Chris joined the firm in November of 2000 after serving seven years in Florida government. During this time, Chris served as the Assistant to the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Prior to serving in Governor Bush's administration, Chris served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Legislative Director, and Special Assistant to former Florida Education Commissioner and former Florida Lt. Governor Frank T. Brogan. Chris also served as a legislative aide in the Florida House of Representatives. Throughout the years, Chris has worked on various state and local campaigns, including the 1998 and 2002 Bush/Brogan gubernatorial campaigns.

A devoted community activist, Chris was a finalist for Volunteer of the Year in 2007. Chris has served on the Board of Directors for the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, where he served for two years as Chairman, the Board of Directors for the United Way of the Big Bend, and the Board of Directors for the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. Chris is currently the Chairman of the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services, a not-for-profit statewide association representing agencies which serve homeless, runaway, and troubled youth. Chris also serves on the local advisory board for Hancock Bank and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Maclay School. Chris was recently appointed by Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum to the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority, an entity created by the Florida Legislature to promote the business and hospitality interests of downtown Tallahassee.

A native of Fort Myers, Florida, Chris Dudley graduated from the University of South Florida in 1993 with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. Chris, his wife Susanne, and their two sons live in Tallahassee.

Sydney Ridley brings years of legislative and political experience to Southern Strategy Group's Tampa Bay office. Sydney spent the past four years as the Chief Legislative Aide to House Majority Leader Dana Young, where she directed all priority policy and budget initiatives. Sydney's time as staff was at the highest level of the Florida House of Representatives, and she brings unmatched relationships with legislative staff, agency heads, and elected officials.

A political pro in Tampa Bay with extensive campaign management experience, Sydney guided Senator Dana Young to successive electoral victories in the Florida House and spearheaded her subsequent election to the Florida Senate. Sydney's political expertise, particularly in the Tampa Bay area, serves as a great strategic asset to our clients. In addition to her work with Senator Young, Sydney has served as both a political director and a field director on various Congressional and State Senate campaigns.

Born and raised in Tampa, Sydney is a third-generation Floridian, a graduate of the University of Virginia, a Florida Gator at heart, and a lover of history, golf, music, and football.

Oscar Anderson, a native of Central Florida, has extensive background in government. Prior to joining Southern Strategy Group, Oscar served at the highest capacities in the Florida legislative and executive branches on the local, state, and federal levels. Oscar became a government expert that understands firsthand how to move bureaucracy to effect change. After more than a decade of government service, Oscar was dubbed "politically connected" by the St. Petersburg Times.

From 1998 to 2000, Oscar served as the chief lobbyist for Orange County Chairman Mel Martinez. In 2000, when President Bush asked Chairman Martinez to serve as U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary, Oscar moved to Washington, DC. As an integral part of Secretary Martinez's senior staff, Oscar managed the Congressional office and later was promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff. Oscar specialized in the appropriations process and negotiated the passage of $75 million for the Administration's American Dream Downpayment Initiative. Returning to Florida was important to Oscar, and in 2003, he was offered a position as Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary at the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). During Oscar's tenure at DCA, he directed passage of the landmark Wekiva Parkway and Protection Act legislation and had a key role in the passage of the first overhaul to the state's growth management laws in 20 years.

For almost a decade, Oscar has represented hundreds of businesses at the local and state level of Florida government, specializing in government budgets/appropriations, procurement, and land use matters. Oscar is an active member of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Oscar lives in Orlando with his wife Carin and their three children.

Katie has been working on Capitol Hill and in other functions of state politics since 2007. Katie has worked in the office of United States Senator Lamar Alexander, as well as the Office of Governor Bill Haslam.

During her tenure in Governor Haslam's office, Katie was instrumental in the governor's Drive to 55 Initiative, helping shepherd key legislation such as the Tennessee Promise and the FOCUS Act.

While working as Director of Legislation, Katie advised the governor, his senior staff, and twenty-three state agencies on political strategy and legislative affairs.

Prior to joining the JohnsonPossKirby team, Katie worked as Senior Advisor of Government Affairs and Economic Development at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP.

Katie graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2008. She continues to serve her alma mater as a member of the Advisory Board.

Katie lives in Franklin with her husband, Luke, and daughters Ryall and Mackie.

Brian Bautista advocates on behalf of his clients before the legislative and executive branches of Florida government and has experience acting as statewide spokesman and point of contact for clients. Brian has resided in Florida's capital city for over a decade, and his work spans the gambit from local initiatives to a statewide Senate campaign.

Brian received both a bachelor's degree in political science and a law degree from Florida State University. Brian uses his legal expertise and political acumen to successfully represent clients on some of the highest profile issues in Florida, in the technology, education, healthcare, and energy industries.

Brian has been named one of Florida's 30 Under 30 by Florida Politics and a NextGeneration Rising Star by Influence Magazine

Serving as president of Southern Strategy Group (Louisiana), Rodney Braxton brings the highest levels of public service to the firm. He is experienced in policy development, governmental affairs, legislative relations, budgetary issues, capital improvement projects and enjoys a reputation for "persuasive negotiation skills." As assistant chief of staff to former Governor Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Rodney supervised transportation, insurance, and labor issues. He also served as associate commissioner of governmental relations for the Louisiana Board of Regents, the state's top higher education board.

Rodney was undersecretary of the Louisiana Department of Labor, the first executive director of the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights and, in 1994, named one of thirty Leaders of the Future by Ebony magazine. An active member of many community and civic organizations, he has served on the boards of Young Leaders Academy, Of Moving Colors Productions and Serve! Baton Rouge.

A native of Louisiana and practicing attorney since 1992, Rodney holds a B.S. in finance from the University of New Orleans and his J.D. from Tulane University Law School where he received a Merit Scholarship and was a quarterfinalist in the 1992 Frederick Douglas Moot Court Competition.

After a lengthy career as a policymaker in government and an administrative lawyer who litigated against government, Paul Bradshaw founded Southern Strategy Group in 1999. Paul's work often strayed from the arcana of policy to the less staid world of political campaigns. In the political realm, Paul worked on several successful statewide campaigns including Jeb Bush's first successful gubernatorial campaign. With a background in Florida government, Paul has dealt with a broad range of major public policy initiatives, including those directed at development, environmental protection, and public education.

Between 1986 and 1990, Paul served in the Martinez Administration as the chief cabinet aide to the Governor, the director of the state's growth management program, and as the director of the Office of Policy and Budget. In those roles Paul was instrumental in advancing Florida's environmental and growth management programs. In 1998, working with then-candidate Jeb Bush, Paul was instrumental in crafting the education plan that ultimately completely re-engineered the K-12 system in Florida. Paul frequently writes speeches for candidates and elected officials, and during the course of his career has authored inaugural addresses and State of the State speeches for three governors.

Paul's broad exposure to both the mechanics of government and bare-knuckled politics give him a rare ability to grasp the policy and political implications of lobbying issues.

6-10 years

Strong working relationship on a bipartisan basis, focusing on Transportation, Commerce and Finance Committees. Strong working relationship with Department of Transportation.

Kerri serves as a senior vice president in the State Government Relations group in the firm's Raleigh office. In addition to her government relations experience, she possesses extensive communcations and grassroots experience from her time with the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

Kerri was most recently communications director for the North Carolina Chamber. In that capacity she managed media relations, events marketing and electronic communications; oversaw development and management of the group's website; produced collateral materials; and assisted the vice president of Government Affairs with the Chamber's branding, communications and public relations efforts to support its advocacy mission and policy goals. Prior to joining the Chamber, Kerri worked as a registered lobbyist and legislative intern.

20+ years

Kyle G. Michel is a Columbia, SC lawyer-lobbyist specializing in government policy and related law. His background is primarily in lobbying and providing guidance to clients interacting with state and federal government, which he has done since 1994. Mr. Michel also represents clients before local government bodies in South Carolina. He has considerable experience in budget, energy, economic development, and education issues, but also works in other issue areas including criminal justice, healthcare, environment, and transportation. In addition to policy advocacy, he represents clients seeking government contracts for goods and services.Mr. Michel is retained to execute advocacy projects on behalf of clients. This work involves developing policy strategies, direct advocacy with government officials, drafting policy documents, and legislative drafting. Mr. Michel is also retained to provide counsel on policy and political forecasting. This work involves monitoring policy and political developments and advising clients on likely outcomes that affect their interests. Prior to forming Kyle Michel Law Firm in South Carolina in 2003, Mr. Michel was Vice President and General Counsel of Morgan Meguire, LLC, a lobbying firm in Washington, DC. He founded the firm with a partner in 1998 and expanded it to a twelve-person practice before relocating to South Carolina. At Morgan Meguire, he lobbied on behalf of clients before Congress, the White House, and executive branch departments and agencies. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Michel practiced at the firm today known as Dentons in Washington, DC, specializing in federal government affairs. He represented Fortune 100 companies on policy matters in Congress and at the White House.Prior to practicing law, Mr. Michel worked as a Legislative Assistant in the U.S. Senate and in the White House as an advisor on personnel matters. Mr. Michel is a member of the South Carolina and Washington, DC, Bars. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Texas A&M University. He graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee School of Law. He and his wife Melanie have four children and live in Columbia.

0-5 years