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Links:LinkedIn

"There's nothing more rewarding than building coalitions, navigating tough terrain, and getting the win."

20+ years

Expertise: Crafting winning strategies at the intersection of politics, policy, and public affairs.

With over 30 years of experience across campaigns, government, and advocacy, Josh has built a career driving results where it matters most: behind the scenes and ahead of the curve. As a trusted advisor to Governors, legislative leaders, and grassroots movements, he brings a rare blend of political instinct, strategic discipline, and deep institutional knowledge.

Strategic Approach: Whether running campaigns or navigating the complexities of government, Josh leads with experience, precision, and a clear-eyed view of how to move the levers of power.

Unique Ability: Turning relationships into results and translating political dynamics into strategic advantage for clients and causes.

I have worked with the South Carolina Legislature, state agencies and Constitutional Officers for over 15 years. I am highly experienced in navigating the state appropriations legislative processes. I am highly skilled at assisting clients by identifying multiple pathways to achieve the intended goals and outcomes.

0-5 years

Prior to joining Adams and Reese, Emily served as the Director of Government Affairs for the South Carolina Department of Education. In this role, she served as the liaison between the agency and South Carolina's General Assembly, the Governor, the Congressional Delegation, other state agencies and stakeholder groups. Additionally, during the legislative session she provided public testimony during hearings, coordinated agency policy development, and annually facilitated the agency budget request through the Governor's Office and the General Assembly.

Emily also spent seven years within the South Carolina House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee, serving as a budget analyst with involvement in the Health and Human Services Budget Subcommittee and the Public Education and Special Schools Subcommittee. Her work included coordinating the passage of $2 billion in state appropriations through the budget process and coordinating communication between the General Assembly, the state's school districts and the South Carolina Department of Education, as well as a variety of legislation affecting K-12 education, property tax, and sales and use tax.

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website

Lisa has over 20 years experience in government and private sector work. Prior to joining Capitol Advantage, she served as Director of Government Affairs for a large statewide trade association. She has experience building and executing strategy for a wide range of issues such as environmental, tax, workers compensation, land use and professional licensing. Lisa is highly respected and has a successful track record advocating before the Legislature, Executive Branch agencies and various commissions and licensing boards. She is also consistently ranked on the list of "Most Influential Lobbyists in the General Assembly."

20+ years

Mike became Managing Principal of Maine Street Solutions and Counsel to Verrill following his service as a member of the Maine House of Representatives (1995-2002) and as Speaker of the Maine House (2000-2002). Mike brings over 30 years of professional public policy experience, through his service an elected official, a campaign operative, state and federal policy staff, and lobbying at all levels of government. Through those experiences, Mike and the Maine Street Solutions team provide a cutting-edge combination of services to clients.

15-20 years

Mike was named 2021, 2020 and 2013 (27th, 26th and 19th editions) "Lawyer of the Year" by his peers (BestLawyers.com), for his work in Government Relations Practice, and has been listed in the same publication every year as a top Maine lawyer.

In 2020, Mike received the Katahdin Counsel Recognition Program's certificate of commendation for completion of over 50 hours of pro bono work.

  • All of us at Vaccinate Your Family owe Mike Saxl and his team a debt of gratitude for the support they offered us in dealing with the Maine Ethics Commission. Had Maine Street Solutions not been by our side, I have no doubt that we would have had a very different outcome. We would recommend Maine Street Solutions to anyone looking for support as they navigate government relations in Maine. - AMY PISANI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VACCINATE YOUR FAMILY
  • When it comes to quietly navigating the waters of State Government and the rule making process nobody beats the team at Maine Street Solutions. Faced with goals we have been working to achieve throughout Maine and the country for a number of years, the team at Maine Street Solutions efficiently and strategically placed our interests in front of key decision makers and delivered a great result. Now we're working with Maine Street Solutions around national strategies involving our products and looking to make our success in Maine the road map for success around the country. - CHUCK RIEGLE, TOMRA NORTHAMERICA
  • When the Maine State Chamber of Commerce decided to take a leadership role in the tax debate we called on Maine Street Solutions. With their help we crafted a multilateral strategy that integrated electoral politics, model public policy and statehouse know-how. In a few short months, we were able to frame the debate and to create a sense of urgency in legislators. During the first thirty days of the legislature the Governor signed the bill that we supported. We couldn't have been successful without the team at Maine Street Solutions. - DANA CONNORS, MAINE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
  • We have been continually impressed with the Maine Street team. They were unflagging in their efforts to help us secure state funding and we would not have been successful without their support. Sometimes with pro bono arrangements you can feel as if you're being placed on the back burner, but we have never felt that way in our work with Maine Street Solutions. - KRISTEN MIALE, PRESIDENT, GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD BANK???????
  • At Maine Street Solutions, Mike and the team serve everyone from fortune 50 companies to the local statewide food bank. They believe in a multi-lateral strategic approach to problem solving wherein they leave egos aside and focus on achieving positive results for clients. Mike and the team do not believe in silos in government relations. They know that everyone on the team needs to have the right information so they can provide the right message to the right person at the right time. They also know that to broaden the impact of their client's message they need to use all the levers of communication: from direct advocacy to media relations, from grass roots influencing to social media, from legal advocacy to coalition building. Mike and the team know that this integrated, strategic approach brings the best chance of success for clients. AT MSS, Mike and the team are extremely competitive and want their clients to always win.
    Mike and the team frequently work with clients on national strategies using Maine as a test-case to hone messages, tactics, and policy, and then help those clients develop a national strategic approach to implement their strategy. Through that work they have achieved great successes across the country, ranging from expanding access to prescription drugs and healthcare to creating best practices for good government initiatives.
    If an issue touches the public, whether it be government or community relations, crisis communications or procurement, national or local issues, the MSS team has the relationships and skills to advance your interest.
    Mike grew up in Bangor, graduated from Bowdoin College and the University of Maine School of Law, represented the West End of Portland in the Legislature and currently resides in Belgrade with his wife and daughter. When Mike is not on the phone with a client or lawmaker, he can be frequently found walking in the woods near his home with the family dog, Dory.

    HOLLY DESHIELDS

    (Texas)

    Subjects: All Subjects

    Links:Website

    Holly Deshields is Director of the McGuireWoods Consulting Austin office and senior vice president of State Government Relations where she assists clients by lobbying and consulting on issues related to economic development, education, healthcare, finance, and state and local affairs.

    6-10 years

    She has been recognized by Capitol Inside in 2015 as a "Rising Star" in Texas politics and in 2016, was selected as the winner for Austin Under 40's government and public affairs industry category.

    Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting in 2012, Holly served as chief of staff to Texas State Senator Mike Jackson and worked in the Texas Senate for over a decade building strong relationships with state legislators, capitol staff, executive branch and regulatory agencies.

    Holly volunteers in various capacities around Central Texas. She is an active member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center's Advance Team and also founded Young Texans of Cancer's Austin Chapter. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and is a Kappa Alpha Theta alumni and Texas Ex. She enjoys spending her free time with her son, Hunt, and golden retriever, Winnie.

    RICK ABBRUZZESE

    (Maryland)
    • 410-685-7080

    • 800 North Charles StreetSuite 500BaltimoreMD21201

    SLATER BAYLISS

    (Florida)
    Clients:

    ELIZABETH MANGHAM

    (Louisiana)
    • 225-381-0166

    • 543 SPANISH TOWN RDBATON ROUGELouisiana70802

    ALISON RAMEY

    (California)
    • 9164463413

    • SACRAMENTOCA95814

    Clients:

    STEPHEN SHIVER

    (Florida)
    Clients:
    • (850) 222-8900

    • 204 S Monroe StTallahasseeFL32301

    Clients:

    MARTIN VINDIOLA

    (California)
    Clients:

    SCOTT WETCH

    (California)
    • 9164463413

    • SACRAMENTOCA95814

    Clients: