0-5 years

Awarded Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Dave has over 40 years leading non-profit and government healthcare organizations, including the last eight years leading the North Carolina's $20 billion Medicaid program. Prior to serving as deputy secretary for Medicaid, he was the deputy secretary for Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Dave joined DHHS as director of the Division of Mental Health in 2013. Before joining the Department, he was executive director of several statewide chapters of The Arc, including The Arc of Delaware, Louisiana and North Carolina, where he led the advocacy and service delivery for people with disabilities.

Dave has worked for both Republican and Democrat administrations and was unanimously confirmed to his Medicaid position by the North Carolina General Assembly. During his tenure at North Carolina Medicaid, Dave led the program's transformation from fee for serve to managed care, supported the provider community through the COVID pandemic and successfully maintained a balanced budget throughout his service.

Dave has served on numerous state and national boards and committees, including the National Association of Medicaid Directors. He has presented to legislative and other governmental entities and to local, state and national meetings on health policy throughout his career.

20+ years

1) Top 40 Under 40 in Mississippi
2) Top 50 Businesswomen in Mississippi
3) Pollie Award Winner
4) Mississippi Human Trafficking Council: Policy & Legislative Subcommittee
5) EPA Fellow while working on doctorate degree

1) Mississippi Attorney General's Office
2) Mississippi Department of Public Safety
3) Public Employees Retirement System of Mississippi
4) Mississippi Gaming Commission

Doctoral work in public policy administration greatly enhances her ability to identify, define, and expand issues important to her clients. She was an EPA Fellow while completing her doctoral level course work. Echols develops a broad coalition of support, sometimes going
against conventional wisdom and status quo, to achieve a successful end result. She has a keen ability for trouble shooting an issue and predicting potential problems and anticipating their positive solutions. She has a proven ability to rapidly assess a situation, provide a workable plan of action, and develop pockets of support to achieve the desired outcome.

Remember... When results matter, you need The Echols Group!

6-10 years

Jeffrey L. Barnhart joined McGuireWoods Consulting in October 2011 as a senior vice president of State Government Relations. He works out of the firm's Raleigh office assisting clients and helping the firm grow its national and multistate practice in the southeast.Representing Cabarrus County, Jeff served 11 years in the North Carolina General Assembly before relinquishing his seat in 2011. He was most recently co-chair of the House Appropriations Committee and was a strong healthcare proponent earning numerous recognitions from many organizations. Before his tenure as a House Representative, Jeff served as a Cabarrus County Commissioner for 10 years. He was also acting County Manager for Cabarrus for eight months and served on the county's Water & Service Authority (six years) and Economic Development Board of Directors (nine years).In addition to his strong local and state public sector experience, Jeff is a former small business owner who possesses significant private sector experience. He recently spent three years at the helm of a local healthcare center and also worked at IBM for 10 years in a number of different capacities from engineering to marketing to management. He is ranked the 13th Most Influential Lobbyist of the 2013 Legislative Session by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research in its annual survey of lobbyists, legislators and Capitol Press Corps members.Jeff served in the United States Air Force from 1978 to 1982 working in Communications Security.