There hasn’t been a lot of lawmaking this year in Lansing.
But make no mistake, lobbyists are staying gainfully employed.
The coronavirus pandemic, ensuing business shutdowns and the long road to reopening the economy have kept the capital city’s lobby corps busy.
Registered lobbyists at big law firms like Dykema and Clark Hill, trade associations like the Michigan Realtors and multiclient lobbying firms like Karoub Associates and Capitol Services Inc. have had their hands full navigating myriad COVID-19 executive orders from the governor, legislation countering the governor’s actions, as well as public health orders and workplace rules issued by state agencies.
With the Legislature’s post-election lame duck session just weeks away, the people who influence and inform decision-makers for a living are gearing up for what could be a marathon couple of weeks making new laws and spending taxpayer money in December (depending on the outcome of the Nov. 3 election, of course).
This 50 Names to Know in Lobbying guide is a selection of professionals representing trade groups, major corporations, law firms, long-established multiclient lobbying firms, sole proprietors and rising stars in this business.
To be fair, we limited the multiclient firms to up to two lobbyists each — because there was no shortage of lobbyists to choose from.
Read more: Amid a pandemic, lawmakers get fewer free lunches with lobbyists
Micah Babcock
Small Business Association of Michigan
Becky Bechler
Public Affairs Associates
Andrea Cascarilla
Acuitas LLC
Delbert Chenault
Clark Hill PLC
Governmental Consultant Services Inc.
Rodney Cole, Sr.
DTE Energy Co.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
George Cook III
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
John Davis
Kheder Davis & Associates Inc.
Brandon Dillon
The WinMatt Group
Heather Drake
AAA – The Auto Club Group
Michigan Retailers Association
Rob Elhenicky
Kelley Cawthorne
Christine Estereicher
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Dan Farhat
Capitol Strategies Group Inc.
Barbara Farrah
Governmental Consultant Services Inc.
Jared Fleisher
Quicken Loans Inc.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Autumn Gillard
Trinity Health
Patricia Herndon
Michigan Bankers Association
Jim Holcomb
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Sarah Hubbard
Acuitas LLC
Stephanie Johnson
Khoury Johnson Leavitt
Mike Johnston
Michigan Manufacturers Association
Sandi Jones
Rick Lantz
Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana
Andy Leavitt
Khoury Johnson Leavitt
Erin McDonough
Insurance Alliance of Michigan
Melissa McKinley
Kelley Cawthorne
Kevin McKinney
McKinney & Associates
Matthew Miner
Capitol Strategies Group Inc.
Chris Mitchell
Michigan Health & Hospital Association
Nicole Nystrom
Midwest Strategy Group
Brian O'Connell
General Motors Co.
Dominick Pallone
Michigan Association of Health Plans
Dave Palsrok
Dykema Gossett PLLC
Megan Petzko-Sweet
Beaumont Health
Melissa Reitz
RWC Advocacy
Peter Ruddell
Honigman LLP
Tyrone Sanders Jr.
Public Affairs Associates
Noah Smith
Capitol Services Inc.
Shelly Stahl
Karoub Associates
MoReno Taylor II
Karoub Associates
Michigan Realtors
Timothy Ward
Michigan Legislative Consultants
Brad Williams
Detroit Regional Chamber
Cathy Wilson
Consumers Energy
Deidra Wilson
McLaren Health Care
Justin Winslow
Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association