20+ years

Dell Sales & Government Affairs Award
American Academy of Ophthalmology Public Service Award

BICKFORD PACIFIC GROUP (BPG) has over 25 years experience specializing in all aspects of government, legislative, state administration and local assembly/city council. BPG has been recognized as one of Alaska's top 10 lobbyists with a client list that includes Fortune Top 500 companies. BPG clients benefit from our trusted bipartisan relationships that have resulted in successful outcomes.

Whether you are seeking to enact or defeat legislation on a state or local level, BPG has a proven success record.

Firm Specialties:
Lobbying local & state
Digital/social media advocacy
Grassroots/grasstops
Strategist specialist
Communications/public relations
Crisis management

FRANK BICKFORD, before becoming a lobbyist was a staffer in the early 80's for then U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski, Former State Senator Fritz Pettyjohn and managed Congressman Don Young's campaign in 1984. Frank has been a state lobbyist since the year 2000, with a host of clients and excellent reputation among Democrat, Republican and Independent elected officials.

20+ years

Josh Hughes is a Senior Vice President, lobbyist and attorney at Capitol Consulting. He brings to Capitol Consulting a solid reputation with over 15-years of experience as a Capitol insider with extensive knowledge of the legislative process and policymakers. Over the years, Josh's network of contacts has provided his clients with access to all levels of state government in the legislative, administrative and executive branches. He has a reputation of working tirelessly to achieve successful results for the clients he is privileged to serve.

During his State Capitol lobbying career Josh has provided leadership and strategic advice to numerous corporations, state and national associations as well as nonprofit organizations including Tesla Motors Inc., Caterpillar, the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA), Greenskies Renewable Energy, the Association of American Publishers, the Corporation for Battery Recycling (Duracell, Panasonic and Energizer), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Splunk Inc., alcohol retailers, distillers and wholesalers. Josh also continues to work with legislative campaigns in both parties bolstering the bipartisan connections of the firm.

Before becoming a State Capitol lobbyist, while in law school Josh was an intern with CB Richard Ellis commercial real estate in New York City. Prior to that Josh worked in the sales department of John Hancock Mutual Funds in Boston. In addition, he was on the account team of Ingall's Advertising.

Josh received his Bachelor of Arts degree in American Literature with a minor in Environmental Studies from Hartwick College. He received a Juris Doctorate degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Lawless was a legislative director for a health care network for over four years. In addition, she worked as a project manager for a real estate development company and was a policy consultant. She worked as a deputy policy director for a candidate for Governor, and she was the Pennsylvania state campaign director for the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI National). Ms. Lawless was a public affairs/legislative director for the American Society for Pharmaceutical and Experimental Therapeutics and the American Society for Nutrition for 10 years.

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.

0-5 years

Interceded on behalf of a client with a state agency to resolve compliance matters, working directly with the agency commissioner. In the next budget, successfully appealed the agency's insufficient 5% proposed daily rate increase for the provided services, which resulted in an increase of 37%.

Blocked a state agency's efforts to prevent a client's association members from continuing to conduct business in New Hampshire.

Opened up new opportunities for a renewable energy client by shepherding a bill we created for them through the legislative process to the governor's desk for signature.

As Senate president, I guided policy discussions and negotiations on all major policy issues, including renewable energy, insurance, business regulation and retirement system reform.

Led Senate efforts on budgets for four fiscal years, one of which erased a projected $800 million budget deficit without raising taxes or fees.

Led the Senate Republican Caucus to create policy agendas and then developed effective strategy and tactics that resulted in successful implementation of that agenda, even with a governor of the opposing party.

Senior Policy Advisor at Preti Strategies

Legislative:
President, NH State Senate
Minority Leader, NH State Senate
State Senator - Committee Assignments Included: Commerce; Education (Chair); Energy and Natural Resources; Finance; Health and Human Services; Internal Affairs
Clerk, House Election Law Committee

Business:
Executive Director, HealthTrust (health insurance and public employee benefits risk pool, covering over 70,000 lives)
President and co-Founder, Achieve! Technology (an Inc. 500 company developing regulatory compliance software)


Education:
UMass-Lowell, BS Computer Science

20+ years

Since 1989, Mr. Dugan has been lobbying legislators, state agency officials, constitutional officers and municipal officials on behalf of a wide variety of clients. As a Capitol lobbyist, Mr. Dugan has assisted numerous corporations, associations and nonprofits navigate the halls of state government. Clients have come to rely on his strategic counsel and advice to achieve success on their legislative and regulatory agendas.

During his over two decades of lobbying Mr. Dugan has represented dozens of clients before state government, included but not limited to: Coca-Cola, Pepsico, Visa, eBay, Diebold Election Systems, Connecticut Society of CPAs, Outdoor Advertisers, Emergency Physicians, Funeral Directors, Physical Therapist, School Psychologists, Town Clerks, The Trust for Public Land and the Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut.

Prior to becoming a Capitol lobbyist, Mike was the 2nd Congressional District Campaign Coordinator for the successful 1986 campaign of then Governor William A. O'Neill. Following that campaign he was the Legislative Assistant for two different Speakers of the Connecticut House of Representatives.

Mr. Dugan was recognized by Hartford Magazine as one of the "Players" among the Lobbyists at the State Capitol. He continues to be active politically, serving as an advisor on numerous statewide and local campaigns. He has served as a delegate to several state and congressional conventions.

20+ years

Liz Connelly joins Capitol Consulting as a Government Relations Associate after more than six years on staff in the Connecticut General Assembly. Liz began her tenure with House Democrats as a top advisor to then House Majority Leader Joe Aresimowicz (Berlin and Southington). When Rep. Aresimowicz was elected Speaker of the House, Liz was then promoted to Senior Legislative and Communications Advisor to Speaker of the House. During her time as a senior advisor to the Speaker, Liz developed and maintains a wide network of legislators, state agency, staff and advocacy organizations. In addition, she was responsible for dealing and negotiating with numerous business and industry representatives on behalf of the Speaker. Liz brings to Capitol Consulting a strong work ethic and a clear understanding of the legislative process to immediately assist Capitol Consulting's clients. In addition to lobbying directly for the firm's numerous clients, Liz will manage the firm's social media presence, assist in the firm's marketing for new business and maintain the firm's bill tracking system.

Prior to working in the legislature, Liz served as a Communications and Media Coordinator at The Governor's Prevention Partnership, a nonprofit organization that builds and offers youth prevention programs to prevent substance misuse and bullying.

Liz received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Connecticut, where she double majored in political science and journalism.