In 2010, after 20 years as a State Capitol lobbyist, Mike Dugan established Capitol Consulting a full-service government relations firm. Capitol Consulting provides the experience, integrity, access and respect one achieves through years of successful representation of our clients' issues. Capitol Consulting is well respected with a proven network of legislative and state agency contacts to navigate the often-complex halls of state government. Capitol Consulting is founded on the simple principle that there is no substitute for hard work.
1) AbbVie Inc.
2) American Council of Engineering Companies of CT
3) American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC)
6) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
8) ClimateHaven
9) Connecticut Alcohol Retailers Exchange Inc.
10) Connecticut Alliance for Subacute Care Inc
11) Connecticut Chiropractic Council
12) Consumer Data industry Association
13) Cookware Sustainability Alliance
14) Country Holding Company, LLC
15) Credit Union League of Connecticut
16) CT Industrial Energy Consumers
17) CTIA - The Wireless Association
19) Dignity Grows
20) Dijon LLC
21) eBay, Inc.
22) Eli Lilly & Co.
23) FFD Central LLC
24) First American Title Insurance Company
25) Hazel Health
26) JUUL Labs Inc.
27) Kinship Health
28) Kooth USA, LLC
30) National Payroll Reporting Consortium, Inc.
31) National Waste & Recycling Association
32) NextEra Energy Resources, LLC
34) Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America
37) Salesforce, Inc.
38) Scan Optics, LLC
39) Slalom Inc.
40) StubHub, Inc.
41) TikTok Inc.
20+ years
Josh Hughes is a Senior Vice President, lobbyist and attorney at Capitol Consulting. He brings to Capitol Consulting a solid reputation with over 15-years of experience as a Capitol insider with extensive knowledge of the legislative process and policymakers. Over the years, Josh's network of contacts has provided his clients with access to all levels of state government in the legislative, administrative and executive branches. He has a reputation of working tirelessly to achieve successful results for the clients he is privileged to serve.
During his State Capitol lobbying career Josh has provided leadership and strategic advice to numerous corporations, state and national associations as well as nonprofit organizations including Tesla Motors Inc., Caterpillar, the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA), Greenskies Renewable Energy, the Association of American Publishers, the Corporation for Battery Recycling (Duracell, Panasonic and Energizer), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Splunk Inc., alcohol retailers, distillers and wholesalers. Josh also continues to work with legislative campaigns in both parties bolstering the bipartisan connections of the firm.
Before becoming a State Capitol lobbyist, while in law school Josh was an intern with CB Richard Ellis commercial real estate in New York City. Prior to that Josh worked in the sales department of John Hancock Mutual Funds in Boston. In addition, he was on the account team of Ingall's Advertising.
Josh received his Bachelor of Arts degree in American Literature with a minor in Environmental Studies from Hartwick College. He received a Juris Doctorate degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law.
Since 1999, the Liberty Square Group has been delivering strategic, integrated communications and public and government affairs counsel to a host of businesses, associations, political candidates and non-profit organizations.
20+ years
Jim Leahy brings 30 years of experience in lobbying, non-profit association management and political organizing to Liberty Square Group. An expert in building strong grassroots organizations, he has worked with clients in a wide variety of sectors, including healthcare, environment, consumer protection, budget, gaming, government procurement, public safety, development, as well as arts & culture. His advocacy track record includes several high profile wins, including two first-in-the-nation laws, one to require labeling genetically modified foods and another to require labeling small parts that pose choking hazards to children under 3.
A seasoned lecturer with a focus on leadership, grassroots advocacy and communicating with public officials, Mr. Leahy has addressed professionals at national, regional, and state organizations as well as students at more than a dozen New England colleges and universities. He is also a Certified Association Executive, the highest level of professional achievement available from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
A graduate of Brandeis University with a B.A. in Psychology, Mr. Leahy lives in Tolland Connecticut.
In 2010, after 20 years as a State Capitol lobbyist, Mike Dugan established Capitol Consulting a full-service government relations firm. Capitol Consulting provides the experience, integrity, access and respect one achieves through years of successful representation of our clients' issues. Capitol Consulting is well respected with a proven network of legislative and state agency contacts to navigate the often-complex halls of state government. Capitol Consulting is founded on the simple principle that there is no substitute for hard work.
2) AbbVie Inc.
3) American Council of Engineering Companies of CT
4) American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC)
5) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
6) Christian Healthcare Ministries, Inc.
8) Community Association Institute - Connecticut
9) Connecticut Alcohol Retailers Exchange Inc.
10) Connecticut Alliance for Subacute Care Inc
11) Connecticut Association of Independent Schools
12) Connecticut College of Emergency Physicians
13) Connecticut Environmental Council
14) Connecticut Land Conservation Council
15) Connecticut Preservation Action
16) Consumer Data industry Association
17) Cookware Sustainability Alliance
18) Credit Union League of Connecticut
19) CT Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
20) CT Funeral Directors Assoc.
21) CT Industrial Energy Consumers
23) CT Physical Therapy Association
28) Diversified Brokerage Group Corporation
29) eBay, Inc.
30) Eli Lilly & Co.
31) First American Title Insurance Company
32) Hazel Health
33) JUUL Labs Inc.
34) Kinship Health
35) Kooth USA, LLC
37) National Payroll Reporting Consortium, Inc.
38) National Waste & Recycling Association
39) NextEra Energy Resources, LLC
42) Outdoor Advertising Assoc. of CT
44) Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America
47) Scan Optics, LLC
48) Slalom Inc.
49) StubHub, Inc.
50) The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
51) TikTok Inc.
20+ years
Liz Connelly joins Capitol Consulting as a Government Relations Associate after more than six years on staff in the Connecticut General Assembly. Liz began her tenure with House Democrats as a top advisor to then House Majority Leader Joe Aresimowicz (Berlin and Southington). When Rep. Aresimowicz was elected Speaker of the House, Liz was then promoted to Senior Legislative and Communications Advisor to Speaker of the House. During her time as a senior advisor to the Speaker, Liz developed and maintains a wide network of legislators, state agency, staff and advocacy organizations. In addition, she was responsible for dealing and negotiating with numerous business and industry representatives on behalf of the Speaker. Liz brings to Capitol Consulting a strong work ethic and a clear understanding of the legislative process to immediately assist Capitol Consulting's clients. In addition to lobbying directly for the firm's numerous clients, Liz will manage the firm's social media presence, assist in the firm's marketing for new business and maintain the firm's bill tracking system.
Prior to working in the legislature, Liz served as a Communications and Media Coordinator at The Governor's Prevention Partnership, a nonprofit organization that builds and offers youth prevention programs to prevent substance misuse and bullying.
Liz received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Connecticut, where she double majored in political science and journalism.
