Announcing 2026 Top Lobbyists

FAIRFAX,VA. — The National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics (NILE) is proud to announce the recipients of its  2026 Top Lobbyist Awards, recognizing 100 outstanding lobbying, PAC, and grassroots advocacy professionals for their achievements, leadership, and contributions to the profession. 

This year, NILE received a record number of nominations, supported by impressive letters of recommendation from colleagues, clients, Members of Congress, senior government officials, and former Cabinet secretaries.

With more than 50,000 state and federal lobbyists nationwide, being named among just 100 honorees is a significant professional distinction.

Paul Miller, Chairman of the NILE Board of Directors, stated “As we celebrate NILE’s 10th anniversary, this year’s Top Lobbyist Awards are especially meaningful because they represent a decade of hard work to elevate our profession, recognize excellence, and change the public narrative about lobbying. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate this milestone than by honoring 100 outstanding professionals who represent the integrity, dedication, and leadership that define the very best of our profession.”

Larry Gonzalez, President of NILE, added “With more than 500 nominations this year, the caliber of our winners once again demonstrates the extraordinary talent, professionalism, and commitment within our profession. What makes these awards so special and credible is that they are truly by our profession, for our profession—nominated by our peers, evaluated blindly by our peers, and awarded based on merit, accomplishments, and leadership.”

Selected through a blind peer-review process, the 2026 honorees have demonstrated exceptional advocacy success, innovation, integrity, and commitment to their profession and communities. Their accomplishments reflect the highest standards of leadership and excellence in government affairs.

NILE is also pleased to announce the following special award recipients: 

2026 Student Advocate of the Year: Elijah Brummond, Drake University

2026 Thomas M. Susman Lifetime Achievement Award: John Heath, Turo

NILE extends its heartfelt congratulations to the following outstanding individuals chosen as 2026 Top Lobbyist recipients:

 Political Action Committee (PAC) Category

Catharine Harris | American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

Michelle Ly | NTCA- The Rural Broadband Association

Ann Swade | Cardinal Health

 Grassroots Category

Na'ilah Amaru | Civic Alchemy

Kristina Gursky | Association of Revenue Cycle Professionals

Nikki Soda | Ashley Addiction Treatment

Association Category

Elizabeth Baker | Air Line Pilots Association

Matthew Brown | American College of Surgeons

Katherine Brownlee | American Gas Association

Jim Coon | Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association

Kathleen Coulumbe | America's Credit Unions

Jennifer Dexter | National Health Council

Nile Elam | National Asphalt Pavement Association

Jeff Evans | Institute for Portfolio Alternatives

Coley George | NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots

Kyle Glenn | Consumer Bankers Association

James Glueck | Plant Based Products Council

Tommy Goodwin | Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance

Carlos Gutiérrez | Consumer Healthcare Product Association

KJ Hertz | March of Dimes

Deborah Koolbeck | National Education Association

Melanie Lendnal | The ALS Association

Katherine B. McGuire | American Psychological Association

Rob Mellion | Massachusetts Package Stores Association

Paul Richman | Insured Retirement Institute

Ryan Rusbuldt | National Association of Realtors ®

Sarah Saadian | National Council of Nonprofits

Maria Spencer | National Apartment Association

Jason Stverak | Defense Credit Union Council

Megan Sullivan | Vermont Chamber of Commerce

RJ Thacker | National Active & Retired Federal Employees Association

Mike Vanaki | American Gaming Association

Corporate Category

Angela Ambrose | Oshkosh Corporation

Carlos A. Becerra | Florida International University

James Brandell | John Hancock

Caitlin Brosseau | TripAdvisor

Donald Davidson | Volkswagen Group of America

Jeff Le | Microsoft

Julian F. Malasi | Amneal Pharmaceuticals

José Mercado | DoorDash

Catherine Morrison | Maxim Healthcare

Lindsey Queen | Kurdistan Regional Government - Representation Office to the U.S.

Allison Schwartz | D-Wave Quantum

Courtney Temple | Lyft

Large Firm Category

John Ariale | GrayRobinson

Leela Baggett | Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville P.C.

Remy Brim | BGR Group

Andrew Buczek | Dykema Gossett PLLC

Chris Carney | Nossaman

Taryn Couture | Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville P.C.

Leah Dempsey | Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP

Joe Fawkner | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Laura Friedel | Alston & Bird

Alexis Gutierrez | K&L Gates LLP

Jacob J. Hochberg | Squire Patton Boggs

Jake Kohn | Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough

Anthony Lazarski | Cornerstone

Marne Marotta | K&L Gates LLP

Chris McCannell | GrayRobinson

Mary Beth McGowan | Dykema Gossett PLLC

Sonja Nesbit | Arnold & Porter

Sam Olswanger | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Christina Poehlitz | Arnold & Porter

Vincent Sarubbi | DLA Piper

Ana Schwab | Best Best & Krieger LLP

Charlyn Stanberry | Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.

Joshua Zive | Bracewell LLP

Small Firm Category

Sara Barba | Integer

Anne Basham | Ascend Consulting DC

Ali Bedford | Integer

Donald Bramer | Bramer Group

James Callan | James Callen Associates

Jacqueline Clark | Town & Country Strategies LLC

Gerard Evans | Evans & Associates

Tom Fahy | Capitol Meteorologics

Magdalena Fudalewicz | Empower Strategies

Hannah Garagiola | Compass Advocacy

Katie Hazlett | The Reserve Component

Ryann Hill | Indigo Hill Strategies

Logan Hoover | Ivy Hill Strategies

James Hunt | Bramer Group

Allison Ivie | Center Road

Adnan Jalil | Alpha Strategies, LLC

Greg Jones | The Jones Group

MJ Kenny | KDCR Partners

Sarah Kohn | ACG Advocacy

Maurice Kurland | Alcalde & Fay Government Affairs

Eric Lausten | HB Strategies

Jon Mandel | Bose Public Affairs Group

Frank McCarthy | McCarthy Advanced Consulting

George McElwee | The Reserve Component

Denise Murphy McGraw | Hill, Gosdeck & McGraw

Luke Parra | Keller Partners

Sarah Peters | HB Strategies

Julie Philp | ACG Advocacy

Bennett Resnik | Venn Strategies

Norberto Salinas | Capitol Counsel

Mae Stevens | Current Strategies

Leonor Tomero | J.A. Green & Co

Madeline Wade Quasney | Brumidi Group

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