We have compiled our 2015 list of the 100+ people in the Missouri public policy process you need to know. A few changes have been made this year – media and legislative staff are not included, unless they were engaged as a campaign consultant as well.
By no means is this the complete list, and the names are in no particular order, but it would be a good start for someone beginning their career in Missouri politics of the people to get to know.
Also this year, instead of a website, we included each person’s twitter handle.
Lastly, thanks to our readers who helped us compile this year’s list – enjoy and please don’t hesitate to tell us who we missed at @MissouriTimes.
Brent Hemphill | Brent Hemphill & Associates
Brent has built one of the most established firms in Missouri with clients from industry to interest groups. His firm has clients in most every issues debated in the capitol. He has a unique insight on campaigns from his time working for republican candidates, and is a consummate public policy veteran.
Erika Leonard | Associate, John Bardgett & Associates
Erika is one of the most well liked lobbyist in the capitol working for one of the largest firms in John Bardgett and Associates. She has also built a reputation as running some of the best run associations and best organized conferences in the state.
Ginger Steinmetz | Lobbyist, Partner, Schreimann, Rackers, Francka & Blunt
Ginger is someone who can walk into any office in the capitol and be around people who consider her a friend. She is one of the most well like people in lobbying and works on a set of issues from the arts to energy.
Greg Johnston | Lobbyist
When you think of the traditional lobbyist who is respected by the entire political class Johnston is who you’re thinking of. A very successful businessman he has the ability to call on his business connections to assist his clients as well as be helpful to legislators he works with.
Jay Reichard | Lobbyist, Schreimann, Rackers, Francka & Blunt, LLC
Reichard is a budget expert and has spent years lobbying in the capitol perfecting his craft. Each session the 20 to 25 clients his firm works with are some of the biggest names in Missouri business and interest groups. SRFB has been growing at an impressive clip and adding to their team and Reichard’s work seems to be paying off as their firm is one of the leading groups in the state.
Jewell Patek | Owner, Patek & Associates
Patek is a veteran of northwest Missouri politics and working with the Blunt administration and has turned his skills to lobbying building top flight firm in short orders. Jewell has been adding staff to meet his growing firm that is able to offer not only his legislative expertise as a former legislators but also his communication skills learned on a staff and as a candidate.
Kim Tuttle | President, KtCo LLC/ Associate, John Bardgett & Associates
Kim is one of the leading women in Missouri politics. She is registered for some of the most prominent companies in the state, and is someone who seems to literally know everyone who has ever been in state politics.
Mike Talboy | Director of Government Affairs, Burns & McDonnell
Talboy is widely regarded as one of the best political operators to serve in Jefferson City in the term limits era, was sought out by Burns & McDonnell to run Government Affairs and is still one of the heavies in the room anytime he steps into the capitol.
Nick Schulte | Candidate Command
Coming from the corporate world working for Boeing he now heads up Axiom’s direct mail and digital division. Under his direction he has taken Axiom’s voter contact company from being the largest in Missouri to the next level as they are now the largest federal candidate company in the nation for GOP candidates. With his business savvy and leadership watch for another generation of growth from this Jeff Roe company.
Ray McCarty | President, Associated Industries of Missouri
McCarty has been at the helm while AIM has made big strides as an organization, and is now looking at move ever closer to what was one of their biggest policy goal a Right to Work law. McCarty is now a key legislative player and becoming a bigger political one as well.
Rodney Gray | Shareholder, Polsinelli
Gray has a vast amount of experience in not only using the legislative process to advocate for his clients, but to also utilize the statewide ballot box to change public policy. He is one of the most experienced and respected lobbyist in the capitol and easily one of the 100+ people to know.
Ryan Rowden | Executive Director, Missouri Petroleum Council
Rowden has been a forceful advocate for the Petroleum Council who has had to take on issues from EPA regulations to a bevy of tax increase proposals aimed at the members of his association. Rowden has been on the front line balancing political messaging alongside maintain legislative relationships.
David Zimmerman | Business Manager, Sheet Metal Workers International Association
Zimmerman is not only the head of one of the most active and respected unions in the state, but is also a leaders in the St. Louis business community. During his time leading local 36 he has grown its political participation and marketing operation as well as opening a 22 million dollar training facility in the city of St. Louis. They also have the prestigious Hartnett Gladney Hetterman in their employ.
Sebrina Barrett | Executive Director, The Missouri Bar
Barrett runs one of the most prestigious associations in the state. She is a Missouri native who has also been spent time working for another Bar Association before returning to Missouri. The revamping of the criminal code in 2014 was one of many accomplishments happening on her watch.
Shannon Cooper | President, The Giddens Group
Cooper was the first chairman of the powerful House Rules committee before becoming a lobbyist and joining the Giddens Group. He has developed a reputation as one of the top committee witnesses in the entire lobbying core, and for driving to member’s districts to get to know them. A former legislator who sold guns he has a great way to relate to legislators and clients.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
