Fairfax, VA – The National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics (NILE) is delighted to reveal the winners of the professions distinguished 2024 Top Lobbyist award. Starting in 2020, NILE set out to create an annual list that honors exceptional lobbying talents while ensuring a strictly merit-based selection process. To achieve this, a dedicated panel of judges conducted blind evaluations of each nominee, ensuring that recognition as a Top Lobbyist is based entirely on remarkable performance and dedication to the profession within the year.
"On behalf of the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to this year’s Top Lobbyist award winners," said Jon Gentile, NILE President. "Being named a Top Lobbyist is a prestigious honor that recognizes not only exceptional skill and dedication but also the highest standard of integrity and impact in our profession. These individuals have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to advancing good policy and representing their clients with excellence. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and the vital role they play in our democratic process."
The 2024 Top Lobbyist list showcases a diverse group of professionals within the advocacy profession, including lobbyists, PAC professionals, and grassroots specialists endorsed by their peers. These individuals have not only demonstrated exceptional advocacy skills but have also brought innovation and thought leadership to their profession. They are held in high esteem by both clients and colleagues and have made meaningful contributions to their communities through charitable and pro-bono work. Their dedication, expertise, and commitment to ethical practices make them outstanding representatives of the profession.
The recipients of the 2024 Top Lobbyist award will be honored at a reception on November 7, 2024, where their extraordinary accomplishments will be recognized.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
We would also like to announce the following award recipients
2024 Student Advocate of the Year: Laura C. Lopez McNulty from the College of Southern Maryland. This award is presented by Cornerstone Government Affairs Group
The Thomas M. Susman 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award: James Dyer, Senior Advisor, Baker Donelson
NILE extends its heartfelt congratulations to the following outstanding individuals chosen as 2024 Top Lobbyist recipients:
2024 Top Lobbyist
Association/Non-Profit
Na'ilah Amaru | Women Creating Change
Mark Ames | AIHA
Brian D. Banks | National Board for Certified Counselors
Manuel Bonilla | American Society of Anesthesiologists
Stacey Brayboy | March of Dimes
Jim Coon | Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
Mark Dann | Freedom from Religion Foundation
Howard Fienberg | Insights Association
Dallas Fischer | Fueling Minnesota
James Gelfand | The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC)
Jon Gentile | National Association of Professional Insurance Agents
Coley George | Netjets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots
Marco Giamberardino | National Electrical Contractors Association
Scott Greytak | Transparency International U.S.
Sohini Gupta | America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
Carlos Gutierrez | Consumer Healthcare Product Association
Mark Haaland | Association of the United States Army
Eliza Hernandez | National 4-H Council
Krysta Jones | American Psychological Association
Jolie Long | National Board for Certified Counselors
Michelle Ly | NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association
Bill McCabe | K9s for Warriors
Katherine McGuire | American Psychological Association
Mary Jo H. Mitchell | Population Association of America
Rich Nolan | National Mining Association
Jonathan Pawlow | Information Technology Industry Council
Julia Pitcher | The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
Paulo G. Pontemayor | Catholic Health Association of the U.S.
Stephanie Salvador | National Education Association
Michele Stanley | National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
Jason Stverak | Defense Credit Union Council
Betsy Vetter | American Heart Association
Tiffany Waddell | National Governors Association
Corporate
Hera Abbasi | Mastercard
Jesse Barba | Chegg, Inc.
Laura Berkey-Ames | BASF Corporation
Marjorie Dickman | BlackBerry Ltd.
Gene Irisari | Samsung Electronics America
Art Motta | AstraZeneca
Brittany Nash | Allstate
Linda Pham | S&P Global
Angel Riley | Philips North America
Robert Rose | MetLife
Amirah Salaam, Esq. | Adtalem Global Education Inc.
Samantha Segall | Datavant
Brittany Starr | Franklin Templeton
Askia Suruma | Eli Lilly & Company
Sam Tatevosyan | McDonald's Corporation
Elizabeth Van Holt | Intersect Power
Molly Wilkinson | American Airlines
Large Firm
James Brandell | Dykema Gossett PLLC
Andrew Buczek | Dykema Gossett PLLC
Mike Doyle | K&L Gates
Omar Franco | Becker & Poliakoff
Allison Kassir | King & Spalding, LLP
Marne Marotta | Arnold & Porter
Dee Martin | Bracewell LLP
Virgil Miller | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Sam Olswanger | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Alex Pinson | DLA Piper
David Reid | Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Cliff Rothenstein | K&L Gates
Will Smith | Cornerstone Government Affairs
Nicole Venable | Invariant
Small Firm
Saat Alety | Federal Hall Policy Advisors
Lucia Alonzo | Michael Best Strategies
Michael Bain | GuidePost Strategies
Kristine Blackwood | Kristine Blackwood, LLC
Denise Bode | Constitution Partners LLC
Don Bramer | Bramer Group
John “JB” Byrd | Miller Wenhold Capitol Strategies
Tim Cansler | Cansler Consulting
Taryn Couture | Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville PC
Gerard Evans | Evans & Associates
Tom Fahy | Capitol Meteorologics
Melissa Francis | Venn Strategies
Marla Grossman | ACG Advocacy
Katie Hazlett | Commonwealth Strategic Partners
Brian Hess | I Street Advocates
Joseph Hoefer | Monument Advocacy
Ashlee Johnson | The Russell Group
Yogin Kothari | Boundary Stone Partners
Sean Malone | Harris Jones & Malone
Robert McBride | McBride Consulting & Business Development Group
Frank McCarthy | McCarthy Advanced Consulting
George McElwee | Commonwealth Strategic Partners
Andrea McWilliams | McWilliams Governmental Affairs Consultants
Jeff Navin | Boundary Stone Partners
Erin Neal | Velocity Government Relations
Austin O’Boyle | Aristotle International
Ben Odendahl | Smith Dawson & Andrews
Sarah Peters | Husch Blackwell Strategies
Steven Pfrang | BGR Group
Benjamin Picciano | Keller Partners & Company
Ivelisse Porroa-Garcia | Crossroads Strategies
Shellie Purvis | Cogent Strategies
Randi Reid | KDCR Partners
Jo-Anne Sears | Velocity Government Relations
Peggy Tighe | Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville PC
Madeline Wade | Brumidi Group