20+ years

Austin Barbour brings a dual private and political-sector resume to Clearwater Group, the company he co-founded in 2011.

Barbour began building his extensive client list in 2003, as a government relations specialist at the regional firm, Capitol Resources, where he was hired after breaking all state fundraising records as Finance Director for Haley Barbour's first campaign for Governor of Mississippi in 2003. He took a leave of absence from lobbying during 2008 to serve as Campaign Manager for Senator Roger Wicker in his first bid for the U.S. Senate.

Prior to his work on the lobbying and political scene, Barbour created and grew a new financial services division for Security Holdings, LLC, one of the nation's fastest growing businesses.

In 2011, Barbour brought together his successes in business and politics, and opened the doors at Clearwater Group, LLC, where he serves as Managing Partner and specializes in fundraising and business development as well as government affairs issues dealing with appropriations, defense, state and federal procurement and contracting, education, environment, manufacturing and public safety.

Most recently, Barbour served as Executive Director of the national super PAC for Governor Rick Perry's presidential campaign. Austin served as a Senior Advisor on Gov. Jeb Bush's presidential campaign.

Barbour has also been recognized as one of the nation's top fundraisers with previous positions including the National Finance Chairmen for Romney for President in 2012 and a Senior Fundraising Consultant for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

He also held the position of State Finance Chairman for the Mississippi Republican Party in 2010-2011, was on the Transition Team for Governor Phil Bryant and is on the Finance Committee for Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves. He served as a member of the strategy team for Romney for President in 2012 and was the Senior Strategist for the successful re-election campaign for U.S. Senator Thad Cochran in 2014.

Austin manages the day-to-day operations of the firm. He leads the firm's strategic communications practice area and is also intimately involved with Clearwater Group's legislative lobbying and political activity practice areas.

6-10 years

Bryan Kaegi previously served six years as Senior Vice President of Government Relations for Acadia Healthcare, a leading behavioral health company. In this role, Bryan was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company's government relations strategy across 40 states and at the federal level. He also led strategic engagement with political membership associations including the Republican Governors Association and the Republican State Legislative Committee.

Prior to joining Vogel Group, Bryan served as the Finance Director for numerous elected officials running at the state and federal level including, U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), U.S. Congressman Chuck Fleishmann (R-TN), U.S. Congressman Phil Roe (R-TN). He also served in varying capacities on campaigns for Governor Bill Lee (R-TN), U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN), Governor Bill Haslam (R-TN), U.S. Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN).

11-15 years

With more than 20 years of experience building relationships between the public and private sector, Tommy Alsup leads state and local government relations efforts for Vogel Group in Tennessee.

Tommy previously served as Vice President of Government Affairs for Envision Healthcare, a $15 billion healthcare and national hospital-based physician group. At Envision, Tommy was responsible for sourcing and managing state-level lobbyists to ensure that the company's strategic goals were met with governors, state legislators, and local officials across the country. His efforts were critical in securing favorable public policy on surprise medical billing issues in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee.

Tommy is an expert in managing national sales and procurement teams for companies seeking to grow revenue through state and local funding initiatives. He has overseen multiple requests for proposals (RFP) and large-scale procurement contracts for companies and industries alike. Connecting State and local governments with business is crucial in this current environment, and Tommy has accomplished those goals for more than two decades.

Tommy was a senior-level government relations executive at Corizon Health and CoreCivic, the nation's largest owner of correctional, detention, and residential reentry facilities in previous roles.

With a strong and bi-partisan background in Tennessee, Tommy served as Mayor of Oak Hill from 2002 to 2010, where he worked in partnership with Governor Phil Bredesen (D-TN) and Mayor Bill Purcell (D-Nashville). Tommy remains strongly engaged with the office of Governor Bill Lee (R-TN) and his administration.

Tommy received his B.A. in Business Administration from Lipscomb University.

11-15 years

Past president of Association of Connecticut Lobbyists

Featured presenter at the CT Lobbying Conference on "Lobbying the Executive Branch" the past four years.

2019 Hartford Business Journal Forty Under 40

Over ten years of municipal land use experience on Planning and Zoning/Zoning Board of Appeals

Served as point person for the CT Conference of Municipalities on Energy, Labor and Zoning topics.

13 years of experience in contract lobbying; three years of experience in state and municipal government.

20+ years

Volunteered time and skills for numerous community efforts and has successfully chaired the capital campaigns of several major community nonprofit projects. Earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Loyola University, Maryland, served as an Adjunct Professor in Political Science and Government, where he was later recognized for his achievements by receiving the Loyola College Alumni Laureate Award. During his sixteen-year public service career, he was selected as the Most Valuable Public Official in America. Served as Board of Directors Chair for Towson University and MedStar Health-Franklin Square Medical Center.

The Rasmussen Group possesses an abundance of close relationships and connections with key decision makers and legislators in the State of Maryland and its political subdivisions. These interpersonal relationships include but are not limited to all three Branches of State government: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. The firm seeks to influence, persuade, and promote the issues, interests, and positions of its clients in an ethical manner to achieve and resolve important business issues. The firm has almost immediate access to Maryland's constitutional officers, cabinet members, legislative Committee chairs and legislative members, and County Executives/Commissioners and Mayors. The firm is capable of implementing and coordinating lobbying activities in multiple States (currently 14 East Coast States).

Senator Rasmussen possesses a wealth of experience, both in elected and appointed offices of State and local government, and private sector experience in the fields of government relations, business development, association management, banking/financial services, public relations and marketing services, as well as the directorships on various boards of major corporate entities, educational institutions and community nonprofits. Senator Rasmussen, as an entrepreneur, has successfully developed and operated several businesses in the fields of information software technology, computer systems, alternative energy, and real estate development. The Rasmussen firm represents the interests of major and regional corporations, professional trade Alliances and business groups, and provides a comprehensive scope of services to all legislative and executive branches of government at the Federal, State and Local/Municipal levels.

11-15 years

Commonwealth North Board of Directors (Member)
USA Hockey Pacific District Board of Directors (Chariman)
USA Hockey Board of Directors (Member)
IIHF Representative - Team USA NTDP U-17 (Kazan, Russia)
Safari Club International (Past Member)

Kristopher Knauss is a fourth generation Alaskan. He graduated with honors from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Political Science and History. During his tenure at Arizona State, Mr. Knauss actively engaged in government affairs and politics, serving as intern to the United States Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and then as campaign staff for the first female Governor of Arizona, Jane Dee Hull.

After returning to Alaska, Mr. Knauss served as a legislative aide to the Alaska State Senate President for two years. He became Chief of Staff to the Alaska State House Rules Committee and then Chief of Staff to Alaska State Speaker of the House where he served for approximately two years.

Because of Mr. Knauss' familiarity with state government from the executive and legislative branches, Governor Murkowski appointed him Director of Policy for the State of Alaska. In this role, he interfaced on a daily basis with the Governor, Chief of Staff, and Cabinet members. Additionally, Mr. Knauss represented the Governor and was his lead staff person with non-partisan organizations such as the National Governors' Association, Western Governors' Association, Council of State Governments, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, as well as partisan groups such as the Republican Governors' Association and the Republican National Committee.

Government Affairs is a constantly changing environment that requires a unique and first hand understanding to be effective and take full advantage of the opportunities involved and presented. Mr. Knauss has this understanding and in June 2005 resigned his position to join the private sector as the owner and principal of The Knauss Group, LLC, which specializes in government affairs consulting and lobbying the State of Alaska.

In his personal time, Mr. Knauss continues in his elected position on the Board of Directors for USA Hockey, and serves as Chairman of the USA Hockey Pacific District. In this role, Mr. Knauss oversees youth player development along the west coast and works closely with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). Most recent, Mr. Knauss was elected to the Commonwealth North Board of Directors in his professional capacity.

20+ years

"North Carolina's Top Lobbyists" - North State Journal (2020)
Best Lawyers Government Relations Practice (2009-2022)
Business North Carolina Legal Elite
Triangle Business Journal "40 Under 40 Leadership Award (2012)

0-5 years

Prior to joining Vogel Group, Kendall worked extensively in political fundraising in Nashville, TN. She served as the Deputy Finance Director for several elected officials running at the state and federal level including, Governor Bill Haslam (R-TN), Governor Bill Lee (R-TN), U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty. She has also served in varying fundraising capacities on campaigns for Mayor Karl Dean, Mayor Megan Barry, Mayor David Briley, Mayor Jim Coppinger, as well as ROCKCITY PAC, TENNPAC, the Tennessee State Museum Foundation, Tennessee Trucking Association, the Haslam Legislative Fund, Governor Haslam Inaugural Committee and Governor Lee Inaugural Committee.

At Vogel Group, Kendall leads the office's legislative efforts by working extensively with our General Assembly. With the political environment in Tennessee, she understands the complex nuances of working across party lines while representing clients' interests.

A native of Gallatin, Tennessee, Kendall graduated from Auburn University with a B.A. in Public Relations. Alongside her work, Kendall enjoys working with two very important charities CASA Nashville and Mother to Mother. She currently lives in Nashville with her husband and two sons.