Fairfax, VA – Today the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics (NILE) announces its list of individuals receiving the NILE 2021 Top Lobbyists distinction. After a seven-week nomination process that saw an overwhelming number of submissions, 100 individuals were chosen from across the nation. NILE’s 2021 Top Lobbyist designees are made up of lobbyists, PAC managers, and grassroots professionals working for associations, small firms, large firms, and corporations. Everyone chosen as a 2021 Top Lobbyist showed significant 2021 success, took an innovative approach to their field, and demonstrated commitment to give back to their community and profession, as well as adherence to the highest ethical standards. In a field dominated by the who's who, NILE aims to recognize those who have been working hard behind the scenes to enact meaningful change.
NILE set out to create an annual Top Lobbyist designation to recognize and spotlight the amazing work done by lobbyists, PAC managers/directors, and grassroots professionals. The NILE Top Lobbyist distinction endeavors to be more representative of the profession, not based on who you know and where you work, but a distinction made by lobbyists for lobbyists. All nominees were nominated by their peers, clients, or Congressional staff and were evaluated blindly to ensure receiving the honor of 2021 Top Lobbyist is 100% merit based.
“I thought the list of winners in 2020 was amazing. This year’s list again highlights the amazing work of some amazing professionals,” stated Paul Miller, NILE chairman of the board. “This distinction is so special because it was designed by lobbyists, judged by lobbyists, for lobbyists. Our profession can be easily misunderstood by the public and our contribution to government is often overlooked. This distinction begins to show the positive side of incredible professionals in the lobbying profession who are making a real difference,” added Miller.
“The award winners represent both well-known and lesser-known Government Relations professionals, many whowork day in and day out without expecting recognition. They are providing tremendous value for their organizational stakeholders. They inspire me, and I believe their accomplishments will inspire many in our profession to raise the bar even higher,” stated Tommy Goodwin, NILE president”
We wanted to showcase this year’s true industry leaders, and we believe the individuals below are reflective of just that! Congratulations to all 2021 Top Lobbyists!
NILE 2021 Top Lobbyists
Association Category - 28
Tori Emerson Barnes, U.S. Travel Association
Chatrane Birbal, HR Policy Association
Cherae Bishop, American Red Cross
Mike Bober, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
Manuel Bonilla, American Society of Anesthesiologists
Kevin Cain, American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges
Jack Cline, University of Kansas
Jim Coon, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Pearce Crosland, Building Owners and Managers Association International
Lucas Crumley, Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association
Mary Kate Cunningham, American Society of Association Executives
Ryan Donovan, Credit Union National Association
Quardricos Driskell, American Urological Association
Joe Franco, LeadingAge
Gracie Gerlach, The Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers
Marco Giamberardino, National Electric Contractors Association
Scott Greytak, Transparency International U.S. Office
KJ Hertz, March of Dimes
Micaela Isler, National Association of Business Political Action Committees
Billy Johnson, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.
Bill McCabe, The Enlisted Association
Katherine B. McGuire, American Psychological Association
Joyce Meyer, American Council of Life Insurers
Paulo Pontemayor, Catholic Health Association of the United States
Guila Todd, American Counseling Association
Matt Tremblay, Electronic Transactions Association
Emily Tryon, American Land Title Association
Sarah Yi, CTIA – The Wireless Association
Corporation Category – 19
Saat Alety, Allstate
Sean Callinicos, Sonova Group
Anais Carmona, T-Mobile
Terri Fariello, United Airlines
Nichole Francis Reynolds, ServiceNow
Edward Hill, ViacomCBS
Sean Hughes, Coach USA
Gene Irisari, Samsung Electronics America
Abby Jagoda, Unibal-Rodamco-Westfield
Michele Johnson, Synchrony Financial
Tom Manatos, Spotify
Rita Norton, AmerisourceBergen
Nana Nyanin, Rocket Companies
Jason Park, Expedia Group
Ibn Salaam, Waste Management
James Slotnick, Sun Life
Dontai Smalls, UPS
Patricia Villarreal Tamez, Shell
Cherie Wilson, Delta Airlines
Large Firm Category - 17
Marc Gerson, Miller & Chevalier
Bert Gomez, Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.
Larry Gonzalez, The Raben Group
Tracy Lawless, K&L Gates
Marne Marotta, Arnold & Porter
Patrick Martin, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies
Francesca McCrary, Forbes Tate Partners
Kevin O’Neill, Arnold & Porter
Laurie Purpuro, K&L Gates
Stacy Rich, Cornerstone Government Affairs
Estuardo Rodriguez, Jr., The Raben Group
Maya Seiden, BGR Group
Susan Sweat, Cornerstone Government Affairs
Nicole Venable, Invariant
Kelley Williams, Forbes Tate Partners
Patrice Willoughby, Signal Group DC
Amanda Wood, Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.
Small Firm Category - 36
Rontel Batie, Batie and Associates
Jeri Brooks, One World Strategy Group
Irene Bueno, NVG
John “JB” Byrd, Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies
Tim Cansler, Cansler Consulting, LLC
Cesar Conda, Navigators Global
Jennifer Dionne, Atlantic Strategies Group
Brianne Doura-Schawohl, EPIC Risk Management
Gerard Evans, Evans & Associates
Ariel Gonzalez, Chamber Hill Strategies
Jeff Green, J.A. Green & Company
Marla Grossman, ACG Advocacy
Brian Hess, Emmer Consulting
Jocelyn Hong, Jocelyn Hong & Associates
Adnan Jalil, Alpha Strategies, LLC
Thomas Keller, Keller Partners & Company
David Lusk, Key Advocacy
Robert McBride, McBride Consulting & Business Development Group
Brent Merchant, Merchant McIntyre Associates
Luis Montes, McBride Consulting & Business Development Group
Ashli Palmer, Resolution Public Affairs
Kathryn Peterson, Merchant McIntyre Associates
Randi Reid, Kountoupes, Denham, Car & Reid
Norberto Salinas, Salinas Strategies
Heideh Shahmoradi, O’Keeffe Shahmoradi Strategies
Amy Showalter, The Showalter Group, Inc.
Linda Siegle, Resources for Change, Inc.
Stephanie Stumbo, Goss Samford, PLL8
Thomas Tompsett Jr., Harris Jones & Malone, LLC
Bob Van Heuvelen, The Vogel Group
Alex Vogel, The Vogel Group
Xavier Warren, Congressional Partners
Eriade Williams, theGroup
Mark Williams, Ferox Strategies
Tiffani V. Williams, The Daschle Group
Kate Worrall, Charles Group Consulting
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Thanks to the 2021 Top Lobbyist Sponsors
