||LobbyLinx Lobbyist Directory||

Full Profile

ROBERT BYRD

(Delaware, )

ByrdGomes

robert.byrd@byrdgomes.com
302-757-8305
ByrdGomes, 2 Penns Way Suite 305, New Castle, Delaware, 19720,

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website, TAG Profile

ByrdGomes provides a balanced approach to contract lobbying that is unique in Delaware. Since we are politically active, we have established long-term relationships that have given us informed insights into the personalities of each political party.

Firm Specialties:
The majority of our activity involves lobbying and representing clients' position before the Delaware Legislature for assistance with specific, issue-related projects. Our strength is in our ability to identify, and gain access to the key individuals who should hear our clients' point of view.

ROBERT BYRD. When the confusion, the divide and the intricacies are at their worst, if anyone can be counted upon to pick his way through, it is Bob. One of Bob's most memorable legislative achievements was the legalization of slot machines at the state's racetracks.

Bob can provide expert advice on legislation, government contracts, regulatory review, local government matters and congressional action and see it through by getting to the right people at the right time with the right touch. Bob has the background to work with everyone, from his days as a state representative with a blue-collar constituency to his time as the vice president and chief lobbyist of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce.

His leadership talents were recognized by his fellow legislators, who elected him the majority whip in the Delaware House of Representatives, and by Governor Ruth Ann Minner, who appointed him as the chair of the Delaware Economic & Financial Advisory Council, the panel responsible for the revenue projections that have kept the state's multi-billion-dollar budget balanced year after year. Bob's list of clients in Delaware in unequaled. It includes Aetna, Anheuser-Busch, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River & Bay, and the Medical Society of Delaware.

Full Profile

TANNER POLCE

(Delaware, )

ByrdGomes

tanner.polce@byrdgomes.com
10 Corporate Circle Suite 215, New Castle, DE, 19720,

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website, TAG Profile

ByrdGomes provides a balanced approach to contract lobbying that is unique in Delaware. Since we are politically active, we have established long-term relationships that have given us informed insights into the personalities of each political party.

Firm Specialties:
The majority of our activity involves lobbying and representing clients' position before the Delaware Legislature for assistance with specific, issue-related projects. Our strength is in our ability to identify, and gain access to the key individuals who should hear our clients' point of view.

Tanner Polce served as both the Chief of Staff (2023-2024) and Chief Advancement Officer (2020-2023) at the Brandywine Valley SPCA, the first tristate animal welfare organization in the nation. During his tenure, Tanner was responsible for revenue and fund development, external affairs, and strategies that support the organization's $20+ million in annual revenues. Tanner was also instrumental in the acquisitions strategies that brought the Human Society of Harrisburg Area (PA), the Animal Adoption Center (NJ), and most recently the Humane Society of Washington, DC into the BVSPCA management portfolio.

Prior, Tanner served years in numerous roles for the State of Delaware and as a Councilmember in the City of Dover. Tanner was senior staff in the Office of the Lt. Governor from 2016-2020. Prior to the role of Policy Director for the Office, he served as Legislative Aide to Senator David Sokola and then-Senator Hall-Long. In 2017, Tanner was elected to Dover City Council and served a term before electing to not seek re-election. His deep understanding of relationship management, policy and strategy has been instrumental in his past roles and in ensuring strategic growth, greater connections and key objectives are met.

Tanner holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Business Administration. Tanner and his wife, Shelby, live in Felton with their four dogs- Brutus, Allen, Marty and Charlotte. In their spare time, they are often planning their next travel adventure, watching their favorite soccer teams, or pitching in amongst a number of community service projects.

Full Profile

KIMBERLY GOMES

(Delaware, )

ByrdGomes

kim.gomes@byrdgroupllc.com
302-757-8303
ByrdGomes, 2 Penns Way Suite 305, New Castle, Delaware, 19720,

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website, TAG Profile

ByrdGomes provides a balanced approach to contract lobbying that is unique in Delaware. Since we are politically active, we have established long-term relationships that have given us informed insights into the personalities of each political party.

Firm Specialties:
The majority of our activity involves lobbying and representing clients' position before the Delaware Legislature for assistance with specific, issue-related projects. Our strength is in our ability to identify, and gain access to the key individuals who should hear our clients' point of view.

KIM GOMES became a lobbyist in her own unique way. She did not get here through politics or law or a cause. Her earliest interests had nothing to do with lobbying. She was a gymnast and a competitor in ballroom dancing. That led to a degree from the University of Delaware in fitness management, and that led to a position at the University of Delaware as the coordinator in charge of the fitness class program on the campus. From there, it was on to work at an insurance office and brokerage firm, except Kim was looking for a new direction, and she thought lobbying would be fun.

Of course she did. She had a taste for the unexpected. She had the slow heartbeat that comes from winning competitiveness. She had a practical foundation of business, organizational and management experience.

Kim added in an academic component by earning a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Delaware. One of the faculty members was Ed Freel, formerly the Delaware secretary of state, and he connected her with Bob Byrd. It clicked, and Kim joined the firm.

Kim's background has been a fine fit, even her ballroom dancing. She paired with Tom Cook, who was the Delaware secretary of finance, for a charity "Dancing with the Stars" event, where they were judged the best dancers. See? Kim was right all along that lobbying could be fun.

Full Profile

REBECCA BYRD

(Delaware, )

ByrdGomes

rebecca.byrd@byrdgomes.com
302-757-8306
ByrdGomes, 2 Penns Way Suite 305, New Castle, Delaware, 19720,

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website, TAG Profile

ByrdGomes provides a balanced approach to contract lobbying that is unique in Delaware. Since we are politically active, we have established long-term relationships that have given us informed insights into the personalities of each political party.

Firm Specialties:
The majority of our activity involves lobbying and representing clients' position before the Delaware Legislature for assistance with specific, issue-related projects. Our strength is in our ability to identify, and gain access to the key individuals who should hear our clients' point of view.

11-15 years

Member of the Delaware Bar Association
Member of the Maryland Bar Association

REBECCA BYRD knows government, policy and politics with the inside knowledge that comes from broad experience with all three branches of government, and she combines it with the perspective of a lawyer. She can draft legislation. She can lobby for it. She can decipher federal and state regulations.

There was a method to Rebecca's decision not to specialize in just anything. With the breadth of her background, she is ready for everything. Rebecca is a third-generation practitioner. Her grandmother was an aide to Gov. Sherman W. Tribbitt, her father is Bob Byrd, and here she is to carry on the family tradition. Rebecca was the deputy legal counsel to Governor Ruth Ann Minner and a deputy attorney general in the state Justice Department under Attorney General Beau Biden. She also clerked on the Delaware Supreme Court for Justices Carolyn Berger, Jack Jacobs and Henry duPont Ridgely and served as a liaison for the court to the General Assembly.

She is the author of articles on Delaware's Coastal Zone Act (Delaware Chamber of Commerce, 2016) and a co-author of "50 State Survey: The Law of Eminent Domain"" (American Bar Association, 2012). Rebecca is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association and the American Bar Association, where she is a member of the Business Law Section and its Government Affairs Committee. She is a graduate of the George Washington University and the Catholic University of America School of Law.

Full Profile

TROY NICHOLS

Troy Nichols, owner of The Nichols Group Government Relations, brings nearly thirty years of policy and political experience in the Pacific Northwest. He first moved to Washington State from Oregon to become the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business in 2007. Two years later he became the Director of Policy Development for the Washington State House Republican Caucus. Before joining PBGR in 2017, Troy served as Executive Officer of the Olympia Master Builders for three years.

1) AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL

2) American Promotional Events Northwest Inc. DBA TNT Fireworks

3) Capital Region ESD 113

4) City of Battle Ground

5) City of Shelton

6) DailyPay, Inc.

7) INVENERGY

8) KOCH GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS LLC & AFFILIATES

9) Lewis County

10) National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc.

11) PHILLIPS 66

12) Rivian Automotive LLC

13) Seabrook Land Company LLC

14) TECK AMERICAN/TECK WA

15) Tri-Cities Intermodal LLC

16) Washington School Information Processing Cooperative (WSIPC)

17) Water Quality Association

18) WILLAPA-GRAYS HARBOR OYSTER GROWERS ASSN

6-10 years

Troy's tactical approach to advocacy - for even the most unique public policy challenges facing Northwest industries - has been shaped over nearly three decades of policy experience in the Pacific Northwest. He specializes in providing strategic lobbying and consulting services, helping his diverse clients navigate Olympia politics and achieve their legislative, regulatory and state funding goals.

Prior to taking ownership of The Nichols Group Government Relations, Troy's broad experience gave him a unique perspective that can only come from first-hand experience over 25 years in campaigns, grassroots organization, trade association management, and serving as legislative staff:

As caucus staff liaison for the Washington House Capital Budget Committee, Troy helped to negotiate and pass several multi-billion dollar capital budgets during his tenure

As executive officer for a five-county trade association, Troy helped stop the association's decade-long decline in membership, balanced its annual budget for two years in a row, revamped several programs and racked up an impressive string of local policy and electoral victories; and

As Chief of Staff to the Oregon House Majority Leader and the Speaker of the Oregon House, Troy served as strategic counsel to state leaders on the most important and sensitive issues facing the state.

Troy believes in keeping The Nichols Group Government Relations a resourceful and nimble company so that its partners can work directly with clients on their specific policy challenges. A graduate of Western Oregon University, Troy also served on the City Council in Keizer, Oregon. He lives in rural Thurston County with his wife, Julie, a real estate attorney, and their two young children.