Experience

Capitol Advocacy

• United States
• Government Relations Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Partner

  • Nov 2011 - Present

  • Direct lobbying of all branches of California government, with emphasis on the Legislature and regulatory boards, bureaus and agencies.• Provide strategic advice to clients seeking to advance public policy agendas and develop bipartisan relationships with key decision makers.• Develop public affairs strategies for clients, many of whom are Fortune 500 companies.• Public speaking and educational presentations at client conferences and association events.• Counsel clients on coalition building and community-level grassroots outreach• Advance political relationships with clients seeking to expand their presence. • Develop public relations affairs strategy that support advocacy efforts.



Nielsen Merksamer

• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Lobbyist

  • Feb 2004 - Nov 2011

  • As the Firm’s first non-lawyer professional, provided direct lobbying services on behalf of clients primarily in the healthcare space. • Support clients in the planning of client lobby days, legislative conferences, etc. • Engage in administrative and regulatory advocacy before state boards and commissions.• Establish and execute lobbying strategies for client priorities, including drafting legislation, subsequent amendments, and supporting advocacy materials. • Manage and coordinate political events with clients and elected officials. • Oversee the management of the Firm’s bill tracking system, managing hundreds of bills for multiple clients.



California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)

• Deputy Director for Legislative and Regulatory Affairs

  • 2000 - 2004

  • Appointed by Governor Gray Davis in 2000. • Represented the Executive Branch before the Legislature and with stakeholders on legislation impacting consumers at large and the Department’s thirty-six regulatory and professional licensing programs. • Responsible for reviewing regulations pending before the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) impacting the Department’s programs. • Testified before legislative committees on matters concerning the Department. • Served as the primary contact for the Department’s participation in the annual Joint Legislative Sunset Review Process.• Prepared enrolled bill reports for review by Governor’s Office. Briefed Governor’s Office staff on pending and enrolled legislation.• Supervised the Legislative Division’s fourteen staff positions and approximately $1 million annual operating budget.



DCA Task Force on Culturally and Linguistically Competent Physicians and Dentists

• Staff Director

  • 2001 - 2002

  • Implemented AB 2394, Chapter 802, Statutes of 2000, which established the Task Force on Culturally and Linguistically Competent Physicians and Dentists. • Staffed the Co-Chairs, the Directors of the Department of Consumer Affairs and Health Care Services. • Coordinated written and oral testimony at Task Force meetings, including subject matter experts. • Oversaw the public hearings that we scheduled in communities with large populations of language and ethnic minority groups. • Developed the final Task Force report to the Legislature which included recommendations for a continuing education program that included language proficient standards of a foreign language to meet linguistic competency and identifying the key cultural elements necessary to meet cultural competency.



Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Public Affairs Director

  • 1996 - 2000

  • Served as primary legislative advocate for over 100 Planned Parenthood clinics located throughout California.• Directly lobbied the Legislature and Executive Branch on high-profile and controversial issues related to reproductive health services. • Worked to secure and preserve state funding through the annual budget process for organizational priorities. • Researched, drafted and disseminated policy papers on emerging issues to legislators and policy makers.• Responded to media inquiries including radio, print and television, serving as an official spokesperson. • Provided strategic advice to locally based PP staff in the development of grassroots advocacy efforts. • Assisted with organization of annual “Lobby Day” with over 300 volunteers in attendance.