Public Affairs Council, where he continues to work today.

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Practicing the Habit of Excellence Mar 02, 2020

Today we sit down with Hunter Bates, a Partner and Co-Chair of the Public Law & Policy Group at Akin Gump. Hunter has an impressive résumé. He started his career working for Senator Mitch McConnell and came close to becoming one of the youngest Lieutenant Governors in Kentucky history. Hunter talks to us about his career and gives advice for those looking to get their start in politics.

Akin Gump is one of the world’s largest law firms with 20 locations and over 900 lawyers. Leaders in public policy and government relations, Akin Gump is frequently a recipient of industry recognition for its strength in litigation and high-stakes appellate work, leadership, and depth in public policy.

Hunter received his B.A. from Eastern Kentucky University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
While at Eastern Kentucky, Hunter took summer internships with Senator Mitch McConnell working on his senatorial campaign.
After finishing law school, Hunter worked briefly as a clerk for the 6th Circuit of Appeals in Kentucky and then a large law firm in D.C.
Following his time in big law, Hunter went back to working for Senator McConnell, holding various positions.
In 2002 Hunter headed back to Kentucky to run Senator McConnell’s successful reelection campaign.
In 2003, then-Kentucky Congressman Ernie Fletcher was running for governor and tapped Bates to be his running mate.
A successful lawsuit challenging Bates’ residency status derailed his chance to participate in the GOP primary that year.
Following the lawsuit, Hunter moved on to the private sector, where he continues to work today.

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FiscalNote: Using Tech to Transform the Lobbying & GR Sector Feb 24, 2020

Today on the show, we sit down with Chris Lu, Senior Strategy Advisor & Josh Resnik, Chief Content Officer and SVP/Publisher at FiscalNote. Chris and Josh joined FiscalNote with impressive résumés - Chris worked for former President Obama, and Josh led Gannett's digital department.

FiscalNote has a number of products and services - from issues management, to legislative and regulatory tracking, digital advocacy, and more. The company is at the forefront of modernizing the government relations space, leveraging data and analytics to help their clients navigate complex legislative and regulatory environments, as well as stakeholder management, with ease.

Chris Lu received his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Following law school, Chris went to work for fellow Harvard Law School classmate Senator Barack Obama, first as his Legislative Director, then Acting Chief of Staff.
Chris continued to work for Barack Obama after he became president, serving first as his cabinet secretary, and then as Deputy Secretary of Labor
In 2017, Chris joined FiscalNote where he serves as Senior Strategy Advisor
Josh Resnik received his J.D. from Boston University School of Law
Josh spent the following seven years working as Assistant General Counsel for AOL
Following his time with AOL, Josh went to work for Gannett, leading their newly formed digital division. As the Vice President and General Manager of Gannett Digital, Josh led Gannett’s transition to the digital space, using technology to create new cross-platform content.
In 2018, Josh joined FiscalNote as the Chief Content Officer and SVP/Publisher of CQ and Roll Call, where he uses technology to produce, monetize, and distribute content.

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How a Former Diplomat and His GR Team Fought a Hostile Takeover Feb 17, 2020

Today we bring you another international episode, featuring Marcel Halma, the Global Director of Public Affairs & Government Relations at Nouryon. Marcel started his impressive career as a diplomat in the Netherlands at the age of 26. From there, he held various positions in government and the private sector, and has been with Nouryon since 2018.

Nouryon is a global leader in specialty chemicals. Nouryon is a relatively new name, but it has a stunning 400 year history in the field - it was formerly a part of AkzoNobel. It has over 10,000 employees that operate in 80 countries around the world.

Marcel graduated from the University of Amsterdam with a minor in economics and a Masters in American Studies and Political Science.
At the age of 26, Marcel’s dream of becoming a diplomat came true. Marcel spent roughly the next 15 years as a diplomat
He then went to Brussels as Head of Communications of Minister for European Affairs Frans Timmermans
After leaving government service, Marcel worked in the private sector for the next several years
In 2018, Marcel joined Nouryon, where he is now the Global Director of Public Affairs.

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Taking on Fraud and Identity Theft Feb 10, 2020

Today’s guest is Kelli Emerick, Founder and President of 121 Strategies & Government Relations, and Executive Director of the Secure ID Coalition. With over 12 years of experience in the tech industry, Kelli has an in-depth background in the areas of online child safety, identity management, information sharing, e-commerce, and privacy.

Kelli received her B.A. from the University of Southern California and her M.A. from George Washington University.
While at USC, Kelli interned for President Ronald Reagan.
Kelli’s first job after college was working for Mike Huffington’s U.S. Senate campaign in California. Kelli was part of Huffington’s communications team.
Kelli moved to Washington, D.C., and eventually went to work for Fleishman-Hillard Public Relations
Kelli then went on to found 121 Strategies & Government Relations

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Senator Jeff Brandes on Autonomous Vehicles & Innovation Feb 03, 2020

While at CES, we had the opportunity to sit down with Florida State Senator Jeff Brandes, and learned how Florida is becoming a leader in the autonomous vehicle space. Senator Brandes is passionate about using technology to solve problems in his state, and he’s hoping that Florida will serve as a model for other states. Senator Brandes tells us why he believes in autonomous vehicles, and why lawmakers need to place a greater focus on technology.

After graduating high school, Senator Brandes joined the U.S. Army Reserve, where he served for 11 years, and completed a tour of duty in Iraq;
He graduated from Carson Newman College in 1999 with a degree in Business Administration;
He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2010;
Brandes was then elected to the Florida State Senate in 2012, where he continues to serve;
The Senator currently sits on nine committees, and is Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice.

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Smart Cities: Making Municipalities More Responsive Jan 27, 2020

On today’s episode, we sit down with Benson Chan at CES. Benson is the Co-founder and Senior Partner at Strategy of Things, a management consulting firm specializing in strategy, innovation, and business transformation.

Technology and efficiency usually aren’t words many would associate with government, but Benson wants to change that. He believes technology is the key to making cities more efficient and responsive to its citizens’ needs. Benson talks to us about how he can help solve municipal-level problems with cost-effective technology, and help cities become responsive.

• Benson received his MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management • Before starting Strategy of Things, Benson worked in the smart home industry

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From the National Governor’s Association to the World’s Largest Law Firm Jan 20, 2020

Today we sit down with David Quam, Counsel and Co-leader of the Dentons 50 Network. David has an impressive résumé, and it’s clear from the start that he loves what he does. David talks to us about his time at the National Governor’s Association, the Dentons 50 Network, and the unexpected job offer that led him to a career in government relations.

Dentons is the world’s largest law firm, operating in 74 countries and employing over 10,000 lawyers. In the U.S., Dentons has built a network of talent with expertise at the state and local level. The Dentons 50 Network is a comprehensive, centralized resource for any business faced with complex, multistate policy matters.

David attended Duke University for his undergraduate studies and went on to Vanderbilt Law School, where he earned his J.D.
After finishing law school, David moved to Maryland where he practiced law.
After an unexpected job offer, David started working for the Senate Judiciary Committee. This career move sparked his interest in government and politics.
Following his time with the Senate Judiciary Committee, David started working for the National Governors Association, where he served as the Director of the Office of Federal Relations and Deputy Executive Director.
After 13 years at the National Governors Association, David moved to Dentons, where he serves as Co-leader of the Dentons 50 Network.

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The Future of Urban Air Mobility Jan 13, 2020

Today's episode was recorded at CES, the world's largest consumer electronics trade show, held in Las Vegas, Nevada. While at CES, we had the opportunity to sit down with Brian Chase, Director of Global Government Affairs & Public Policy at Bell Flight. Bell had one of the best exhibits at CES, where it displayed Nexus, their new all-electric flying vehicle. Brian talked to us about Nexus, what he sees as the future of flying vehicles, and how his passion for space landed him at Bell.

Bell Flight is an innovative aerospace manufacturer producing 60% of today's helicopters, and working to create the next generation of flying vehicles. Bell has a long history of being on the cutting edge of aerospace technology - it was the first to break the sound barrier, the first to certify a commercial helicopter, and it was part of NASA's first lunar mission.

Brian attended The University of Texas as an engineering student, where he was able to spend time working at NASA as part of the university's co-op program.
After two years in the program, Brian made the switch to economics.
He made his move into politics by working for Congressman Dave Weldon of Florida, who represented Florida's space coast.
Brian held many positions during his time with Congressman Weldon. His duties included legislative aide, press secretary, and campaign manager.
After working on the hill for a few more years, Brian went to work for the Bush administration as NASA's Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs.
After a few years at NASA, Brian transitioned back to Texas and started working at Bell flight.

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Championing the Benefits of Play, and the Importance of Networking Jan 06, 2020

On today's episode, we sit down with Matthew Lenz, Director of State Government Affairs at The Toy Association. Matthew's story is a great example of how important networking is to becoming successful in this industry. Matthew went from managing a restaurant, to Senior Policy Advisor to the Attorney General of Rhode Island, and is now a lobbyist.

The Toy Association is the not-for-profit trade association representing businesses that design, produce, license, and deliver toys and youth entertainment products. The Toy Association represents over 1,000 members from large toy companies to small mom and pop shops.

Matthew attended the University of Rhode Island part-time while managing a restaurant in Warwick, RI
After realizing he wanted to work in politics, Matt quit his restaurant job to pursue politics full-time
He became former Attorney General Peter Kilmartin’s Deputy Campaign Manager
Following Kilmartin’s win, he was appointed Executive Assistant to the Attorney General,
Matthew then ran Kilmartin's reelection campaign, and became Kilmartin's Senior Policy Advisor during his next term in office
Matthew then moved to his current position in the private sector at The Toy Association.

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Tackling Healthcare and Children's Issues in Tallahassee Dec 30, 2019

On today’s episode, we sit down with Ellen Anderson, Director of Government Relations at Community Health Systems.

Although Ellen did not come from a political family, political conversations with her grandfather sparked her interest in pursuing a career in government.

Community Health Systems is one of the nation's biggest hospital management companies, operating 106 acute care hospitals in 18 states.

Ellen is a first-generation American - both of her parents immigrated to the U.S. from Chile
Majored in Political Science with a minor in Latin American Studies at the University of Central Florida
Interned for the Florida House of Representatives as a legislative aide
Became Florida State Senator Nan Rich’s Legislative Aide where she focused on children's issues and healthcare
Ellen went to work for the Florida Hospital Association after Sen. Rich left office in 2012
In 2013 Ellen was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the Cabinet for Children and Youth
In 2015, Ellen joined Community Health Systems where she currently serves as the Director of Government Relations

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An Intro to International Lobbying Dec 23, 2019

This is our first international interview, featuring Daniel Ureña - the Founder & Managing Partner of MAS Consulting. Daniel hails from Madrid, Spain but knows politics in the United States, having attended school in the U.S., where he fell in love with lobbying.

MAS Consulting, founded by Daniel and his business partner Cesar Martinez, is a consulting firm specializing in corporate reputation management and public affairs with more than 15 years of experience.

Daniel studied at the George Washington University School of Political Management;
While in school, Daniel interned for the Republican National Hispanic Assembly;
He started MAS Consulting which is active in Spain, the E.U. Mexico, and Latin America;
In 2010 he launched the first graduate-level lobbying program in Spain.

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Cannabis Delivery, Ridesharing, & the Cutting Edge of Government Affairs Dec 16, 2019

On today's special live episode, we sit down with Katie Kincaid, Director of Public Affairs, and David Mack, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at Eaze. Katie and David talk about their experiences at Lyft, what it's like working in the cannabis industry, and answer audience questions.

This episode was recorded on November 8th, 2019 at Dentons, in Washington, D.C.

Special thanks to our sponsor, State & Federal Communications - trusted experts on lobbying compliance laws & required reporting, with over 25 years of experience.

Eaze is an online marketplace and technology platform that provides legal access to cannabis through safe and convenient delivery. Eaze's technology helps local cannabis retailers run compliant on-demand delivery, and their online marketplace gives consumers a seamless e-commerce experience alongside information on product selection and safe consumption.

As the Director of Public Affairs, Katie establishes partnerships with grasstops organizations and creates campaigns to educate key policymakers with the objective of advancing delivery as an important option for the legal cannabis marketplace.
David oversees government affairs, community relations, communications, research, and social impact work across the platform’s U.S. markets.

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From Educator to Advocate Dec 09, 2019

Roberto Fierro is Director, Legislative Strategy with BSA | The Software Alliance.

BSA is a leading advocate for the global software industry before governments and in the international marketplace. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., and operations in more than 30 countries, BSA pioneers compliance programs that promote legal software use and advocates for public policies that foster technology innovation and drive growth in the digital economy.

As a member of the Legislative Strategy team, Roberto helps drive engagement with the U.S. Congress by developing government relations strategies and implementing plans to advance BSA’s policy agenda.

Roberto attended the University of San Diego for his undergraduate studies, and the University of Denver for his master's degree.
His first foray into politics was working in the office of the County of San Diego Auditor and Controller.
Roberto then worked in education in a number of different capacities, before taking a position with Solidarity Strategies, working in administrative and financial management.
Roberto then spent a number of years as a principal with D&P Creative Solutions as a lobbyist, before joining BSA.

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How to Add Value in the Digital Age Dec 02, 2019

Rhod Shaw is the Principal and President of the Alpine Group, a bipartisan, bicameral government affairs consulting firm located on Capitol Hill. The Alpine Group's clients include Fortune 100 companies, private equity firms, trade associations, local governments and more.

Rhod brings over 20 years of high-level government experience to the Alpine Group. Rhod's experience includes work affecting industries such as telecommunications, energy, automotive, technology, financial services, and those requiring the protection of intellectual property rights.

Rhod attended Franklin & Marshall College, and worked in senior leadership positions for a number of members of congress before joining the Alpine Group.

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Making the Move from State to Federal Government Affairs Nov 25, 2019

Today we sit down with Megan Hannigan, who is a Manager of Government Relations at PayPal, Inc.

Megan is a member of PayPal, Inc.'s Global Government Relations team, which represents the interests of PayPal and its community before governments around the world. Their mission is to work with lawmakers to open markets and remove barriers for consumers and merchants, establish PayPal as a knowledge resource and thought-leader in the payments arena, and protect PayPal and the communities it serves from undue regulatory and legislative burdens.

Megan was raised in Virginia, and grew up in a political family;
She attended Miami University in Ohio, and graduated with a B.A. in political science;
Her first job in politics was an internship in Sen. Sherrod Brown's office;
She then interned, and was ultimately hired by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee ("DLCC");
After her time with the DLCC, Megan moved to eBay, and then moved to PayPal after it was spun off from eBay.

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The Future of the U.S. Health Care System Nov 18, 2019

Today on the show we sit down with Dean Rosen. A partner at Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas, Dean is one of Washington’s foremost experts on America’s complex health care system—and a master of both the politics and policies that shape it. He has more than two decades of experience developing and advancing health policy initiatives on Capitol Hill and in the private sector.

Dean was raised in Minnesota;
He earned his bachelor's degree at Boston University, and then a J.D. and master's degree at Syracuse University;
After earning his postgraduate degrees, he practiced law at Dow, Lohnes and Albertson in Washington, D.C.;
His first political position was on the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee;
He then served as VP of Policy and General Counsel at the Health Insurance Association of America;
Afterwards, he served as the Health Care Advisor for U.S. Senate Majority Leader William Frist.
In 2005, he joined Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas as a named partner.

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Making the Jump from Wall Street to a Venture-backed Beauty Startup Nov 11, 2019

Today we are joined by David Goldweitz, the founder and Chief Strategy Officer for Glamsquad, the on-demand in-home beauty service. Glamsquad is a significant innovator in the beauty industry, providing a platform that connects clients with salon professionals. Glamsquad offers in-home or offsite work opportunities for the 700,000+ cosmetology professionals active in the U.S.

David was raised in Boston.
He attended Harvard University where he earned an A.B. in History, and then earned an MBA in Real Estate from Columbia Business School.
David worked as an analyst for Capital Properties Associates, and later became a Senior Credit Analyst for Dynamic Credit.
He then served as the Director of Duff & Phelps, a Wall Street hedge fund, before founding Glamsquad with a friend.

“The Mission of Glamsquad is to democratize the beauty industry, making it more accessible . . .”

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Inside the Labor Movement & The Fight for Criminal Justice Reform in NYC Nov 04, 2019

Jason Ortiz is the Founder & CEO of Blue Suit Strategies. He is a seasoned political operative, with eighteen years of experience in lobbying, strategic research, public relations and political action, and has a long track record of significant political and electoral victories in New York City and State.

Since starting his consulting firm last year, he has been the driving force behind several significant legislative victories for unions, non-profit/advocacy groups and criminal justice reformers; most notably, the transformation of New York State’s bail, discovery and speedy trial statutes.

Jason earned his B.A. in in Economics from Rollins College
He served in a number of capacities for the New York Hotel Trades Council and its international affiliate, UNITE HERE, between 2001 and 2011.
He then worked in the public sector for New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, before taking a roll as the Managing Director of the New York City-based political consulting firm Metropolitan Public Strategies
In 2015, he returned to the New York Hotel Trades Council, where he served as Director of Political and Strategic Affairs.

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Managing State Policy for an Iconic American Brand Oct 28, 2019

Jessica Stram is the Director of Advocacy - Northeast for Target. Jessica has spent her entire career in lobbying, and has a deep background in the industry with senior-level experience working both in-house and as a contract lobbyist.

Jessica attended UCONN, where she earned a B.A. in political science
She obtained her first internship in D.C. through The Washington Center
She earned a Master of Science in Public Policy and Administration from Southern Connecticut State University
Jessica spent seven years at ConnCAN, working her way up from intern to Senior Director of Government Affairs
After that, she worked at another education reform organization, and then as a contract lobbyist for two years before landing her position with Target

Jessica recently returned from a trip to Cambodia and Malaysia with the American Council of Young Political Leaders. Learn more about the organization here.

Purchase tickets for The Lobbying Show's first live event, taking place on Nov. 8th in Washington, D.C.

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Providing Everyday Americans Access to Lobbyists Oct 21, 2019

Jeff Allan is the Founder & CEO of EchoRidge, putting the power of lobbyists into the hands of everyday Americans. Their key tool is Nation Crowd, a crowdfunding platform that brings people together around a common issue and translates their energy into actionable legislation.

EchoRidge connects clients to a network of retained "boots on the ground" lobbyists. They have been highlighted in recent articles for the seed funding they have generated.

Jeff attended the University of North Dakota for a B.A. in Psychology and is currently pursuing a Masters of Forensic Psychology.
Jeff has international career experience in Singapore and Indonesia working in business development.
He moved to Tokyo to work for ioCubed as VP for Business Development working with tech startups.
He then became the Vice President of Business Strategy for Lottery.com.

“We concentrate on the business side of things and the lobbyists can concentrate on the lobbying.”

Jeff talks about his life in the tech industry, how he has created his own business, connecting small groups to lobbyists. EchoRidge has several interns every year and encourages interested individuals to apply.

Purchase tickets for The Lobbying Show's first live event, taking place on Nov. 8th in Washington, D.C.

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The Key to Maintaining Clients Oct 14, 2019

George Cronin is the Managing Director for the public affairs practice at Rasky Partners. Based out of Boston, they cover government relations at the state and municipal level, grassroots organizing, and ballot questions. They also have a D.C. office to cover federal affairs.

George discusses how he strikes a balance between managing a firm with over 20 employees and staying engaged with his clients.

George hails from Massachusetts, and was raised in a campaign environment.
He attended UMass Amherst for his Bachelors degree, and Suffolk University for his Masters of Government.
His first job in government was interning at the Choate Group, a public affairs firm that would later merge to become Rasky Partners.
George has extensive campaign experience. He served as a senior advisor and New England political director for then U.S. Sen. Joe Biden’s 2008 presidential campaign.

George gives the lay of the land for Massachusetts’ political landscape and discusses what the work pace is like during a 2-year legislative session.

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Marcus Mason: Congressional Chief of Staff at the Age of 22 Oct 07, 2019

Marcus Mason is a Senior Partner at The Madison Group, a boutique bipartisan consulting and lobbying firm that specializes in tax, technology, telecommunications, trade and transportation issues. Clients include Google and Education Network of America.

Marcus also serves as the President of the Washington Government Relations Group (WGRG), an organization of African American lobbyists whose goal is to enrich the community, by providing mentorship and professional growth opportunities while promoting diversity within the lobbying profession.

Marcus was raised in Los Angeles, CA.
He attended California State University - Dominguez Hills, where he obtained a B.A. in Political Science, Economics, and English.
His first job in government was working for a state senate campaign in CA, and he won his first Congressional race as a campaign manager at 21.
At 22 Marcus began his career as a Chief of Staff/Legislative Director in the U.S. House of Representatives. He served in that role from ’92-’99.
He then transitioned to the private sector, where he worked as the Senior Director of Government Affairs for Amtrak.
Marcus has served on the Board of Directors for the Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee for the last 10 years.
He also serves as a Super Delegate on the Democratic National Committee.

“50% of my job is advocating for my client to Capitol Hill, and the other 50% is advocating Capitol Hill to my client.”

The Washington Government Relations Group offers a number of events, including a Table Talk Series where they hold lunches with seasoned professionals and young individuals. They also host the annual Tin Cup Awards Dinner recognizing those who advocate for the enrichment of African American Government Relations Professionals. The WGRG also facilitates college scholarships for young adults interested in government relations.

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Burning Man Has a Lobbyist. His Name is Rich Gold. Sep 30, 2019

Did you know the Burning Man festival has a lobbyist? We are joined today by Rich Gold, who is a Partner at Holland & Knight, one of the largest lobbying firms in D.C., where he serves as a leader of the firm’s Public Policy and Regulation team. Rich shares his experience working for unique clients like Burning Man, and many more. Rich manages the firm's national lobbying team which has over 85 members, bringing in annual revenue of $25-30 million.

Rich grew up in New York and New Hampshire
He attended The University of Vermont for a B.S. in Business and obtained his J.D. from George Washington University.
He served as a Staff Attorney, and later Special Assistant to Carol Browner at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Rich served as a Special Assistant for Environmental Affairs to US Senator Lloyd Bentsen.
He has worked at Holland & Knight for the last 25 years.

“It’s really important in current times to understand that the process that we are involved in, advocating for public policy, is sacred, and something that most around the world don’t get to do.”

Burning Man is an annual festival which takes place in Nevada on federal land, and Rich talks about the unique issues that arise with lobbying for one of the most famous music festivals in the world. At its height, Burning Man populates the desolate desert area with a population, comparable to a small city.

Rich also provides tips on coalition building, and the key skills he looks for in potential employees.

Holland & Knight takes on about six paid government relations interns in D.C. every semester!

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How to Use Data to Lobby Sep 23, 2019

Today we sit down with two employees from Quorum – an integrated public affairs software platform providing stakeholder engagement, legislative tracking, and grassroots advocacy tools to government affairs professionals.

Quorum is represented in this episode by Gray Kinsella and Neal Walia.

Neal was raised in Colorado, attending Univ. of Colorado-Boulder for his B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs, and Univ. of Colorado-Denver for his M.A. in Criminal Justice.
Neal served as a Program Coordinator for Community Partnerships for former Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper.
He was a Legislative Coordinator for the National Governor's Association before joining the Quorum team.
Gray is from the Boston area and attended George Washington Univ. for his B.A. in Political Science and Political Communication.
He served in Marketing Research and Sales Support for Proclivity Recruitment Solutions in the D.C. area before joining Quorum.

Quorum was founded 6 years ago in a Harvard dorm room by two college students who wanted to help improve the advocacy capabilities of individuals working in the government affairs space. Today it has over 85 employees, serving clients ranging from NGOs, embassies, and lobbying firms across the globe.

For a recent story about Quorum expanding their international capacity, see the following link.

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From the Hill, to the DOJ, to the Tech Industry Sep 16, 2019

This week, we welcome Sarah Matz to the show. Sarah serves as Senior Director of State Government Affairs for CompTIA, and is based out of Austin, Texas.

CompTIA is a trade association that represents the U.S. tech industry, representing nearly 2,000 member companies, and offering I.T. certification programs.

Sarah serves as an advocate for CompTIA in the southern region of the U.S. with an impressive portfolio of 12 states, drawing on her years of experience working in government, from the Department of Justice to Congress.

Sarah was raised in Arizona, but now calls Texas home.
She attended West Texas A&M University for her B.A. in Criminal Justice, and Gonzaga University for an M.A. in Communication and Organizational Leadership.
Her first government/political job was interning in the U.S. House of Representatives during her senior year of college.
She worked in the U.S. House first as a Legislative Assistant to Congressman Larry Combest, and then as a Senior Policy Advisor to Randy Neugebauer.
She then worked as a congressional/public affairs specialist for the U.S. Department of Justice.
She then returned to Texas, serving as a Legislative Liaison for the Texas Department of Transportation, before joining CompTIA

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How to Build the Firm of the Future Sep 09, 2019

Jonathan Kilman is the Chairman of Converge Government Affairs. Based out of Miami, Florida, Converge offers government relations and public affairs services at the state, national AND international level! After graduating from Harvard Law School, Jonathan had a career as an attorney before transitioning to the government affairs sector.

Jonathan earned a B.S. in finance from the University of Florida and then received his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
He served as a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP for eleven years, working in their government practice.
As a lawyer, Jonathan represented the Florida House of Representatives in litigation and appeals related to the redistricting of Florida's state and federal legislative districts. Two years later, he represented the Florida Department of State in state and federal election litigation and appeals. Jonathan also served as legal counsel to the successful 2006 campaign of Florida Governor Charlie Crist.
Jonathan serves as Chair of the Strategy Committee for the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Converge has an impressive list of tech and startup clients, and employs a remarkable staff of seasoned lobbyists. Within just two years, Converge has expanded to fifteen full-time employees. Jonathan designed his firm like a tech startup to resonate with the clientele he wanted to attract.

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From Philosophy Major to Real Estate Investing and Government Affairs Sep 02, 2019

Charles Tassell is the Chief Operating Officer for the National Real Estate Investor Association (REIA), a trade organization representing 60,000 members from all walks of the real estate investment industry. Charles has a lot of experience working in local city government and in government affairs, specializing in real estate and land development. He is a man who wears many hats: COO, owner, and City Councilman!

Charles calls the Cincinnati area home.
Charles' first political job was working as a campaign manager for a City Council race in Cincinnati, OH.
He then worked in Cincinnati's City Hall in a range of capacities.
He is currently a City Council member in Deer Park, Ohio.

Charles has helped develop policy for dozens of municipalities, counties, and states. He's worked on several pieces of legislation dealing with economic development, fair housing, and environmental issues. He also helps train local chapters of REIA in organizing, coalition building, and best practices for hiring contract lobbyists.

If you're in the Cincinnati area and interested in real estate development, Charles encourages you to reach out - he is happy to chat or grab lunch.

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Turning a Passion for Politics and the Environment into a Career, and How to Succeed Before Local Boards & Commissions Aug 26, 2019

Our guest today is Steve Conant, who is a partner at Anbaric Development Partners, a Massachusetts-based company that specializes in early stage development of large-scale electric transmission systems, the transformation of the electric and heating/cooling systems on campuses, and storage solutions surrounding microgrid projects.

Steve is passionate about environmental issues. He began his career working in municipal and federal government before transitioning to the government relations field.

Steve is native to Lowell, Massachusetts.
He attended UMass-Lowell for a B.A. in Philosophy & Environmental Science, and earned his M.A. in Urban and Environmental Policy from Tufts University.
He served as the President Green Line Devco, LLC, and spent 8 years working for Stone & Webster Engineering.
Steve worked as a District Director for Congressman Chester Atkins doing constituent affairs.
Interestingly, Steve worked as a Principal Planner for MA Dept. of Environmental Management and as a Planning Director in Lowell.

In his role at Anbaric, Steve spends his time responding to wind energy and transmission RFPs. He works with both state governments and the federal government to create better energy policy for local communities.

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How to Outsource Your In-House Government Affairs Team Aug 19, 2019

Dusty Brighton is the Managing Director of Brightstone Bridge, LLC, a firm that Dusty created after an illustrious career in the GR field. Dusty and Jim sat down to chat in Nashville, TN, talking about Dusty’s unique career serving as both an in-house and contract lobbyist, and breaking down the differences between the two.

Dusty hails from Arkansas.
He attended the University of Arkansas for his B.A. in Communications and also a Masters of Public Administration.
His first experience in politics was in 3rd grade, hanging up campaign flyers in a gubernatorial race.
He served as the Director of State and Government Affairs for Microsoft, and Director of Government Relations for eBay, Inc.
He was the Vice President of State Government Affairs at the Internet Association.

“At the end of the day, we have a skillset. Doctors know how to be doctors, lawyers know how to be lawyers and Government relations people know how to navigate the government process.”

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How to Make the Jump from Intern to Full Time Staff, and the Importance of Paying it Forward Aug 12, 2019

Christina Fisher is the Executive Director for Massachusetts and the Northeast at TechNet, a trade association that represents over 80 technology companies. TechNet provides a face for the technology community. Christina talks tech, testimony, and public policy.

She attended American University for her B.A. in Political Science and received her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School.
She served as a Fellow at the Marshall Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project.
She moved up from an unpaid intern position to working as a Senior Research Analyst at the Massachusetts State House, and later worked as Committee Counsel, where she gained experience bill drafting.
She transitioned to the private sector to work as Senior Manager for Policy at Bloom Energy.

Christina shares her passion for giving public testimony and shares her tips and tricks. For college students in the Boston area interested in interning at Technet or chatting with Christina she encourages you to connect with her on Linkedin.

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How to Get a Presidential Management Fellowship, and the Surprising Places it Can Take You Aug 05, 2019

Paige Fetzer-Borelli is the Director of Global Government Affairs and Public Policy at Dell. Paige shares her interesting background working in international affairs, public policy and government affairs. Paige describes her experience with U.S State Department internships and her time as a Presidential Management Fellow, and discusses how to succeed in the application process.

Paige hails from Idaho.
She attended Boise State University for her B.A. in Anthropology, and Seton Hall University for her M.P.A. and M.A. in International Relations.
Paige interned for the State Department at the Embassy in Brazil, later working as an Advisor on Corporate Responsibility.
She was awarded a Presidential Management Fellowship at the Treasury Department, and served as a Policy Advisor and Special Assistant to the Undersecretary.
Paige has served as a professor of political science at the University of Duhok in Iraq, while working at the Civil Society Development Institute of Iraq in 2011.
Fun fact: Paige has learned French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic through her world travels.

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Breaking Down the Net Neutrality Debate with an FCC Expert Jul 29, 2019

Russell Hanser is a Partner at Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP (WBK), a law firm based in Washington, D.C., where he works in telecommunications and state regulatory affairs. Russell describes his career path including his time as a law clerk, working at the FCC, and for large law firms with policy niches.

Russell was raised in Westbury, New York.
He obtained he B.A. in Political Science from Amherst College, his J.D. from Harvard, and his M.A. in Global Policy from Johns Hopkins University.
While in law school, he served on the Harvard Law Review.
He spent 2 years working as an attorney at Ropes and Gray LLP, before serving as a Law Clerk for the US Court of Appeals in the 1st
From there Russell became an Associate at WilmerHale.
He then worked in various roles at the Federal Communications Commission.
Russell is a member of the Board of Directors for Byte Back, Inc, an organization that provides free IT certification classes with the mission of helping people receive a living wage.

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Abby Watson: At the Cutting Edge of the Wind Power Industry Jul 22, 2019

Abby Watson is the Head of Government Affairs for Siemens Gamesa, managing the company's state and federal policy agenda across North America. Siemens Gamesa is an international renewable energy company based in Spain. Abby chats about wind energy, lobbying, responding to RFPs, and the differences between east coast and west coast government relations work.

She attended Penn State University, and earned her B.A. in Energy and Sustainability Policy. She is pursuing her Executive MBA from Villanova School of Business.
Abby worked for a variety of renewable energy companies, including Astrum Solar and RealWinWin.
She has worked with Siemens Gamesa for the last 8 years, and was originally hired as a development assistant.
She is a Chapter Founder and Past President of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy.

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An Engineer on Capitol Hill: From Senate Staffer, to the FCC, to Ericsson Jul 15, 2019

Matthew Hussey is the Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy for Ericsson, a multinational network and telecommunications company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden with over 90,000 employees. Matthew has a background in engineering, the legislative process, and advocacy.

Matthew obtained his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his MBA with a focus in corporate finance from the University of Maryland.
After college, Matthew worked as a broadband engineer for Media One / Road Runner, a corporate engineering and technology group.
He transitioned to become a Senior Staff Consultant for Verizon Communications while obtaining his MBA.
He then joined the American Legislative Exchange Council as the Telecommunications & IT Task Force Director. Matthew had an interest in applying policy to the technical aspects of his engineering background.
Matthew transitioned to the public sector and became the Senior Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe on issues pertaining to telecommunications and education.
For six years, he served as Associate Chief of Policy at the Federal Communications Commission before taking on his current role at Ericsson.

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Innovating at the Intersection of Government Affairs and Venture Capital Jul 08, 2019

Alex Johnson is the President of InState Partners, a firm that helps businesses expand their operations into new states as well as introduce and promote innovation within government. Since 1999, InState Partners has impacted legislation and government contracts for their clients throughout the country.

He received his B.A. from Marquette University in Political Science and History.
Alex’s first job in politics was working at the Republican National Committee in the fundraising office.
He worked on John McCain’s 2000 run for President as the Deputy Finance Director.
Alex dipped into the dotcom boom of the early 2000s and founded a startup called SpeedGreetings.
He then served as the Executive Director for the Republican State Leadership Committee.
Alex became a Principal and founder of Avalanche Advisors, before serving as a Senior Vice President of FP1 Strategies.
For the last 12 years, Alex has worked with the American Council of Young Political Leaders, now serving as the President of the Board.

Check out the startups Alex mentions in the interview: Payit, and Acivilate.

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Advocacy in The Aviation Sector - Representing 340,000+ U.S. Pilots Jul 01, 2019

Jim Coon is the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs & Advocacy for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association representing over 340,000 members. Jim has a unique resume with extensive experience working in Congress and in the aviation field.

Jim was raised in Virginia.
He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a B.A. in Urban Planning.
After college, Jim took an internship working on the Hill, getting his foot in the door.
Jim worked as a staff member on the Aviation subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives.
He transitioned to serve as the Director of Congressional Affairs for the Air Transport Association before serving as the Director of Congressional Affairs for The Boeing Company.
Jim then returned to work in the House of Representatives, where he served as the Republican Staff Director for the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
In 2013, he became the Executive Vice President to the National Air Transportation Association before joining AOPA in 2014.
Jim previously served as an officer in the Army Reserves and the Virginia National Guard.

The AOPA was founded in 1939, with the mission to protect an individual’s freedom to fly in the United States. Many members are people who own their own plane and enjoy flying. AOPA has consistently been named a top 50 advocacy organization

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From Cuomo Advisor & Confidante to Procurement & Gov't Affairs Expert Jun 24, 2019

Al Gordon is the CEO and founder of National Strategies (NSI), a state and local government relations firm.

Since founding the firm in 1996, Al has helped companies successfully navigate the complexities of procurement, legislative, and regulatory issues in the state and local government market. Under his leadership, NSI has helped generate over $23 billion in new revenue, as well as execute dozens of successful legislative and regulatory programs for its clients.

Al is from the Borough of Queens, New York City.
He obtained his B.A. in History from Clark University, and his J.D. from Fordham University.
Al's first job in politics was interning for Mario Cuomo when he was running for Mayor of New York City.
He later worked on Mario Cuomo’s campaign for Lt. Governor.
Al then served as an aide to Mario Cuomo (when he was governor) for about 10 years from 1983-1994.
Gordon also served as the Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee.

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How to Make it in Albany: Hustle, Humility, and Hard Work Jun 17, 2019

David Weinraub is a Co-Founder of Brown & Weinraub, a government relations firm based in Albany, NY serving almost 200 clients. They work with clients including, BAE Systems, Dow Chemicals, 23 and Me, and AirBnB.

David was raised in New York City.
He attended St. Johns University and earned a BS in Criminal Justice, then earned a JD from St. Johns Law School.
David worked at a boutique law firm before branching out into politics.
Through a chance encounter with someone from Governor Mario Coumo’s staff, he got involved in the governor’s re-election campaign.
After the campaign, he became the Governor’s representative to the Borough of Queens.
David then served as Counsel to the Lt. Governor of New York and then as the Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental affairs for Gov. Cuomo.

“We have to prove ourselves every month. This business is a hustle. it is a consulting business and those clients have to make a decision every 30 days if they want to sign that check for you or not. You have to be on your toes.”

David shares great advice about being a successful government relations professional, starting his own firm, and about becoming involved in New York politics. David gives some frank advice about the importance of humility to the process, respect for the system and respect for legislators. David’s firm offers internships and encourages students to apply through their website.

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It's All About Relationships - From Intern, to Congressional Chief of Staff, to the Weather Channel Jun 10, 2019

John Goodwin is the Vice President of Communications for the Weather Channel. He discusses the importance of networking, and offers insights he's picked up from a career working in Congress and in various government affairs roles.

John was raised in Cranston, Rhode Island.
He graduated with a BA in Political Science from Marymount University, and earned a graduate degree in Public Policy Analysis from George Mason University.
His first job in government relations was interning for a trade association.
He served as a Public Affairs Manager for the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
John Served as a Press Secretary, a Communications Director and later as a Chief of Staff in the U.S. House of Representatives.
He gained campaign experience working for Connecticut Congressman Rob Simmons in 2006.
He served as Vice President for The Herald Group from 2013-2017.

In a job driven by the weather, every day is different. Part of John’s job includes coordinating with governors, members of congress and other elected officials to get the Weather Channels's message out to their constituents during hazardous weather conditions.

The Weather Channel offers summer internships in communications in both New York and Atlanta, and John encourages you to apply!

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Building a Top-Ranked Firm in NYC Jun 03, 2019

Suri Kasirer is the President and founder of Kasirer, LLC, the #1 NYC-based lobbying firm with over 200 clients. Suri shares insights into how to build a successful business in the government relations industry.

Suri was born in New York City.
She graduated from Yeshiva University with a focus in education.
Suri founded her firm in a studio apartment in 1997, growing to become the city's #1 firm with a staff of over 30 people.
She served as a special assistant to Governor of New York Mario Cuomo
Suri serves on the Board of Directors for the League of Conservation Voters.
She is a member of the steering committee for the Association for a Better New York and a member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
She serves on the Board of Directors for the New York Women’s Leadership Forum.
In 2018 she was awarded the National Organization of Women’s Women of Power & Influence Award.

Suri discusses NYC politics, the city's 51-person city council, and the impact of instituting term limits. She also talks about her unique journey into the world of government relations, including a story about a world class chess player and Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Kasirer, LLC has a robust internship program taking 5-6 paid interns every semester, providing professional development, weekly speakers, and scheduled mentor lunches. She encourages interested applicants to apply!

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From Lobbyist to Serial Entrepreneur May 27, 2019

Mark DeSantis, PhD is the CEO of RoadBotics, a tech company that uses artificial intelligence and smartphones to help government and engineering firms make data-driven decisions regarding road and transportation assessments. Mark is a tech entrepreneur with a long history of work in the public sector and government affairs. He’s worked for mayors, congressman, and a president, in addition to consulting and lobbying work. Mark sits down and shares some great advice for entrepreneurs and government affairs professionals alike.

Mark was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
He graduated from the University of Dayton with a BA in American Studies and an MBA, an MS in Technology Management from American University, and a PhD in Public Policy from George Mason University.
Mark worked in consulting for Booz-Allen Hamilton.
He served in the White House under President George Bush in the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Department of Commerce.
He worked as the Director of Government Relations for Texas Instruments.
Mark has served on the Executive teams for a plethora of startups and companies including, kWantera, Freemarkets inc, Think Through Learning and LogiNext.
Mark serves as an Adjunct Professor at Carnegie Mellon University at the Heinz College.

“What Washington taught me is that there is no point in getting power for powers sake, it should be power to do something useful and meaningful.”

“The advice I would give to young people considering politics, government or entrepreneurship? I would say to them - be about something before you go do it. Understand who you are as a person, what motivates you, what you care about, and focus on that first. Don’t focus on the position, title, or status.”

RoadBotics is based on an AI program developed at Carnegie Mellon: a user can download an app, face their phone’s camera towards the windshield to passively record data, and the app will automatically identify problem areas on the road. RoadBotics serves the cities of Detroit and London. RoadBotics finds innovative and cost-effective ways to collect data, including partnering with street sweeping companies. Roadbotics reduces the cost and labor required using traditional methods of road surveying. RoadBotics can not only spot existing potholes, but can also identify precursors to other road issues.

For more information, watch RoadBotics on PBS NewsHour.

RoadBotics offers internships based in Pittsburgh, and Mark encourages you to reach out with resumes if interested. You do not have to be a Steelers fan to apply!

“I think of my experience in Washington as a very positive one. It developed me as a person, helped me understand how the world works, how power works, and how to get things done. It was not a big transition into entrepreneurship!”

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Offshore Wind: Flavor of the Year - Hear from a Former Energy Commissioner May 20, 2019

David O’Connor is the Senior VP for Clean Energy and Technology at ML Strategies, a government relations powerhouse in Boston, where he works to drive beneficial public policy for clean energy projects. He served as the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources during the tenures of five Governors, from 1995 to 2007.

David obtained his BA in Political Science, Education and English at Middlebury College and his MPA from Harvard’s Kennedy School.
David worked as an adjunct professor at Tufts University teaching mediation.
He served as the Executive Director of Massachusetts Dispute Resolution.
He then served as the Commissioner in the Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources.
He has been a lobbyist with ML Strategies for over ten years.

People don’t appreciate the role of the lobbyist in the public policy making process… In my experience legislators depend on lobbyists heavily, because they are inundated with thousands of pieces of information that they [have to] address.

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A Deep Dive into the Polling Process May 13, 2019

Adam Probolsky is the President and founder of Probolsky Research, a non-partisan opinion research organization that conducts polling and analysis for a range of clients including government, non-profit and political candidates.

Adam was raised in West Orange, New Jersey.
Growing up, Adam volunteered with his local Republican party.
He served as a Planning and Finance Commissioner for the city of Irvine, CA.
Adam sat on the Energy and Environment Committee of the US Chamber of Commerce.

“Identifying who is going to show up and vote is one of the most fundamental aspects of the job.”

“Our biggest fear is that the research report we deliver [the client] ends up on the shelf. We want it to be used, because we know that data will be helpful for them.”

Probolsky is a well-known pundit, and has contributed to The New York Times, Politico, the San Francisco Chronicle, and MSNBC. Probolsky shares the pollster research process from start to end, sharing the benefits of polling in the current age of technology.

Probolsky Research accepts interns all year round, and he emphasized that interns will, “roll up their sleeves and get to do the work.” You are welcome to email, but he encourages you to make the phone call.

Firm website: https://www.probolskyresearch.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamProbolsky/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adamprobolsky

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamprobolsky/

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L.A. Politics, Ridesharing, and the Future of Tech Policy May 06, 2019

Chris Massey is the Head of Global Government Relations and Public Policy at Square - a financial technology and IT service management company designed for small businesses, based out of San Francisco, California.

Chris was raised in the Los Angeles area.
He obtained his B.A. in Political Science/ History from UCLA
His first role in government was as a Legislative Aide in the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
After several years of working at lobbying firms like Cerrell Associates, Chris returned to the public sector to serve as the deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for the City of Los Angeles.
He was the President and Founder of Impact Group, a state and local lobbying group.
Chris spent 2 years working at Lyft between 2013-2015, serving as the Senior Director of Government Relations.
He also served as the VP of Government Relations & Business Development at Zenefits, where he led GR outreach.

“It’s critical that you can humanize a story!”

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The Keys to Managing Associations and Building Consensus Apr 29, 2019

Christopher Badgley is the Executive Director and CEO of the Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO), which represents dental practitioners across the U.S. This includes HR, tech support, financing, and the administrative functions of the dental industry. Badgley spent much of his career in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry.

He obtained a B.S. in Wildlife Management from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.
Christopher spent 18 years working for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, where he started as a sales representative and ended as the Executive Director of State Government Affairs.
He then served as the Senior Vice President for Government and Public Affairs at PhRMA, and Senior Vice President of State Government Affairs for TechAmerica, a trade association for tech companies in the U.S.
Prior to his role in ADSO, he also worked at Daiichi Sanko, a Japanese pharmaceutical company.

“Working at a trade association, you have to listen to a lot of voices, knowing they are competitors. You have to be able to dance that dance, and that is what makes trade associations fun.”

The DSO business model in the dental industry allows dentists to focus on patients and clinical aspects, while contracting the back of house functions of the practice to the member companies of ADSO.

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Working for Speaker Pelosi, Spotify, and More with Tom Manatos Apr 22, 2019

Tom Manatos is the Vice President of Government Relations at Spotify. Spotify is the world’s most popular music streaming subscription service with a community of 207 million users, including 96 million subscribers, across 79 markets. They are the largest driver of revenue to the music business today.

Tom is also the founder of Tom Manatos Jobs - one of the top jobs lists on Capitol Hill and in Washington D.C. In this episode, Tom shares his extensive experiences in politics, such as working for the Speaker of the House and the DNC.

Tom Manatos is from Montgomery County, Maryland
Tom graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. in Communications, and received an M.A. in Government from Johns Hopkins University.
He was a Senate Page at 16, waking up Senator Ted Kennedy from naps to go vote.
Tom worked for Nancy Pelosi from 2002-2011, starting as an intern in her office when she was the House Whip, and ending as Senior Advisor for Member Services when she was Speaker of the House.
Tom served as Senior Advisor to the Democratic National Committee Chair.
He served as the Deputy Director of Protocol on the Presidential Inaugural Committee for Barack Obama in 2012.
Tom then worked as the Vice President, Federal Government Affairs at the Internet Association.

On working for Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “From a historical perspective, I got to see members of congress reacting to a woman telling them what to do, and encouraging them what to do for the first time, and that was incredible.”

Tom created an email-based jobs list while working on the Hill, whereby he would forward job postings to folks looking for jobs in the D.C. area. After leaving the Hill, he created Tom Manatos Jobs one of the go-to job sites in D.C. The site now has over 14,000 subscribers, sharing bipartisan job openings. We encourage listeners and anyone looking for jobs or internships to check it out! You can receive daily emails with new jobs openings every day.

At Spotify, Tom manages the federal government affairs operations in D.C. Spotify offers music and tech internships with applications opening in the fall for the following summer.

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From the RGA to the Largest Law Firm in the World Apr 15, 2019

Paul Hatch is the CEO at Nextlaw Public Affairs Network. Hatch is also a Senior Advisor at Dentons, the largest law firm in the world, with offices in over 80 countries, and over 10,000 lawyers.

Paul Hatch was raised in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Hatch has an undergraduate background in finance in economics and attended University of Utah College of Law.
Hatch’s first role in government was working on the Senate race for his cousin Orrin Hatch in 1976.
Hatch served as the Executive Director of the Republican Governors Association, and worked in the political division of the Republican National Committee.
While at the RGA, Hatch served as the organization’s liaison to the White House.
He worked at the law firm McDermott Will & Emery as the Director of Government Relations.
Hatch served as an adviser to Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.
He became a Partner at 101 Strategy Partners, a government affairs and communications firm.

Dentons hires law students as interns every year, and encourages those interested to apply.

Nextlaw hires interns, and Paul encourages you to reach out and apply on the website.

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In-house vs. Contract Lobbying: Understanding the Pros & Cons Apr 08, 2019

Today’s show features Ben Pearlman, Head of State Government Affairs, Northern Region for Lowe’s Companies, Inc., where he manages operations in over 25 states. Lowe’s started as a small local store, growing to a Fortune 40 company and national retailer of hardware and home appliances, with 2,200 stores across North America and 300,000 employees.

Ben grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Ben attended American University for his B.A. and obtained his J.D. at Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis.
Growing up in a political family, he became involved very early, attending monthly gatherings of local and county elected officials where he jokes, he was the youngest person attending by 40 years.
During college he interned on the Hill in the Senate, before returning to Indiana to work for the Indiana House Democratic Caucus.
He returned to D.C. working in the U.S. House of Representatives before spending time working as a Federal Relations Assistant for Indiana University.
He then moved to Massachusetts where he worked as a Legislative Attorney at the state capitol, and later as an Attorney/ Contract Lobbyist for Serlin Haley LLP.
Prior to his current role, Ben served as the Senior Manager of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Comcast.

“Especially when looking for jobs and internships in government affairs, any opportunity where you get to meet a lot of people very quickly, that is where I point people to go.”

“This is the most challenging role I have been in because there is no shortage of things to do and there is no shortage of things to learn.”

Ben breaks down some of the seemingly complicated jargon that lobbyist often use, and offers insight into some of the common trade associations in the retail industry. Working in government affairs for such a large company, Ben works on a range of issues from labor issues, consumer privacy regulation, to tariffs.

Ben recommends, “Before you go into government affairs, I suggest learning the business. If you have an interest in politics and you can learn the business, you will be better off.” With that being said, Ben suggests looking into the internships Lowe’s offers out of their corporate office, here.

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Microsoft, Yahoo, & Alibaba - Meet Bill Ashworth, Mr. Tech Apr 01, 2019

Bill Ashworth is the Director of State and Local Government Affairs at Alibaba Group, a multinational e-commerce company, headquartered in China.

Bill Ashworth was raised in Wayne, New Jersey.
Ashworth obtained his B.A. in Public Communications from American University.
He obtained his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law.
His first foray into politics began with student government and door knocking for a local city council campaign.
While in law school at Syracuse University, he learned the nuts and bolts of prosecutorial work at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
He worked as Policy Counsel at TechAmerica, then at Microsoft, and Google.
He served as Senior Director of State Government Affairs, and later as Senior Legal Director of Public Policy at Yahoo.

“Companies are recognizing the importance of state and government affairs and they are building out those functions accordingly and proportionately.”

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A Look Inside the Booming E-Scooter Industry with Casey Whittington Mar 25, 2019

Casey Whittington is the National Director of Government Relations at Blue Duck Scooters, a company offering an innovative transportation alternative through a scooter ridesharing app. They describe themselves as “a tech company that traded their computers for scooters.”

Casey Whittington was raised in San Antonio, Texas.
He attended the University of Texas at San Antonio and earned a BS in Political Science and Government.
While in school he worked as an intern at The DeBerry Group, a public relations firm, and also worked full-time as a bartender.
He also served for six years as the Senior Account Executive at The Whittington Group, a strategic communications firm based in Texas that he founded with his father.
Casey serves as the Vice Chairman of the San Antonio Planning Commission.

“Pick something you are passionate about and go volunteer your time for free. Everyone has a couple of hours a week. Go sit on a city board or commission. Go volunteer and see how you can influence public policy.”

In Casey Whittington’s role at Blue Duck, he leverages his experience in public relations and government affairs. Blue Duck's scooters are similar to razor scooters, but have a small motor, providing an alternative to rideshare bikes and traditional forms of transportation.

Blue Duck takes an innovative approach to the scooter industry- they ask for permission before dropping scooters in a city, as opposed to asking for forgiveness later. For Casey, collaboration with city officials is key to success.

Blue Duck is developing an internship program where you will gain "on the ground" experience, getting involved in real issues.

Casey discusses two wonderful programs, Morgan’s Wonderland, and Kinetic Kids, where he volunteers his time. Check them out if you are in the San Antonio area!

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Launching a Firm and Lobbying in the Lone Star State Mar 18, 2019

A.J. Bingham is the Founder and CEO of The Bingham Group LLC, a full-service lobbying firm working on municipal, legislative and regulatory matters throughout Texas. Bingham talks about state politics and the challenges for part-time legislators and lobbyists in the vast geography of Texas during the 140-day legislative session every other year.

A.J. is from Austin, Texas - he's a proud Austinite.
Bingham attended Wake Forest University for a B.A. in Political Science and obtained his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law.
A.J.’s first job in government was in HIGH SCHOOL, working at the Texas Department of Transportation.
His first professional government job was with the Texas State Senate, with the non-partisan, Senate Research Center.
After law school A.J. worked at a contract lobbying firm, McWilliams Government Affairs Consulting.
He transitioned to a trade association, Real Estate Council of Austin, a municipal firm focused on land development in the booming city of Austin.

“We are lobbyists, but in starting your own firm and business, you are also an entrepreneur.”

The Bingham Group is in a unique position in Austin, the capital of Texas, where they can work on both State legislation and municipal lobbying. A.J. pulls on his deep ties to the Austin community, having a greater lay of the land to deliver to clients.

The Bingham Group offers associate internships that interested individuals can find on the company website.

A.J.’s firm produces their own weekly podcast titled “The BG Podcast ” where they interview Austin’s leaders and influencers. “A conversation at the intersection of business, policy and community.” You can find the podcast on sound cloud, Google play or iTunes.

To continue the conversation with AJ you can connect him via the following platforms

Instagram: @binghamgroup

Twitter: @binghamgp

Facebook

BG Podcast

Email: aj@binghamgp.com

www.binghamgp.com

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Building a Career in PR and Public Affairs: From Canvassing to Crisis Communications Mar 11, 2019

Jason Levin is the Public Affairs Director at Cerrell Associates, working in public relations and crisis communications. Levin shares his experience in communications, campaigns, and government affairs.

Jason Levin is a native of Los Angeles, California.
He attended George Washington University and obtained a B.A. in History.
Levin interned for Congressman Howard L. Berman during college.
He gravitated towards the communications roles on campaigns, after working as a staffer on a municipal election.
Levin then Served as a communications director in the Los Angeles City Council.

“You learn more working on the losing campaigns than on the winning ones.”

Cerrell Associates takes a comprehensive approach to public affairs that combines the disciplines of government affairs, public relations, land use, and campaigns.

For more information on the California Ballot measure process and a brief history of ballot initiatives in the United States, see the following link.

Jason Levin recommends Rage for Justice, as a must read to understanding California politics.

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Jim Conroy: Campaign Manager for the Country's Most Popular Governor Mar 04, 2019

Jim Conroy was the campaign manager for Charlie Baker's 2018 reelection campaign. Baker currently serves as Governor of Massachusetts, and has the highest approval rating of any sitting governor in the United States. Conroy is a seasoned political operative, with campaign experience working at local, state, and national levels of government.

Jim Conroy was raised in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
He earned his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University.
His first campaign experience was working for Chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party, serving as his "jack of all trades," before moving on to work as a legislative aide in the Connecticut State Senate.
Conroy then served as the Executive Director for the Connecticut Republican Party.
From there, he moved on to the Republican National Committee during John McCain’s presidential run.

“It’s about solving problems, not gaining political points. It’s about spending your political capital on moving the ball forward, not arguing with your adversary.”

Jim Conroy has experience working on all aspects of campaigns from door knocking to serving as chief of staff for a successful gubernatorial candidate’s transition team. He shares his stories from the fast-paced environment of campaign work and provides insight into what makes a successful campaign.

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Building The Triangle: Creating Partnerships Between Government, Business, and Community Feb 25, 2019

Alex Tourk is the Founder and Principal of Ground Floor, a San Francisco based public affairs firm, with a diverse portfolio of clients, including Amazon, Lyft, Airbnb, and Square.

Alex is from New York and was raised in Los Angeles
He received a B.A. in History from Boston University
His first government job was an unpaid internship for Senator Boxer, while waiting tables at night.
Worked as a district director for Assemblyman Lou Papan in the California State Assembly.
Alex worked for 3 years in constituent affairs in the Office of the Mayor of San Francisco, for Willie Brown
He also served as the Director of Government Relations for the San Francisco 49ers.
He returned to the public sector to serve as the Deputy Chief of Staff to then Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco before taking his current role as principal of Ground Floor.

“Being Involved in a campaign was a lot like being in a play. You rehearse and rehearse. Then it’s showtime, the curtain comes up and its election day, and you either get the New York times review or you are a flop.”

With extensive experience in San Francisco Bay area politics, Alex Tourk and his team at Ground Floor represent private sector and non-profit clients. They help their clients navigate the government process and build strong partnerships in the community. Alex shares his experience leading a successful company and how he got to where he is today.

Alex Tourk helped create Project Homelessness Connect, a civic initiative that brings together resources to fight homelessness, now found in over 200 cities worldwide.

Ground Floor proudly offers paid internships, and Summer Fellowships that you can find on their site!

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Adobe: Transforming the Digital Experience with Government Feb 18, 2019

Anne Perkins is the Senior Manager of Government Relations at Adobe, based out of San Francisco, California. In addition to photoshop and PDF, Adobe offers services and marketing software to both private and public institutions. Perkins manages government relations in all 50 states, working on state and local issues as governments are making the push to make their services digital.

Raised in Indianapolis, Indiana
She double majored in philosophy and government at the College of William and Mary
Obtained her J.D. from Catholic University of America.
Worked in government relations and regulatory affairs with telecommunications organizations including, Federal Communications Commission, Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, and the Wireless Infrastructure Association, and spent seven years working as a manger of government affairs at Sprint.

“We enable governments to have those same tools, so they are operating like a commercial business. It is all about a ‘citizen-centric’ government.”

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For Adobe, their work is all about about transforming the digital experience through content creation and measuring the experience. At Adobe, Ann works with local governments to create ‘citizen-centric’ digital content that accompanies the push to put government services online.

Adobe offers government relations internship opportunities in DC, follow the link for more info.

Disruptive Technologies: Scooters, Flying Cars, and more with Phil Recht of Mayer Brown Feb 11, 2019

Phil Recht is a Managing Partner at Mayer Brown LLC in Los Angeles, California, a global law firm with offices in the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Recht specializes in government relations and public law. Phil shares his extensive experience working in a presidential administration on highway safety and regulation, and how that has shaped policy around autonomous vehicles.

Recht was raised in Pittsburgh, PA.
Went to Yale University for his B.A. and obtained his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Recht’s first government job was working as an intern for U.S. Rep. John Moakley (MA-9) and he was then hired as a legislative assistant.
Worked on Bill Clinton’s Presidential campaign as legal counsel in California.
Served as Chief Counsel and later Deputy Administrator at the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA).

“We love policy issues, we love how government functions, we love politics, and how it all just fits together in the end”

Phil Recht’s practice at Mayer Brown’s Los Angeles office focuses on regulatory law for emerging industries, like rideshare applications and autonomous vehicles.

Mayer Brown’s L.A. office offers summer clerkship opportunities for second year law students.

Quick Links-

For more information on How Autonomous Vehicles will Shape the Future of Cities see the following TedxCollegePark Talk

For more information on the relationship between regulators and the Scooter start-ups, see the following New York Times Article by Kate Conger

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From Bio Major to Lobbying for Blockchain Feb 04, 2019

From Bio Major to Lobbying for Blockchain

Kristin Smith is the Director of External Affairs at The Blockchain Association, a trade association for the blockchain industry.

Raised in California.
Earned her B.A in Biology and an M.A. in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University.
Earned her 2nd M.A. in Communications, Culture and Technology from Georgetown University, and her 3rd graduate degree from NYU where she earned an MBA
Smith’s first government job was interning for Sen. Conrad Burns.
She worked as a legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate, before working as a Deputy Chief of Staff in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she worked on technology policy.
Smith has worked at several lobbying firms, The Alpine Group, VogelHood Group and Thompson Coburn, LLC.

“After looking at other jobs, you realize lobbying is amazing. It’s a wonderful job where you get to interact with interesting people.”

Voatz is a Boston based company that creates electronic voting systems for mobile devices using Blockchain technology, currently used in local elections and most recently in WV for military service members. With the potential to revolutionize elections in the United States, Voatz plans to roll out in more states on a larger scale.

Quick Links about Blockchain Technology

How Does a Blockchain Work? - Simply Explained Video

Blockchain Explained by Luke Fortney via Investopedia

For Policy Wonks, check out Coincenter.org for issues facing Blockchain.

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Understanding Data Security and Privacy Policy with Alison Pepper Jan 28, 2019

Alison Pepper is the Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the American Association of Advertising Agencies, a trade association that represents a portfolio of over 700 clients. Pepper handles issues on the state and federal level related to data security and privacy.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia.
She studied Journalism at the University of Georgia.
Received her J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law.
Pepper’s first government job was working with the Georgia Senate
While in Law school, she worked as a legal intern for Georgia's Secretary of the State and as a Legislative Affairs Intern for the Georgia Beverage Association
Days after graduating law school, Pepper packed up and moved to D.C., landing a job working at the Public Affairs Council and Experian as a Legislative Affairs Analyst
She also worked for the Interactive Advertising Bureau as Assistant General Counsel and as Senior Director of Public Policy.

“My favorite thing about this industry is that no day is the same as the day before.”

The New York Times article referenced in the show by Miriam Pawel about California Ballot measures, can be found here.

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The Energy Gang's Katherine Hamilton on the Future of Renewable Energy Jan 21, 2019

Katherine Hamilton is the Chair and cofounder of 38 North Solutions, a public policy firm focused on clean energy solutions. Hamilton is also a host of the podcast The Energy Gang, a weekly show about energy, green tech and the environment. Hamilton talks about the future of green technology, and current trends in environmental and energy legislation.

Hamilton was born in Richmond, and raised in Lynchburg, VA.
She studied English at Cornell University, and French Civilization at Paris-Sorbonne University.
Hamilton worked as an engineer, then as a commercial energy auditor for Dominion Virginia Power.
She then Served as President of GridWise Alliance, a non-profit business coalition.
She is a former Policy Director for the Energy Storage Association.
She cofounded 38 North Solutions in 2012.

“Don’t try to just be a lobbyist right away. Go and learn something; learn how things work.”

38 North Solutions is a public affairs firm that works for clients ranging from multi-national companies, to start-ups and trade associations, providing them with business development and government relations services.

Check out The Energy Gang for their weekly show to hear more from host Katherine Hamilton, and follow them on twitter @TheEnergyGang

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From Fundraising to Fintech with PJ Hoffman Jan 14, 2019

PJ Hoffman is the Director of Regulatory Affairs at Electronic Transactions Associations (ETA), a trade association composed of over 500 organizations from the FinTech space, such as PayPal, Square, and Amazon.

Raised in Downers Grove, Illinois
B.S. in Political Science from Illinois Wesleyan University
J.D., University of Miami School of Law
First job in politics: interned for Sen. Dick Durbin during college. Drove 1.5 hours each way to the office, 3 times a week.
Extensive campaign experience for former Sen. Majority Leader Tom Daschle, Sen. Bill Nelson, and Senator Joe Donnelly.
Worked in advocacy and regulatory affairs for the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU)

“If I am going to make a move, it is going to be taking a chance to work for the best.” - PJ Hoffman

Hoffman’s position at the Electronic Transactions Association includes wearing both a state government and federal affairs hat. Hoffman oversees the State regulatory affairs campaigns in all 50 states and U.S. territories. This includes providing education to policymakers about the industry and providing the industry members with on the ground information. The members of the ETA lead the market of financial technology, used daily by almost everyone in the U.S.

There is no formal internship program offered by ETA but according to PJ - “If you are in D.C. and want to grab a cup of coffee, reach out. I will give you your 5 minutes and for sure help you in any way I can.”

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Joshua Habursky - The Hardest Working Professional in Grassroots Jan 07, 2019

Joshua Habursky is the Assistant Vice President of Advocacy at the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), whose mission is to promote an environment for local banks to flourish. Habursky, a national leader in grassroots advocacy, is also the founder and chairman of the Grassroots Professional Network (GPN), an educational professional development organization with over 27,000 members.

Habursky:

Was raised in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Obtained his BA in Political Science at Washington and Jefferson College.
Received his MA from Georgetown University in American Government and Politics.
Received a graduate certificate from the London School of Economics in International Business and Political Economy, and a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Harvard University.
While an undergraduate student, co-founded Founder’s Strategies, a political consulting firm making $300,000 in two cycles.
Hasrevious grassroots management experience with American Diabetes Association and American Motorcyclist Association, and Adjunct Professor at West Virginia University.

Independent Community Bankers of America is a federal advocacy organization for local banks. Habursky, as an Assistant Vice President of Advocacy, works on creative campaigning, discussing a few of those techniques with Jim.

Habursky created the Grassroots Professional Network in 2015, while working at the American Motorcyclist Association, after recognizing a lack of free professional development opportunities for grassroots advocacates. Grassroots Professional Network hosts educational webinars, conferences, and working groups about new tools and techniques for effective advocacy.

For more information about organizations mentioned in podcast:

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Lucy Gettman on the 2018 Election and the Growing Number of Women Serving in Government Dec 31, 2018

Lucy Gettman is the Executive Director of Women in Government , a non-partisan, non-profit organization that advocates for women state legislators. Women in Government offers training for women who are planning to run for office, and support for women in office. They also hold professional development workshops.

Gettman was raised in Syracuse, New York.
Gettman holds a BA in English from SUNY Cortland, and a dual MA in Public Administration and MA in Social Work from Ohio State University. She also holds a graduate certificate in Women, Politics, and Political Leadership from American University.
Lucy's first government experience was working in the Ohio State House during graduate school.
She then spent 3 years working in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
Lucy had a long career lobbying in the education space at the National School Boards Association, representing 90,000 local school boards.
Currently, she is also an Adjunct Professor at American University's Department of Public Affairs.
She has spent the past two years as Executive Director for Women in Government.

“Every job we ever have, all of us, can create opportunity for the future, and maybe when we least expect them because it happens 20 years later!”

Women in Government hosts an annual Future Women in Government conference where emerging leaders from colleges and communities gain mentorship from current women political leaders.

Women in Government offers several Internship/Career opportunities.

Find Women in Government on Facebook and Twitter @WomenInGovt to learn more about upcoming events!

Follow #connectlegislativeleaders to see more of the work of Women in Government

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The Keys to Lobbying Success: Know your Facts, your Arguments, and Act with Integrity Dec 24, 2018

Eric Ellman is the Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Legal Affairs for CDIA. The Consumer Data Industry Association is a trade association of consumer reporting agencies, composed of over 100 members, ranging from Nationwide Credit Bureaus to background screening companies.

Ellman was born in the Bronx, New York, and had always been a “political junkie.”
Ellman earned a BS in Political Science from American University and a JD from University of Baltimore School of Law.
As a student, Ellman spent 2 years interning for the late Congressman Bob Edgar.
Also as a student, he ran the successful campaign of a friend who ran for the Maryland House of Delegates, and later became his office manager.
He spent five years working as a government relations professional for direct selling companies such as Avon and World Encyclopedia
Ellman has been working at CDIA for 21 years, with some of that time as Interim President and CEO of the association.

“The important part of working as a government affairs professional is that you need to come prepared with facts, come prepared with arguments and come prepared with integrity. If you have all of those, you have the making of a successful process”

For more information about the Fair Credit Reporting Act, see the following link. https://www.thebalance.com/what-you-should-know-about-the-fcra-960639

To see more work of the illustrator credited in the show, Kathryn Rathke, see the following link https://www.kathrynrathke.com/ .

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Meet Bryan Jacobs - BMW's Head of Government and External Affairs Dec 17, 2018

Bryan Jacobs is the Vice President, Government and External Affairs at BMW. Founded in 1916, BMW is an iconic automobile and motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Munich, Germany.

Bryan was born in North Dakota, and attended the University of Wyoming, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science.
His first foray into politics was interning for Wyoming Senator Malcolm Wallop
He then took an entry level position with Congresswoman Barbara Cubin.
He eventually worked his way up from Legislative Assistant to Legislative Director, Press Secretary, and then Liaison to House Leadership
Bryan left Rep. Cubin's office after almost a decade to work for Duke Energy
Following a short stint at Duke Energy, he began working at Home Depot - first in federal government affairs, and then extending to state and Canadian government affairs
After several years working at Home Depot, Bryan was recruited by executive search firm Korn Ferry to take over as VP of Government and External Affairs at BMW

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SGAC- Where Lobbyists go to Network, and Hone Their Skills Dec 10, 2018

Beth Loudy is the Executive Director of the State Government Affairs Council - the premier national association for multi-state government affairs professionals for major U.S. corporations, trade associations and service providers.

Beth was raised in a small town in Virginia, working at her parents' radio station growing up
She attended the College of William & Mary
After college, Beth's first position was with the National Oilseed Processors Association.
She then moved on to the National Association of Video Distributors, and the National Healthcare Anti-fraud association
She has served as Executive Director of the State Government Affairs Council (SGAC) since 2000

State Government Affairs Professional Certificate: SGAC's State Government Affairs Professional Certificate is the only program designed specifically for state government affairs professionals. Trainings are designed to strengthen and engage SGR professionals with core curriculum which exposes them to key competencies for state government affairs professionals. The program includes elements that will provide both a successful foundation for new employees and necessary tools for seasoned leaders. In order to complete the program, enrollees must earn credit in 6 mandatory competencies and 6 elective competencies.

SGAC offers a variety of forms to earn credit for the certificate program. Enrollees can take advantage of the flexible program schedule by earning credit with SGAC's webinars (live or on-demand), at National Summit and Leaders' Policy Conference, and with regional training sessions throughout the year. Graduates of the Certificate Program are awarded their framed certificate at SGAC's Annual Business Meeting. Graduates are also announced in the SGAC Annual Report and newsletter.

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From Oscar Campaigns to Political Campaigns and Government Affairs Dec 03, 2018

Sarah Sheehy is the Senior Director, Government and Public Affairs at the Hollywood Burbank Airport.

Sarah attended undergrad at Santa Clara University
Sarah's first internship was at the White House in the Office of Public Liaison
She then interned at the Tonight Show with Jay Leno
After the Tonight Show, she had a Fellowship with the Panetta Institute, and then worked for Congressman Brad Sherman
After graduating from college, Sarah shifted to the entertainment industry, and got her first job at Artisan Entertainment, which later became Lions Gate
She then moved to Miramax helping to run Oscar campaigns
After that, she moved on to get her Masters in Public Policy at UCLA, and took classes with Michael Dukakis
Her first political job was with the Los Angeles Unified School District, and she then moved on to a campaign consulting firm, followed by Cerrell and Associates
After a stint with Mattel, Inc., she ended up in her current position with the Hollywood Burbank Airport

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From Pittsburgh, to Brandeis, to Harvard Law, to D.C., and on to L.A. with Allen Erenbaum Nov 26, 2018

Allen Erenbaum is the President of the Consumer Health Alliance, and Principal of Erenbaum Legal Strategies.

Allen has an extensive background in legislation, regulation, and government enforcement, including frequent work on business immigration, ballot measures, and trade association issues.

He served as Director of Congressional Relations and Counselor to the Commissioner for the Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) in Washington, D.C., where he represented President Clinton’s positions before Congress. He previously worked as Counsel to the US House Judiciary Committee, where he drafted, analyzed and negotiated legislation regarding civil and constitutional rights, immigration, and federal courts.

Since leaving government more than a decade ago, Allen has continued to work directly with all levels of government on behalf of his clients. He counsels corporations and individuals in business immigration matters ranging from U.S. companies hiring non-citizens to foreign companies looking to establish a U.S. presence.

Allen has frequently drafted ballot measures and has been involved in numerous successful state and local initiative campaigns. In addition, Allen provides strategic legal support to trade associations and other companies regarding regulatory, compliance, and corporate issues.

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Bradley Tusk - Political Advisor to Uber and Other Tech Startups Nov 19, 2018

Bradley Tusk is a venture capitalist, political strategist and writer. Bradley is the Founder and CEO of Tusk Holdings, which includes Tusk Ventures, Tusk Strategies, Kronos Archives, Ivory Gaming and Tusk Montgomery Philanthropies. Tusk Ventures is the world’s first venture capital fund to work with and invest solely in high growth startups facing political and regulatory challenges. Previously, Bradley served as campaign manager for Mike Bloomberg, as Deputy Governor of Illinois and as Communications Director for Senator Charles Schumer. Tusk Montgomery Philanthropies, Bradley’s family foundation, funds and runs campaigns in states across the U.S. to increase funding for anti-hunger programs like school breakfast and food stamp enrollment. They are also working to create mobile voting so people can vote in elections on their phones. Bradley writes a regular column for The Observer, hosts a podcast called Firewall, and has a book - The Fixer - about his adventures in protecting disruptors from the bad guys. Bradley is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he received his BA and has a JD from the University of Chicago Law School. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and two children. Click here to purchase Bradley's new book - The Fixer

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Ron Kaufman's Master Class on Campaigns and the Executive Branch Nov 12, 2018

Ron Kaufman is a Senior Advisor in the Public Policy and Regulation practice at Dentons. He focuses on providing government affairs services to public and private sector clients nationwide.

Mr. Kaufman is a highly experienced political strategist who has served as a senior advisor to US Presidents, Governors, Members of Congress, and a host of elected and appointed officials at every level of government. After having helped lay the political foundation for his successful 1988 presidential campaign, Mr. Kaufman served in the Administration of President George H.W. Bush, initially as White House Personnel Director and then as Assistant to the President and the White House Political Director. Previously, Mr. Kaufman served President Ronald Reagan as Regional and then National Political Director of the Republican National Committee.

Most recently, Mr. Kaufman served as a senior advisor to Governor Mitt Romney during his 2012 presidential campaign. In addition to his distinguished public service career, Mr. Kaufman has served as chairman of a leading multidisciplinary government affairs firm in Washington, DC.

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Hal Dash on the Story Behind L.A.'s Most Legendary Lobbying Firm Nov 05, 2018

Founded in 1966 by legendary political consultant Joe Cerrell, Cerrell Associates is ranked as one of the nation’s largest independent public relations firms, providing its diverse client base with a full range of public affairs, political consulting, issues management, land-use and advocacy services. Cerrell Associates works with many of the country’s most high-profile corporate, non-profit, political, environmental and trade associations.

Cerrell Associates was founded in 1966 by Joe & Lee Cerrell
Currently, there are 22 people on staff
Hal was born and raised in Springfield, MA, and graduated from UMass Amherst with an undergraduate degree and a masters degree in communications
He started his career in radio, and moved to California in 1972
Hal met Joe Cerrell when Hal was a radio host in California, and eventually went to work for him in 1977
Hal has been with the company ever since, and now owns it
Cerrell Associates is a full service firm - besides lobbying, they handle communications and stakeholder outreach

Interning at Cerrell Associates:

Cerrell Associates offers internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in public policy and public relations. They are looking for candidates with communications, public and media relations, political and/or government work experience. Please click here for an attachment with more information on how to apply, and for additional questions about the program please email Cerrell's intern coordination team at internships@cerrell.com.

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The Importance of Mentors, & How to Greet the President Oct 29, 2018

Omar Vargas is the Global Head of Government Affairs at 3M. 3M is a global science company with $32 billion in sales, operations in 71 countries, and 91,000 employees connecting with customers all around the world.

Omar was born and raised in Patterson, New Jersey
He attended Seton Hall University for undergrad, then attended American University for his post graduate degrees in law and international economic development
His first position after law school was with Cooper & Kirk, PLLC
Omar then took a position with the Dept. of Justice, and served in numerous roles including Special Assistant and Counsel, Office on Violence Against Women, and Deputy Director, Office of Intergovernmental and Public Liaison
After his time with the DOJ, Omar took a position as Director, Global Policy & Government Affairs at PepsiCo, and then as Executive Director, Government Affairs at Praxair.
Today, as Global Head of Government Affairs at 3M, Omar is the chief public policy, legislative and political executive for the company's U.S. and international businesses.

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From the Paramount Studio Lot to the Political Arena Oct 22, 2018

Today we sit down with Jessica Duboff, the Vice President of the Center for Business Advocacy at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce champions economic prosperity and quality of life for the Los Angeles region by being the voice of business, promoting collaboration, and helping members grow. The Chamber represents the interests of more than 235,000 businesses in L.A. County, more than 1,650 members, more than 650,000 employees, small, medium and large-sized companies, and businesses from more than 35 industry sectors

Jessica was born and raised in Los Angeles, and attended Cal Berkeley for undergrad.
She then went on to earn a graduate degree at USC, and interned with Cerrell Associates while earning her degree, which was her first foray into politics.
After graduating from USC, she took a position with Congresswoman Jane Harman and rose to the position of Deputy District Director
Jessica then moved on to the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, where she served as Public Policy Manager
Following her time at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Jessica spent two years as a Senior Advisor to Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin
She then returned to the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce as its VP of Public Policy
We discuss transportation, homelessness, internet privacy, Los Angeles City Government, and much more!

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce recruits college interns every spring, summer and fall. You must receive college credit. An internship at the L.A. Area Chamber will provide you with real-world workplace experiences and exposure to career opportunities, a taste of the working world, and an understanding of how what you learn in school is connected to future economic success once you’ve entered the workforce. A critical aspect of the Chamber’s internship program is to engage you in a hands-on learning experience in a career field of interest. Visit the chamber's website to apply.

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A Sit-down with Stateside's Two CEOs! Oct 15, 2018

Today on the show, we have Mark Anderson and Michael Behm, the co-CEOs of Stateside Associates.

Stateside combines the core services of advocacy experience, strategy development, intelligence and execution.

They help their clients shape the state and local public policy environment by knowing what is happening, who is involved and what tools are needed to influence the process.

They also help their clients sell products and services to state and local governments, build key relationships and better understand the regulatory environment.

Mark Anderson was born and raised in Berlin, New Hampshire, and attended UNH for undergrad
He then attended George Washington University School of Law, and worked at the Dept. of Justice throughout law school
After law school, he worked for Congressman Richard Swett of New Hampshire for a brief period of time, before joining Stateside, where he has worked ever since
Michael Behm grew up in Marion, Ohio and attended Ohio State University
He worked at the Ohio state legislature throughout college as a Republican staffer
After a brief stint working as a staffer on the Hill and a few consulting firms, he began working at Stateside, where he has worked ever since
Stateside's primary business is state level consulting
Services that Stateside provides include: Issue management, legislative monitoring, regulatory monitoring, locality monitoring, groups, lobbyist referrals, utilities monitoring, and compliance and policy research

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A Day in the Life of a Pollster - Strategy, Messaging, and Probability Oct 08, 2018

Michael Bloomfield is the Executive Vice President and Managing Director of The Mellman Group, which has provided opinion research and strategic advice to political leaders, public interest groups, Fortune 500 companies, and government agencies for over twenty years.

Michael Bloomfield grew up in Cleveland, Ohio before attending the University of Michigan
He began his career in politics working as an unpaid Senate staffer, which he parlayed into a foreign policy position with Sen. Ted Kennedy
After running a few local campaigns in college, he went back to Capitol Hill and worked as a staffer to Sen. Howard Metzenbaum and Sen. Don Riegle
Following a brief stint with a family investment business, he joined AIPAC, and was with them for roughly 10 years, rising to the rank of Political Director
At the time he was with AIPAC, the organization had about 100 staffers - it has since almost tripled in size
He has been with his current firm, the Mellman Group, for almost 20 years
The Mellman Group is a polling and market research firm, which does work for political campaigns, industry groups, companies, and non-profits
The polling/surveying industry is rapidly changing, thanks in part to the advent of the internet and cell phones
Despite the changes, however, live-call polling is still the most effective form of polling
Michael is an avid marathon runner

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From Architect to Lobbyist: Noëlle Porter and the Fight to End Homelessness in the U.S. Oct 01, 2018

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Homelessness is a social ill that can be solved
The organization currently has a staff of about 20 professionals
It has three arms: a capacity building team; a homelessness research institute; and, the program and policy department
"Homelessness" is defined as "an individual living in a place not meant for human habitation."
The definition of homelessness also includes individuals living in shelters
Connecticut is close to ending chronic homelessness, and Virginia has ended veteran homelessness
Roughly 550,000 people experience homelessness every night in the U.S.; 185,000 are families, and 40,000 are veterans
Funding to address homelessness across the country is the number one issue that NAEH advocates for
They also promote policies to help the federal government to better serve individuals facing homelessness, and fight policies that do not
Noelle has been with NAEH for 3 years
She began as an analyst, and then transitioned to lobbying
Noelle earned her undergrad degree from Georgia Tech in architecture
After undergrad, she went into full-time ministry with Young Life, and then worked for a staffing firm.
She earned her masters degree in public health from the University of South Florida

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Meet the Lobbyist with 50,000 LinkedIn Followers Sep 24, 2018

Jeff Taylor is the managing partner of U.S. Government Relations Intl., LLC (USGRI), a government affairs firm based in Washington, DC. He is also a principal in Falcontree Capital, LLC, a financial development firm, and a contributing writer for POLITICO’s “The Arena” section, a cross-party forum where elected officials and opinion leaders discuss current political and policy issues.

Jeff Taylor was born and raised in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Jeff's father was a local radio broadcaster at WHEB
He attended Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts
Jeff was a part-time disc jockey in high school and college before transitioning to politics
His first position in politics was working for U.S. Senator Gordon Humphrey, as his driver.
Jeff then worked on a number of campaigns, including the campaigns of Congressman George Wortley, then Vice President George H.W. Bush, and more.
After George H.W. Bush won his 1992 bid for the presidency, Jeff worked in the Bush administration for 8 months, before heading back to campaign work.
Jeff's next career move was working for Congressman David McIntosh as his chief of staff
After serving for six years as McIntosh's chief of staff, he transitioned to lobbying, first at a small Indiana firm, and then at a larger New York-based firm.
He started his own lobbying firm - USGRI.com - in 2008
Jeff's firm leverages LinkedIn to find new clients - at one time all of the firm's clients came from connections on LinkedIn

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What Really Matters as a Lobbyist? Your Integrity. Sep 17, 2018

Diane Randall is the Executive Secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation. Diane leads FCNL’s staff to effectively educate and lobby for the policies and legislative priorities established by FCNL’s General Committee. A lifelong advocate for peace and social justice, Diane is a fierce proponent for citizen engagement that advances policies and practices to create a better society for all.

Diane joined the organization in 2010
FCNL is a Quaker organization that is over 75 years old, and was the first "faith-based lobby"
The organization has 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 arms, and employs 20 lobbyists
FCNL is working on nuclear disarmament and AUMF issues, as well as comprehensive immigration reform through the DREAM Act
The organization also works with the Climate Solutions Caucus in the House of Representatives on climate change issues
Diane grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and attended the University of Nebraska, where she earned a degree in education
She taught high school english for four years
Her first foray into politics came after teaching, when she worked for the Omaha Nuclear Freeze campaign
She then moved to Connecticut, and slowly made her way into lobbying on a number of social justice issues

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The Three P's of Lobbying: Policy, Politics, and Process Sep 10, 2018

John Raffaelli is the founding partner of Capitol Counsel, LLC. He has more than 30 years of experience in federal policy and policy making, with an emphasis on taxation, finance, health care, international trade, and general business matters. In addition to being called a “big-name lobbyist” by the Washington Post, he has been nationally recognized as one of the most effective lobbyists in Washington and is respected by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers for his knowledge of the legislative process and his ability to develop public policy solutions to client problems. In 2007, he was named by Washingtonian Magazine as one of the top 25 lobbyists in the Nation’s Capital, and he has made every top lobbyist list in the magazine since it began publishing them.

John Raffaelli was born and raised in Texarkana, Arkansas by his mother, who was a real estate agent
His first foray into politics was on Lyndon Johnson's 1964 presidential campaign, when he was 12
In 1973, he started interning for his local congressman, and after earning his B.S. in accounting at American University, got a job in his office
After spending some time on Capitol Hill, John attended Arkansas Law School, earning a J.D., as well as an LLM in taxation
Upon graduation, John took a position in Senator Lloyd Bentsen as an advisor on tax and trade issues
After striking out on his own to start a lobbying firm, he took a position at a large law firm, which ultimately did not work out
He then started McAuliffe, Kelly & Raffaelli, which eventually became the Washington Group
After selling the Washington Group, he started a new firm - Capitol Counsel, LLC
Capitol Counsel makes sure that its employees focus on the "Three P's of lobbying" - policy, politics, and process.

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"We'll Zig When They Zag" - How State Lobbyists Can Work Better with Advocacy & Grassroots Firms Sep 03, 2018

This week, we interviewed Vlad Cartwright of 720 Strategies. Vlad leads and develops national, regional and local campaigns and public awareness programs for some of America’s largest trade associations and political action committees.

720 Strategies is a public relations and public affairs firm based in Washington, DC with an 18-year track record of service to its corporate and trade association clients.

720 Strategies was founded by Pam Fielding, and was originally named "E-Advocates"
Vlad started his career in 1989 working on Capitol Hill
He then moved on to a trade organization, working in the healthcare space on grassroots outreach.
Vlad attended American University. He originally began attending full time, but transitioned to part-time after getting a position as a scheduler/body man for a congressman.
Vlad went to Gonzaga College High School
720 focuses roughly 70% of its time on healthcare issues
720 has leveraged video in an increasing amount with the advent and popularity of social media and streaming services
Vlad has seen an increasing amount of work shifting to state capitols from Congress
720 works closely with state lobbyists in each state that they're active, relying on them for guidance and advice
One suggestion for state-level lobbyists: Don't be afraid to try new things from an advocacy perspective - i.e. grassroots and proactive communications
Advice for young folks trying to get into the business: Work hard - happy hour can wait. Get an internship, and never think that any work is beneath you.

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It's a Murder Mystery - and the Butler did it! Aug 27, 2018

Carl Szabo is the Vice President and General Counsel of NetChoice. NetChoice is a trade association of eCommerce businesses and online consumers all of whom share the goal of promoting convenience, choice, and commerce on the net. Carl is also an adjunct professor at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School.

Carl worked in sales for Red Bull for a year
He grew up in Washington, D.C., and attended Rice University
Carl went to law school at Catholic University, attending at night
He studied at CUA's Communications Law Institute
Initially, he worked at the U.S office of Government Ethics, and then went to work for the MPAA, before working as a law clerk at Arnold & Porter.
After law school, Carl worked for the law firm Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon, as well as for the Entertainment Software Association
Carl has been with NetChoice for over five years.

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Overseeing Public Affairs at the World's Largest Law Firm Aug 20, 2018

In this week's episode we speak with Eric Tanenblatt, who is the Global Chair of Public Policy and Regulation of Dentons, the world's largest law firm.

In our conversation, we discuss Eric's career in politics at the state and federal levels, as well as the work Dentons does in the government affairs space for clients all over the world.

Eric grew up in New York, but has lived in Georgia most of his adult life, after attending Emory University in Atlanta
Eric got his start working in the 1988 presidential primary for then Vice President George H.W. Bush
He then went on to work for the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, followed by a stint working for the Peace Corps
Eric left his position with the Peace Corps to serve as state director for former Peace Corps Director Paul Coverdell's run for the U.S. Senate in 1989
After Coverdell's election to the U.S. Senate, he served as Coverdell's state director
After working for Sen. Coverdell for years, he joined a public affairs firm and then eventually transitioned to Long, Aldrich, & Norman, which at that time was a predominantly Democratic law firm
Eric served as the State Chair of the 2000 George W. Bush campaign, and then served as Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue's chief of staff during Perdue's first year in office
While serving as Perdue's chief of staff, he helped reorganize Georgia's state government
After leaving the Perdue administration, Eric returned to Long, Aldrich, & Norman, which was later renamed "Dentons," and has since become the largest law firm in the world
Eric is the head of the firm's global public policy practice, which includes the fifty state "Dentons 50" network
The Dentons 50 network allows clients to manage multi-state campaigns easily and efficiently
Eric has become a thought leader in the electric and autonomous vehicle space in recent years

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On Racing Motorcycles, Flying Planes, and Lobbying Aug 13, 2018

Matthew Guilbault is Associate Director, State Government Affairs at Novartis. In this wide ranging interview, we discuss how he got into lobbying, the pros and cons of being a contract lobbyist, racing motorcycles, and more.

Matt studied to be a pilot before deciding to focus on pre-law studies at the College of St. Rose.
He got his first job in politics for a State Senator after networking at the restaurant he worked at in Albany.
After almost seven years working at the New York General Assembly, Matt transitioned to an in-house lobbying position.
After 10 years working in-house, he worked as a contract lobbyist.
Matt owns 7 motorcycles, and used to race them professionally.
Matt's current position is with Novartis, as Associate Director of Government Affairs
He now covers New York, Maine, and Vermont

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The Trade Association for some of Tech's Biggest Companies Aug 06, 2018

This week we were at NCSL in Los Angeles, and caught up with Kevin Callahan - Director, State Government Affairs - Northeast for CompTIA. CompTIA is the world's leading tech association. They also develop certification programs for the industry.

Show Notes:

CompTIA represents large social media and internet companies, as well as small IT companies
CompTIA also certifies IT professionals for a number of different skill-sets. To date, they’ve certified 3 million+ individuals
Data privacy and security are two of the biggest issues they’ve seen pop up in the states recently
Because the internet is “borderless,” California’s recent data privacy legislation will become the de facto data “law of the land” that companies operating in the U.S. will abide by
Kevin covers 13 states for CompTIA
Kevin got his start working for a state senator, then transitioned to a contract lobbying firm before moving to in-house government affairs positions

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Understanding Pre-Settlement Financing Jul 30, 2018

Eric Schuller is the Director of Government and Community Affairs at Oasis Financial, and serves as President of the Alliance of Responsible Consumer Legal Funding. He’s also a veteran, with 22 years of service in the U.S. Army and the National Guard.

Eric Served 22 years in the U.S. Military – the Army and the National Guard
He was born in Minnesota, but moved to the Chicago area when he was 8, and has lived there ever since
He played basketball in high school, and was replaced due to injury by none other than Jeff Hornacek
His first foray into government affairs was working for then Lt. Governor Quinn in Illinois
He served as Quinn’s liaison to military families and families of fallen soldiers
He still stays in touch with many of the families he worked with during his time in Quinn’s office
After the Lt. Governor’s office, he moved to Operation Homefront, an organization that supports veterans
In 2008, he joined his current organization, Oasis Financial, which provides financial assistance to people who have been injured in accidents and are waiting for their cases to settle with insurers
Eric is active in all 50 states, and has lobbyists engaged in about 20% of the states at any given time

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From EMT to Making Lobbyist Referrals for Stateside Associates Jul 23, 2018

Today we continue our visit with Stateside with an interview with Bob Maurice. Bob works on state and local issues. Note to lobbyists - Bob is the point person for lobbyists referrals. Bob began his career working in the Massachusetts state house. One of Bob’s early jobs was perfect preparation for doing political work – he was an EMT!

Show Notes:

What’s the typical starting point at Stateside?

○ A research assistant - they back up the associates.

○ The associates are a grade above research assistant.

What kind of experience do you look for when hiring a research assistant?

○ You have to have experience working in a state legislature.

Where do people end up after the associate level?

○They will move to management, or they will often head in-house with a client company.

Have you seen any changes in lobbying in the past few years? Trends?

○ With inertia at the federal level, people are paying a lot more

attention to the states.

○The state attorneys general have also become much more active.

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Running Stateside Associates’ State & Local Issues Practice Jul 23, 2018

We spent a morning at Stateside Associates in Washington, D.C. Stateside is basically the firm that has any and ALL the state and local government policy information that any company may need. They have contacts and people in every state – they do issue management, track legislation in all 50 states and local municipalities, and cover a whole range of issues. When a company needs to track issues in the states – they turn to Stateside.

Today we are speaking with Stephanie Reich, who heads up Stateside’s Local Government practice. Stephanie spent many years working in D.C., including stints for the Mayor and as Chief of Staff for the Chairperson of the D.C. Council. Stephanie not only has a Master’s in Public Policy, but a J.D. to boot.

Show Notes:

About Stateside
- Tracks legislation and regulations in every state and municipality in the country.
About Stephanie
- She’s been at Stateside for 2.5 years.
- Her first job was at the D.C. City Council in a part time role that transitioned to a full time position.
About Stephanie's work at Stateside
- She oversees the monitoring of over 5,000 jurisdictions.
- Clients are sent daily alerts about agenda items that could affect their business.

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How to Outsource Your Compliance Department Jul 12, 2018

On this episode of The Lobbying Show, host Jim O’Brien interviews Elizabeth Bartz of State and Federal Communications - helping companies and lobbyists comply with ethics rules in all fifty states and globally.

Show Notes: ● About Elizabeth Bartz

○ Borrowed money and bought the compliance department of State and Federal Associates in 1993.

○ She moved the department to Akron, Ohio, and bought it over a series of year, ultimately spinning it off into "State & Federal Communications."

○ She can be seen at all of the major legislative conferences across the country.

○ She works with contract lobbyists and in-house government affairs professionals, giving her a unique perspective on the industry.

● What are State and Federal Communications’ main services?

○ Compliance for lobbying and campaign finance.

○ They will start handling lobbying and compliance for European countries soon.

○ Many European political candidates are hiring American political consultants.

● How many companies does State and Federal Communications work with?

○ 100+.

○ Their compliance department has about 12 people.

○ Company-wide, it has about 12 attorneys on staff.

Resources Mentioned:

State and Federal Communications

NCSL

Council on Governmental Ethics Laws

CSG East

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Get Hired Through Referrals Jul 12, 2018

Today on the show we speak with Jenn Stowe of the Carpet & Rug Institute. Jenn spent her first year after college in Mexico working at an orphanage. She eventually ended up as the VP of Government Relations at CRI and has been there over 10 years. She is fluent in Spanish, which was helpful, because we did the interview at a Spanish restaurant in Boston at the 2017 summer meeting of NCSL. She did all the ordering. She is fantastic person, which is obviously a view held by a lot of people because it seemed like everyone in Boston greeted her like a long lost friend. She also has a very unique wedding story to tell.

Show Notes:

● Jennifer Stowe’s wedding was on The Today Show.

● National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is the biggest conference that Jennifer attends.

● She is a member of State Government Affairs Council (SGAC).

● Jennifer is now a board member for the NCSL Foundation Board.

● Her summers are spent going to conferences and her winters are spent testifying.

● In 2017, there were three states that Jennifer was tracking—including New York State.

● Maine is the only state that has passed a framework EPR bill which gives the agency broad discretion regarding EPR programs.

● You can turn carpet into cushions, street signs, and artificial hay bales.

● Jennifer majored in Spanish and Latin American studies at Penn State and then worked in an orphanage in Mexico.

● She worked for the Chemical Manufacturers Association for 10 years.

● Every contract lobbyist that she has hired has been through recommendations from her peers.

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Welcome to the Lobbying Show! Jun 29, 2018

Welcome to the Lobbying Show! We'll be posting episodes weekly on all things lobbying and government affairs related.

Help us grow! Leave us a rating and review - it's the best way to bring new listeners to the show.

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