15-20 years

Steve Wise joined the Firm in 2002 and became a partner in 2008. Early in his career with the Firm he was recognized by the The Gazette as one of the "Rising Stars" of the State House lobbying corps, and he has consistently ranked among the top earning lobbyists in Annapolis since that time.

Steve represents a diverse group of clients before the General Assembly and State agencies, including trade associations and companies in the alcoholic beverage, insurance, gaming, health care, telecommunications and environmental industries.

Mr. Wise's legal practice focuses on administrative law and regulatory matters. He has appeared before the Liquor Boards in 16 of Maryland's 24 jurisdictions and before the Office of the Comptroller, representing alcoholic beverage licensees on licensing and enforcement matters. Steve also represents health care professionals in licensing and disciplinary proceedings before the Board of Physicians, insurance producers and premium finance companies before the Insurance Administration, and has represented maritime-related industries before the Department of Natural Resources. Steve has appeared in many of the State's Circuit Courts, and litigated cases both before the Court of Special Appeals and Court of Appeals.

Steve received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 1991 and his Masters degree in Public Administration in 1994, both from Florida State University. He graduated cum laude from the University Of Baltimore School Of Law in 2001, and he is admitted to the Maryland State Bar as well as the U.S. District Court for Maryland. Mr. Wise was born and raised on Maryland's Eastern Shore in Denton, and now resides in Annapolis with his wife Amy and twin sons.

15-20 years

Danna L. Kauffman, Esq. joined the firm in 2013 and became a partner in 2017. Throughout her career Danna has worked in various levels of State government and in the private sector. She has established a reputation as a problem solver and consensus builder who can handle complicated issues in a trusted and professional manner.

Beginning in 1997, Danna served as Counsel to the then House Environmental Matters Committee, working on complex health care issues, and then spent three years as a senior legislative advisor to Governor Glendening, where she worked on a wide range of issues in the areas of health, environment, civil rights and homeland security. Immediately prior to joining the Firm, Danna served as the Senior Vice President of Public Policy for LifeSpan Network, the leading senior care provider association in Maryland.

Raised in Howard County, Maryland, Danna holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from Towson University, where she graduated cum laude. In 1996, she graduated with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law, where she was an editor on the Maryland Law Review. Prior to entering State government service, Danna began her career as a litigation attorney at Smith, Somerville and Case, P.A. Danna resides in Annapolis with her husband and two children.

20+ years

Mark earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. in 1993 and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Montana in 1997.

Mark has extensive experience in a wide variety of business, legislative, and regulatory matters, representing client interests before the Montana Legislature, and Montana's State and Federal Courts. In addition, Mark's business consulting activities extend to more than 25 states in a variety of topics, primarily focusing on information technology and public safety initiatives.

In the health care arena, Mark previously served as general counsel to the Montana Hospital Association for nearly 15 years. In addition, he has served as counsel to more than a dozen hospitals across Montana on various matters. Mark is well-recognized in the hospital regulatory arena in Montana, including having been published in several hospital-related trade publications. He currently serves as Chair of the St. Peter's Hospital Board of Directors, is a member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana Advisory Board, is on the Pontifical Gregorian University Foundation Board and the Sacred Story Institute Board, and several other corporate boards.

Mark was born and raised in Central Montana (near Lewistown), where he and his family continue to operate their family farm and ranch. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Elaine, and their two daughters, Morgan and Raegan. Mark also enjoys hunting, golfing, fishing, and traveling.

Estie is recognized statewide as one of the most effective lobbyists in Tennessee and is respected for her advocacy and loyalty. She has been working in or around the Tennessee General Assembly since the late 1980s and legislators and peers consider her to be a subject matter expert in the state budget process and the unique needs of health care providers.

Clients and lawmakers appreciate her thorough understanding of the state legislative and political process and its key players. Her attention to detail and commitment to doing it right the first time has built long-term friendships with many of the state's elected officials and their staff. Estie joined Harris Frazier Government Relations in 1994, one of the state's oldest lobbying firms, and helped lead its consolidation into HBS in 2025 as HBS Tennessee.

Her work has impacted issues as diverse as judicial selection, the Tennessee Lottery, special payments to hospitals, pay equity for those providing services to the intellectually disabled, and the needs of providers of behavioral health services.

Estie is actively involved in her middle Tennessee community. In 2024, her dedication and impact were recognized when she was named a Nashville Business Journal Women of Influence Top Executive honoree.

Estie earned a bachelor's in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University.

Meagan and her family have called rural middle Tennessee home for eight generations. As an experienced lobbyist she puts that pride in the state to work in achieving great things for her clients. She is widely recognized for her knowledge of the Tennessee General Assembly's rules and procedures as well as her long-held relationships within all three branches of state government. She has successfully guided clients through complex issues such as prescription safety regulations, state funding needs and professional licensing requirements.

Lawmakers and their staff turn to Meagan as a trusted resource of information during the legislative process and recognized for her successful work in agriculture and transportation policy as well as child welfare. Her success and well-founded reputation as an honest broker have proven to be invaluable to her clients and protecting their interests.

Meagan joined the state's oldest lobbying firm, Harris Frazier Government Relations, in 2003 and became a partner in 2008. She most recently helped lead its consolidation into HBS in 2025 as HBS Tennessee. Earlier in her career she held staff positions in the Tennessee House of Representatives and the state Treasury Department.

Meagan is the former President of the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Lobbyist Association and today serves in leadership positions on numerous non-profit boards and co-founded CASA of Dickson County to advocate for abused and neglected children in her community.

Meagan is a licensed attorney in Tennessee and earned a JD from Nashville School of Law and a bachelor's in public relations from Middle Tennessee State University.

DAVID A. SMITH is a partner in the Princeton Public Affairs Group, is a veteran of the public affairs arena and has successfully managed public affairs campaigns impacting auto insurance, life insurance, tort reform and environmental legislative initiatives. Mr. Smith received national acclaim when he was honored with a ""Pollie Award"" by the American Association of Political Consultants and named to their United States ""Public Affairs Team of the Year." Mr. Smith was also named one of the most influential players in New Jersey's Healthcare arena by the Annual HealthSense Listing. Since 2005, Mr. Smith has been a Commissioner on the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (nominated by the Governor for two separate four year terms and confirmed by the NJ Senate) and currently serves as an Officer on the Commission (Secretary). Mr. Smith serves on the National Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council, and was one of the few contract lobbyists in the Country to be appointed to a National Task Force charged with creating ethical standard for lobbyists throughout the United States. Mr. Smith is a founder and member of the Board of Directors of ProtectingAmerica.org, an advocacy organization Co-chaired by James Lee Witt, former Cabinet member under President Clinton and Admiral James Loy, Deputy Director of Homeland Security under President Bush. Mr. Smith also serves as an Officer (1st Vice President) of the New Jersey Hall of Fame Foundation Board of Directors and also serves on the Executive Committee (Secretary) of The Advocacy Group (TAG). Finally, Mr. Smith serves on the Board of Directors as an officer (Treasurer) of the State Capitol Insurance Company RRG, the first professional liability company for lobbyists headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mr. Smith has appeared on television and radio stations representing clients' interests, authored dozens of articles on politics/policy issues in New Jersey and is a frequent guest speaker/lecturer at national and state conferences, legislative hearings, meetings and seminars. He has been a consultant to statewide and legislative political campaigns and is a member of the Executive Finance Committee of the Assembly Democratic Leadership Committee as well as the New Jersey State Democratic Committee. Prior to joining the firm in 1995, Mr. Smith served as Director of Policy and Planning for the New Jersey General Assembly Democratic Office. In that capacity, Mr. Smith supervised the partisan staff of all Assembly Committees and Task Forces while serving as senior staff aide to the insurance and commerce legislative committees. He was a Director with the New Jersey Dental Association from 1985 to 1990 and served on several national and state health care and insurance advisory committees.

Mr. Smith was awarded a Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) Degree from the Richard D. Irwin Graduate School of The American College. He is a Graduate Fellow of the Public Affairs Institute, a three year educational program of the Public Affairs Council located in Washington, DC. Mr. Smith also graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science from Gettysburg College.