15-20 years

Brian Flynn is senior vice president and director of McGuireWoods Consulting's South Carolina government relations group. He advises a diverse group of clients on government affairs strategies at both the state and national levels. Through his national practice, Brian works with Fortune 500 companies and leading trade associations to navigate complex legislative, regulatory and public policy issues.

In South Carolina, Brian represents clients before the General Assembly, executive branch agencies and local governments across a wide range of industries and policy areas.

His experience includes work in energy, health care, transportation, pharmaceuticals, alcohol beverage regulation, retail and nonprofit advocacy. Brian has extensive experience developing and implementing integrated government affairs, grassroots advocacy and public affairs strategies for clients.

An Eagle Scout, Brian graduated from The Citadel and was commissioned as a military intelligence officer in the United States Army. In 2010, he deployed to Afghanistan with the 1-178th Field Artillery Battalion, where he served as the unit's tactical intelligence officer. After 22 years of military service, Brian retired from the South Carolina Army National Guard, where he most recently served as a legislative liaison.

Before joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Brian worked on numerous political and grassroots campaigns throughout South Carolina. He has been recognized in the Columbia Regional Business Report Book of Lists as one of the state's top lobbyists for three consecutive years (2024 - 2026).

Brian lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with his wife, Rachel, and their two daughters.

PAUL DONOVAN's practice is focused in the area of government relations, including representation before government bodies at the local, state and federal levels. He has extensive experience representing clients before the Massachusetts General Court, where he has been successful helping clients meet their governmental objectives.

Paul worked for 10 years at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, earning a seat on the Sheriff's Department management team. In addition, Paul provided counsel to the Massachusetts Sheriffs' Association on various legislative issues. Paul has been involved in numerous political campaigns, including a 1993 Boston mayoral campaign, in which he was responsible for directing a field operation of more than 2,500 people. Prior to establishing Kearney, Donovan, and McGee, LLC, Mr. Donovan was a member of the government practice group of Choate, Hall & Stewart.

6-10 years

Built a proven record of winning tough floor fights in New Hampshire's 400-member House of Representatives on a myriad of issues.

I've stopped harmful committee recommendations, overturned committee votes, adopted emergency floor amendments, used creative solutions to stop legislation from advancing, and scripted floor fights and debates for members.

Passed the region's most aggressive biodiesel production credit into law and guided the state's largest biodiesel producer through the entirety of the process from drafting to rulemaking. I then advocated for loosening of regulations on the use of biodiesel by large energy consumers and the state government to further increase the client's potential revenues.

As a freshman lobbyist, I was named "Rookie of the Year" by my colleagues.

I worked with a coalition of healthcare providers and lobbyists to stop a workers' compensation fee schedule. Our efforts successfully overturned the House Labor committee's recommendation on the House floor to pass the coalition's desired floor amendment which was signed into law. The client's amendment has since lowered worker's compensation costs by ~10% and did so without a fee schedule.

I have guided clients through successful issue advocacy campaigns during the First in the Nation primary. Deliverables involved getting Presidential candidates on the record, one-on-one meetings with candidates or senior level staff, grassroots organizing, event planning, press opportunities, and earned media for the client.

Served as the State Director to the New Hampshire Energy Forum where I provided grass tops lobbying and communications consulting to one of the nation's largest energy trade associations; I was instrumental in successfully changing Federal laws and Executive guidelines surrounding ozone and air quality regulations, energy exports, and energy infrastructure.

Provided strategic communications consulting for state legislators and stakeholders to lobby New Hampshire's Federal delegation to change mandates in the Affordable Care Act on behalf of a coalition of insurance providers. Our coalition was victorious in these efforts.

I've worked as a political & fundraising consultant to numerous State Senators, Executive Councilors, State Representatives, and County officials.

Work Experience:
Government and Public Affairs Advisor, Preti Strategies, Concord, NH, December 2019 to Present
Government Relations Advisor, Dennehy & Bouley, Concord, NH, December 2014 to November 2019
New Hampshire Field Organizer, Republican National Committee, 2014
Bill Status Aide, New Hampshire State Senate Clerk's Office, 2013

Political Experience:
Republican Political & Fundraising Consultant for State Senators, Executive Councilors, State Representatives and County officials, 2014- Present
Vice Chairman- Region 2, New Hampshire Republican State Committee, 2017-2018
Voting Member, New Hampshire Republican State Committee, 2014-Current

Education:
University of New Hampshire, BA, Political Science

FRANCIS X. MCMAHON, ESQ., the founder and president of Advocacy Solutions, has deep expertise in ally development, grassroots and grasstops coalition building, strategic communications management, and online advocacy for clients in a wide range of industries including healthcare, telecommunications, energy, and transportation.

Over the course of his career, Frank has been a key staff member and advisor on many winning political and issue campaigns. He served as Special Counsel and Deputy Chief of Staff to Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun and has led campaigns for Honda Motor Corporation, Verizon, and National Grid.

An avid Friar basketball fan, Frank is a graduate of Providence College, Suffolk University Law School, and a member of the Rhode Island State and Federal Bar Association.

20+ years

Professional Highlights

Legislative Director to Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, responsible for leading the administration's legislative and public policy agenda

Infrastructure Investment Coordinator, managing Alaska's implementation of the $1.2 trillion federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)

AVP Government Relations for the University of Alaska, managing federal, state, and local affairs

VP External Affairs & Government Relations for the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation

State Director for U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski and policy advisor in her Washington D.C office

Senior budget and appropriations staff for the Alaska Senate Finance Committee

Chief of Staff to State Senator Bert Stedman

Six-Sigma Black Belt at NBC Entertainment

National Director of Sales and Marketing at Sony-BMG Music

U.S. Marine Corps logistics officer

Research partner with the Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) at UAF's International Arctic Research Center

Adjunct Professor of Strategic Management at the University of Alaska Anchorage, College of Business and Public Policy

B.S. in Ocean Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management

Veteran, U.S. Marine Corps Officer and U.S. Naval Academy graduate
State Director, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski
Legislative Director, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy
Senior Budget and Appropriations Staff, Senate Finance Committee
VP External Affairs, Alaska Gasline Development Corporation
VP Government Relations, University of Alaska System
Six Sigma Blackbelt, NBC Entertainment
Director of Sales & Marketing, Sony/BMG Music
Research partner, Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) at UAF's International Arctic Research Center
Adjunct Professor of Strategic Management , University of Alaska Anchorage, College of Business and Public Policy

Miles Baker is a second-generation Alaskan with 20+ years of experience in public policy, government relations, and strategic communications in the state. He has held leadership roles in the executive, legislative and congressional branches of government, and managed complex policy initiatives through a range of public and legislative processes. He is founder and Managing Principal of Miles Baker Alaska, a Juneau and Anchorage based lobbying and strategic consulting firm.

He was State Director for U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Legislative Director for Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, VP Government Relations for the University of Alaska System, VP External Affairs for the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, and a senior budget and appropriations staffer to the Alaska State Senate.

Miles was an entertainment executive in Los Angeles, a Six-Sigma Black Belt at NBC Entertainment, and National Director of Sales and Marketing with Sony-BMG's classical and jazz division. He began his media career in artist development at Island Records and Arista Records.

A former U.S. Marine Corps Captain, Miles holds a BS in Ocean Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management.

MICHELLE MCGEE focuses her practice on government affairs representation before government bodies at the local, state and federal levels. She has extensive experience representing clients' interests before both the Massachusetts and Connecticut legislative and executive branches of government. Formerly, Michelle worked at New England Electric System (now National Grid) where she developed and implemented comprehensive legislative and external strategies to achieve New England Electric's public policy initiatives in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. Prior to establishing Kearney, Donovan & McGee, LLC, Ms. McGee was a member of the government affairs practice group at Choate, Hall & Stewart.

15-20 years

Has been named to the Columbia Regional Business Report Book of Lists as a top lobbyist for three consecutive years (2024 - 2026).

South Carolina General Assembly, Governor's Office and state agencies

Amber is a senior vice president of state government relations, assisting clients with traditional advocacy, lobbying and government relations services in matters before the South Carolina General Assembly and regulatory agencies. She has experience working with clients across industry sectors, including education, financial services, healthcare and energy. She assists clients with a variety of issues and has particular depth in the areas of non-profit advocacy and state budget requests. In addition, Amber works with multiple trade and business associations, managing programs, events, communications, membership, among other services.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Amber served as the director of government relations for the South Carolina Bankers Association. In that capacity, she was responsible for coordinating the organization's lobbying and legislative efforts at the state and federal level. Before that, Amber served as a leadership consultant for Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and traveled the country working with collegiate women on leadership and organizational management. She is a former intern of the Hodges Consulting Group, which was headed by former South Carolina governor and MWC president Jim Hodges.

Amber serves as the vice president of the South Carolina Girls State Foundation Board. She has been named to the Columbia Regional Business Report Book of Lists as a top lobbyist for three consecutive years (2024 - 2026).

ANTHONY PETRUCCELLI came to Kearney, Donovan & McGee LLC with extensive experience at the municipal and state levels of government in Massachusetts. First elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1999 and then the Massachusetts Senate in 2007, Anthony is well-versed in legislative issues and is able to use his unique perspective to successfully advocate for his clients' interests.

11-15 years

A native of Buckhannon, West Virginia, Frank Hartman received his B.A. in American Studies (an American Literature and American History combined program) at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. Upon graduation, he was selected as a Teach for America corps member and served a full two year term as a fourth grade teacher in Baldwin, Louisiana.Accepted at the West Virginia University College of Law, Frank deferred his enrollment to become the statewide field coordinator for the 1996 Joe Manchin for Governor Campaign.After graduating from WVU, he clerked for the Honorable Thomas H. Keadle, Chief Judge of the 26th Judicial Circuit, and then established a family law firm in his home town of Buckhannon. While at Hartman & Hartman, he managed an extensive civil and criminal caseload. Five years into practicing law, Frankreceived a gubernatorial appointment to the West Virginia Insurance Commission as the Consumer Advocate. There he was responsible for the prosecution of consumer complaints in administrative hearings and for monitoring hospital rate filings and certificate of need applications.Hartman served as Consumer Advocate until joining the Charleston law firm of Lewis, Glasser, Casey & Rollins, where he had the opportunity to work with some of the most experienced lawyers in the valley. At Lewis Glasser, Frank litigated real estate, tort, contract, and election law in state court and was a registered lobbyist for business and civil rights interests in West Virginia. Frank is also the founding member of Hartman Law & Government Affairs, PLLC, focusing on litigation, administrative and election law, and criminal defense. A graduate of the 2009 class of Leadership West Virginia, he is a former member of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Committee and former chairman of the Upshur County Democratic Party and current member of the West Virginia Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

11-15 years

114th Texas Secretary of State; 52nd Texas Attorney General appointed by Gov. Abbott; Chair-Texas Department of Information Resources; Deputy Attorney General-Texas; Chief Operating Officer HHSC; Board member Texas Infectious Disease Committee; Chair-Texas Border Transportation Committee; and Chair-Texas Medicaid Fraud Task Force.

Texas attorney since 1988. 114th Texas Secretary of State; 52nd Texas Attorney General appointed by Gov. Abbott; Chair-Texas Department of Information Resources; Deputy Attorney General-Texas; Chief Operating Officer HHSC; Board member Texas Infectious Disease Committee; Chair-Texas Border Transportation Committee; and Chair-Texas Medicaid Fraud Task Force.

11-15 years

Chairman, WV Utilities, Telecommunications and Energy Coalition Leadership West Virginia Class of 2012
Purple Ribbon Award, WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Member of West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Member, WV Utilities, Telecommunications & Energy Coalition
Member West Virginia Press Association
Member WV Business & Industry Council
Member Gas & Oil Assoc. of West Virginia

Scott Cosco was Manager of Governmental and External Affairs for Frontier Communications, a publicly held telecommunications company. He worked with public officials on telecommunications and broadband matters.

Prior to working for Frontier, Scott served in several capacities for Governor Joe Manchin, now a member of the United States Senate. As Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for Governor Manchin, Scott researched prospective state board and commission members on behalf of the Governor and followed through with more than 2,000 appointments. He also was Governor Manchin's state representative for the National Governors Association and Southern Governors Association.

Scott also worked for Senator Manchin when he was West Virginia Secretary of State, helping register 41,000 high school seniors to vote. Before entering government service, Scott was Director of Marketing and Creative Services for six of his 10 years at WOWK-TV in the Charleston/Huntington market.

Scott earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Marshall University.

CHARLENE RIDEOUT provides government relations and lobbying services to clients of Kearney Donovan & McGee, P.C. Formerly, Ms. Rideout served as Intergovernmental Affairs Manager for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). In that capacity, she was responsible for implementing legislative and regulatory strategies as well as promoting and advocating MWRA's legislative agenda. Prior to working at MWRA, Ms. Rideout was legislative director for the Massachusetts State Senate Assistant Majority Leader and Senate Chair of the Banks and Banking Committee.