20+ years

We are available to discuss past achievements in many areas of government relations.

We work across branches and across all agencies of state government.

Ben Patterson grew up in Florence, Alabama. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama where he taught seminars in State and Local Government and American Politics until 1996.

Prior to joining Fine Geddie in 2004 he served as the Deputy Finance Director for the State of Alabama under two governors and helped guide both administrations' legislative efforts on fiscal issues. He also held the position of Chief Information Officer, overseeing the state's technology acquisitions in the late 1990s. During his tenures in state government, he gained a thorough understanding of government operations, procurement, information technology, state budgets and controls, and the complexities of Alabama's tax structure.

Ben Patterson also served as the Director of Government Relations for the Alabama Bankers Association from 2000 until 2003 where he was the principal advocate for the state banking industry. He began his lobbying career as a Manager of Legislative Affairs for the Business Council of Alabama in 1996.

6-10 years

Before joining Adams and Reese, MaryBeth was the Public Policy Manager for Alzheimer's Association. She gained experience drafting, lobbying, and passing legislation on federal, state, and regulatory levels; recruiting, training, and mobilizing advocates; supporting alliances with similar organizations; and cultivating relationships with key legislative members. MaryBeth was recognized by the Louisiana State Legislature for her advocacy work with the Alzheimer's Association.

MaryBeth represented the Alzheimer's Association in a variety of forms including testimony at committee meetings, public hearings, and media appearances. This experience leads to MaryBeth working closely with clients on researching, planning, and executing government relations strategies at the local and state levels in Louisiana, developing relationships at multiple levels of government, including municipal agencies, city councils, state agencies, stakeholders, and improving clients' community relations messaging for key government relations initiatives.

MaryBeth is a former Governmental Affairs Associate for The Louisiana State Medical Society, where among her accomplishments she recruited more than 250 contributors to the Louisiana Medical Political Action Committee (LAMPAC).

MaryBeth earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Information Sciences from The University of Alabama. There, she served as Student Government Director of Lobbying Affairs, leading a team of 40 student lobbyists, advocating for higher education funding, and conducting voter registration drives. Through her work, she received recognition for "Most Outstanding Member of the External Affairs Chamber." MaryBeth was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.

While in college, MaryBeth interned as a research assistant with The Department of Defense's Tuscaloosa office, assisting a professor contracted with Lockheed Martin and gathering data for a cross-national media monitoring project.

In the community, MaryBeth is a board member of the BREC Foundation. The mission of the BREC Foundation is to raise funds for parks and recreation to benefit the health, welfare, and culture in East Baton Rouge Parish.

15-20 years

Drew Duncan was born and raised in Parker, South Dakota. Drew graduated from Parker High School in 1994. In 1999 Drew graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In 2002 Drew received his law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law. During his time at USD, he served as the Student Board Association Vice-President his second year, and the Student Board Association President his third year. Drew was also a member of USD's Trial Team in 2002.

Following law school, Drew clerked for the Fifth Circuit Judge of the South Dakota Unified Judicial System in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Following his clerkship, he joined Zimmer, Duncan & Cole, LLP in 2003 and helped form The Duncan Law Firm, LLP in late 2017.

Drew has focused his practice on governmental affairs. Drew's practice also includes regulatory work with the State of South Dakota, criminal law, business services and family law.

Drew and his wife, Carrie, have two children, Olivia and Bennett. Drew is an avid golfer and outdoorsman and prides himself in being an active member of the community. He has served on the Board of Directors of the ParMar Valley Country Club, the Board of Directors of the Young Lawyers' Section of the South Dakota State Bar Association, the Executive Board of the South Dakota Republican Party, the Board of Directors of the South Dakota Arthritis Advisory Board, and the South Dakota Board of Elections.

Drew's representative clients include Eli Lilly Corporation, Heartland Consumers Power District, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Neighborhood Dental, the City of Parker, the South Dakota Collectors' Association, the South Dakota Insurance Alliance and Verizon Wireless.

BOB GEDDIE grew up in Elmore County and attended public schools in Robinson Springs and Wetumpka. After graduating from Marion Military Institute (A.A.) and Auburn University (BA), he joined the Washington staff of the late U.S. Senator John Sparkman as Sparksman's legislative assistant. He later coordinated Sparkman's Alabama offices. Geddie served for four years as Legislative Liaison and as Executive Assistant to Governor Fob James. He was the Governor's representative to the National Governor's Association, Interstate Mining Compact and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Commission. Prior to forming Fine Geddie & Associates in 1985, he was Director of State Governmental Affairs for Alabama Power Company.

20+ years

Ms. Parker served as Director of the Political Division for the Republican National Committee, managing a staff of more than 40 and coordinating all Republican races on the local, state and national levels. In addition, Ms. Parker has experience in managing a national political campaign that carried the states in which she was the lead political operative. Her years in Washington helped her develop lasting relationships on both sides of the aisle. Ms. Parker has over 10 years of experience working with telecommunication companies and dealing with those issues. She has represented entities including the SC Cable Television Association as well as AT&T. For five years, Ms. Parker served as Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, where she successfully lobbied the General Assembly for issues impacting urban areas.

15-20 years

Best Lawyers 2016 Lawyer of the Year, Government Relations Practice, Providence.
Best Lawyers 2015 Lawyer of the Year, Administrative / Regulatory, Providence.
Best Lawyers 2013 Lawyer of the Year, Government Relations Practice, Providence.
Selected as a Rhode Island Super Lawyer, 2013, 2016 and 2017.
AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for attorneys.
Selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2007 & 2018 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of governmental relations and administrative law.

Director, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce.
Member, American Bar Association's Governmental, Fidelity/Surety and Energy sections.
Defense Research Institute member.

Skilled in governmental relations and legislative issues, Richard assists domestic and international companies to succeed and grow, in both regulated and deregulated industries including energy and telecommunications, financial services, health care, insurance, retail, real estate development, entertainment and manufacturing.

His considerable energy experience includes representing domestic and foreign energy companies in developing New England generation facilities. He served as lead counsel in the siting of Rhode Island's largest electric generation plant. He is currently engaged in the permitting process for a 1000 MW power plant.

Richard also has broad experience in litigation matters where he defends insured and self-insured clients in health care litigation, construction accidents, professional liability, product liability, premises liability, corrections actions and director and officer liability matters as well as representing fidelity and surety companies in the litigation of fiduciary/inventory loss and construction disputes.

20+ years

Successfully passed wide range of policy legislation including legislation in the policy areas listed above;

Successfully secured funding in the Capital, Transportation, and Operating budgets for a variety of clients and projects;

Effectively prevented passage or amended legislation determined to be detrimental to all clients;

Coordinated broad grassroots outreach and engagement efforts designed to develop and strengthen relationships with legislators across the political spectrum; and

Created and successfully deployed campaign resources and independent expenditures to support targeted legislative races.

With over 24 years of experience, Vicki is a seasoned strategist whose work has shaped public policy at the state legislative, executive, and agency levels. Her ability to navigate complex regulatory frameworks and her deep understanding of the political process have delivered exceptional results for her clients. Vicki's expertise extends beyond Olympia, offering valuable insights into public affairs strategies that amplify client success.