Fairfax, VA, The National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics (NILE) is thrilled to announce the recipients of its 2023 Top Lobbyist award. In 2020 NILE embarked on a mission to create an annual list that recognizes excellence in lobbying while ensuring the selection process is purely merit-based. Our dedicated panel of judges blindly evaluated each nominee to guarantee that the honor of being a Top Lobbyist is earned solely through outstanding performance and dedication to their profession in the given year.
“This award celebrates the top in our profession this year,” stated Jocelyn Hong, NILE President. “This award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to those they represent, as well as those who have made a commitment to giving back through pro-bono work. Given the number of local, state, and federal lobbyists, grassroots, and PAC professionals, to be singled out by your peers for this award has real meaning,” added Hong.
The 2023 Top Lobbyist list is a diverse representation of the advocacy profession, featuring lobbyists, PAC professionals, and grassroots professionals who were nominated by their peers. These individuals have not only demonstrated their exceptional skills in advocacy but have also showcased innovation and thought leadership, earned high regard from their clients and peers, and actively contribute to their community through charity/pro bono work. Their dedication, expertise, and commitment to ethical practices have made them exemplary representations of the profession.
The 2023 Top Lobbyist recipients will be celebrated at an awards reception on November 16, 2023, where they will receive the recognition for their outstanding achievements in 2023.
NILE congratulates and proudly announces the following individuals as 2023 Top Lobbyist recipients:
Association Category
Brian Banks, American Counseling Association
Edward Cross, Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association
Allison Cunningham, American Gas Association
Mary Kate Cunningham, American Society of Association Executives
Shawn Donilon, National Association of Broadcasters
David Edmonson, TechNet
Justin Elliot, American Physical Therapy Association
Jeff Evans, American Society of Association Executives
Wes Fisher, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry
David French, National Retail Federation
Andrew Fullerton, March of Dimes
Jon Gentile, National Association of Professional Insurance Agents
Marco Giamberardino, National Electrical Contractors Association
Anders Gilberg, Medical Group Management Association
James Gelfand, The ERISA Industry Committee
Scott Greytak, Transparency International U.S.
Joshua Habursky, Premium Cigar Association
Jordan Howard, Associated General Contractors of America
Micaela Isler, National Association of Business Political Action Committees
Kernard Jones, Waterford.org
Ronny Lau, National Education Association
Larry LeClair, National Association of Surety Bond Producers
Danielle McBeth, Florida A&M University
Bill McCabe, K9s For Warriors
Katherine McGuire, American Psychological Association
Robert Mellion, Massachusetts Package Store Association
Paul Moradkhan, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce
Kelsey Odom, NCTA - The Internet & Television Association
Jason Ortega, National Wooden Pallet & Container Association
Paulo Pontemayor, Catholic Health Association of the United States
Sasha Pudelski, The School Superintendents Association
Jill Sims, Hospitality Minnesota
Tyler Smith, Everytown for Gun Safety
Michele Stanley, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
Mary Lee Watts, American Society for Microbiology
Nathaniel Wienecke, American Property Casualty Insurance Association
Corporate Category
Casey Aden-Wansbury, Instacart
Andrew Barnhill, IQVIA
Laura Berkey-Ames, BASF Corporation
Kendra Brown, Mastercard
Justin Clayton, UnitedHealth Group
Marjorie Dickman, BlackBerry
Anjelica Dortch, SAP
Theresa Fariello, United Airlines
Joe Fawell, Air Liquide
Eric Johnston, Marriott International
Jeff Le, Conduent
Stephen McCall, Firefly Aerospace
Robert Rose, MetLife
Amirah Salaam, Adtalem Global Education Inc.
Tom Saunders, Ports America
Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, Televisa Univision
Molly Wilkinson, American Airlines
Cherie Wilson, Delta Airlines
Large Firm Category
Anna Abram, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Nathaniel Bell, DLA Piper
Jose Felix Diaz, Ballard Partners
David W. Jones, Capitol Counsel
Allison Kassir, King & Spalding LLP
Dee Martin, Bracewell LLP
Mary Beth McGowan, Dykema Gossett PLC
Jessica Monahan, Arnold & Porter
Dao Nguyen, Cornerstone Government Affairs
David Olander, Capitol Counsel
David H. Reid, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Arshi Siddiqui, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Amy Smith, Arnold & Porter
Andrew Tabler, K&L Gates LLP
Ivan Zapien, Hogan Lovells
Small Firm Category
John Lucas Adair, Keller Partners & Company
Saat Alety, Federal Hall Policy Advisors
Ashlie Bagwell, Harris Jones & Malone, LLC
Debra Dixon, Ferox Strategies
Gerard Evans, Evans & Associates
Tom Fahy, Capitol Meteorologics
Marla Grossman, ACG Advocacy
Katie Hazlett, Commonwealth Strategic Partners
Brian Hess, I Street Advocates
Suri Kasirer, Kasirer
Paul Klein, Tri-Strategies
Frank McCarthy, McCarthy Advanced Consulting
Erin Neal, Velocity Government Relations
Michael O’Brien, MOB Advocacy
Kristy Park, Park Government Relations
Keith Pemrick, Commonwealth Strategic Partners
Lisa Peto, Mindset
Randi Reid, KDCR Partners
Lynne Schlosser, Lynne M. Schlosser, LLC
William Strusinski, Libby Law Office
Peggy Tighe, Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville PC
Xavier Warren, Congressional Partners
Becky Weber, Prime Policy Group
Paul Weiss, Prime Policy Group
Grassroots Category
Na’ilah Amaru, Women Creating Change
Davon Gray, American Institute of Architects
Ethan Lott, March of Dimes
Austin O’Boyle, Aristotle International
Anne Russell-Thompson, National Corn Growers Association
Political Action Committee Category
Dave Bender, American Council of Engineering Companies
Catherine Harris, American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
Student Advocate
Zayd Ahmad Hamid, George Mason University
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About the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics
The National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics is a non-partisan organization committed to fostering ethical lobbying practices and promoting the highest standards of professionalism in the lobbying profession. NILE serves as a resource for lobbying professionals, offering training, education, and best practices to ensure the profession maintains its integrity and contributes positively to the democratic process. NILE is the home of the Public Policy Certificate, the gold standard for continuing education for lobbyists.