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MELINDA MERRILL

Melinda has been with Eiguren Public Policy for four years, and previously spent more than a decade managing the PR Department for Fred Meyer and QFC Stores, the two Northwest divisions of The Kroger Co., where she managed government relations and lobbying, media relations, community donations and sponsorships and the employee volunteer programs in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Prior to that she was with the Portland, Ore. office of international PR firm Hill & Knowlton where she managed accounts for clients big and small ranging from local electric cooperatives to regional cell phone service providers to major crisis clients - including the grocery industry - during labor negotiations. Melinda is adept at advocacy at the local and state levels as well as at reputation and brand management.

1) Allied Waste Services of North America, LLC dba Republic Services of Idaho

2) Amalgamated Sugar Co

3) American Red Cross of Greater Idaho

4) Crown Castle

5) Eiguren Merrill

6) Idaho Bail Coalition

7) Liberty Tire Recycling

8) MCCi

9) Northwest Grocery Association

10) Sanofi US

11) Triton Management Services

12) Verizon Wireless Multistate Associates LLC

13) White Cloud Communications

0-5 years

Melinda has significant experience and key relationships with the Idaho Transportation Department, the Idaho Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health & Welfare, the Division of Financial Management and with the Office of the Governor.

Melinda's extensive experience and deep knowledge of issues that affect our business - labor, transportation, taxes and fees, pharmacy issues, etc. - has helped us navigate many challenging situations. Her strong leadership and relationships have made a difference in representing Fred Meyer's interests to elected officials and helping us manage any issues we might face. - Jeffery Temple, Director of Corporate Affairs, Fred Meyer Stores

Melinda Merrill has more than 25 years of experience managing government relations and crises for clients throughout the Pacific Northwest and provides Eiguren Public Policy clients with media, reputational, and crisis communications counseling as well as advocacy in local, state, and federal government.

Prior to joining Eiguren Public Policy, Merrill was director of Public Affairs for Fred Meyer and QFC Stores - the two Northwest divisions of The Kroger Co. - for more than a decade, where she was media spokesperson and managed government affairs for the company's more than 200 stores in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington as well as at the federal level. She also developed strategy for and implemented Fred Meyer's and QFC's multi-million-dollar donations, sponsorship, community relations, and employee volunteer programs in the four states.

Merrill is adept at assisting clients in developing strategy for and achieving their goals at the local, state, and federal levels of government. She also has experience providing reputational management for clients facing issues including taxes and fees, labor relations issues, real estate siting and planning issues, product recalls and importation of goods.

Merrill also spent eight years in the Portland office of the international public relations and public affairs firm Hill & Knowlton. There she provided reputation, crisis management and government affairs counseling for clients including grocers, cell phone service providers, economic development organizations, convention and visitors bureaus, electric utilities, and the maritime industry.

Merrill earned her M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Kent State University, and a B.A. in Journalism with a broadcast emphasis from the University of Montana. She currently serves on the board of the American Red Cross of Greater Idaho and is chair of the Philanthropy committee and also serves on the Legislative Committee of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry. She has served on the Association of Washington Business Executive Committee; the board of Oregon Food Bank and as chair of its Advocacy Committee; and as president of the Board of the Oregon/SW Washington Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. She lives in Meridian, Idaho.

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BRYAN BROOKS

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BRYAN BROOKS

(Wisconsin, )

Paladin Consulting Group

bbrooks@paladincg.com
(608) 444-4727
1 S. Pinckney Street, Suite 318, Madison, WI, 53703,

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website, TAG Profile

Paladin Consulting Group LLC is a full-service, integrated public affairs firm based in Madison, WI. Our issue management team brings all available resources to bear to help advance our clients' cause. We are more than lobbyists or consultants. We are strategists with a comprehensive approach to problem solving and issue navigation.

Firm Specialties:
Our integrated approach chooses from a menu of offerings to craft the best possible recipe for our clients' success. We specialize in issue management, lobbying, strategic consulting, procurement, political positioning, grassroots, grass tops, public relations strategy, and corporate and organizational consulting.

The breadth and depth of our political connections ensure that our clients will always be well positioned. Our firm's combined relationships are simply second to none. We know what needs to be done, who needs to be involved, how to coordinate all appropriate resources, and when and where to concentrate our effort.

1) Alliance of Wisconsin Retailers, LLC

2) Alliant Energy

3) American Promise

4) American Property Casualty Insurance Association

5) Coinflip

6) Community Choice Financial

7) Consumer Data Industry Association

8) Consumer Debt Relief Initiative

9) Copart

10) Cordata

11) Credas

12) Ed Tribout Inc DBA Xtreme Bar Bingo

13) Everylife Foundation for Rare Diseases

14) Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund

15) Flock Group, Inc. dba Flock Safety

16) Fortinet, Inc.

17) Graduation Alliance

18) HNTB Corporation

19) Ho-Chunk Nation

20) Humana, Inc.

21) InState Partners

22) Instructure

23) J.H. Findorff & Son Inc.

24) Kooth U.S.

25) Lenovo

26) Penfield Children's Center

27) Plum Identity

28) Sealed

29) Secure Democracy USA and its Affiliates

30) Sensys Gatso Group

31) Trane Technologies Company LLC

32) US Dealer Licensing

33) Verizon and its Affiliates (formerly Verizon Wireless)

34) Vitu, Inc. (f/k/a Motor Vehicle Software Corporation)

35) Wisconsin Association of Health Plans

36) Wisconsin Automobile and Truck Dealers Association, Inc.

37) Wisconsin Beer Distributors Association Inc

15-20 years

Because of our bipartisan makeup, we have strong relationships with legislative leaders and members in both houses and on both sides of the isle. We also have extensive relationships with the Governor's Administration.

BRYAN BROOKS is a partner with Paladin Consulting Group. With over 20 years of experience in political and policy arena in Wisconsin, Mr. Brooks is well equipped to help a wide variety of clients succeed. Mr. Brooks has strong expertise in strategic consulting, lobbying, procurement, political positioning, grassroots, grass tops, and public relations strategy

Prior to Paladin Consulting Group, Mr. Brooks was the President / Owner of Brooks Consulting LLC, a government and business consulting firm. Mr. Brooks also spent several years at Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek Government Affairs, a subsidiary of Whtye Hirschboeck Dudek SC law firm in Wisconsin. At both Brooks Consulting and WHDGA, Mr. Brooks worked with clients at the local, state, and federal levels in all areas of consulting.

Before beginning his career in government relations, Mr. Brooks served as a Chief of Staff, Research Assistant and Legislative Assistant in the Wisconsin State Legislature. As chief of staff, he was intimately involved in the strategy of all areas of the legislative process. Mr. Brooks has a detailed understanding of the legislative process and procedure as well as a strong familiarity with numerous issues in both houses of the Legislature and in various departments and agencies.

Mr. Brooks has also served as a political strategist on numerous state and national campaigns. Mr. Brooks has close relationships with the Governor's office and his Administration, Attorney General Josh Kaul and his office, and numerous members of the Legislature and their staff.

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JEFF FITZGERALD

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JEFF FITZGERALD

(Wisconsin, )

Paladin Consulting Group

jfitzgerald@paladincg.com
(608) 467-7933
1 S Pinckney St., Suite 318, Madison, WI, 53703,

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website

1) Alliance of Wisconsin Retailers, LLC

2) Alliant Energy

3) American Promise

4) American Property Casualty Insurance Association

5) Coinflip

6) Community Choice Financial

7) Consumer Data Industry Association

8) Consumer Debt Relief Initiative

9) Copart

10) Cordata

11) Credas

12) Ed Tribout Inc DBA Xtreme Bar Bingo

13) Everylife Foundation for Rare Diseases

14) Flock Group, Inc. dba Flock Safety

15) Fortinet, Inc.

16) Graduation Alliance

17) HNTB Corporation

18) Ho-Chunk Nation

19) Humana, Inc.

20) InState Partners

21) Instructure

22) J.H. Findorff & Son Inc.

23) Kooth U.S.

24) Lenovo

25) Penfield Children's Center

26) Plum Identity

27) RAI Services Company (formerly Reynolds American Inc.)

28) Sealed

29) Secure Democracy USA and its Affiliates

30) Sensys Gatso Group

31) Trane Technologies Company LLC

32) US Dealer Licensing

33) Verizon and its Affiliates (formerly Verizon Wireless)

34) Vitu, Inc. (f/k/a Motor Vehicle Software Corporation)

35) Wisconsin Association of Health Plans

36) Wisconsin Automobile and Truck Dealers Association, Inc.

6-10 years

Jeff Fitzgerald is a partner with Paladin Consulting Group. Mr. Fitzgerald has very strong relationships and connections in the current political climate and is well positioned to help navigate the policy and political goals of our clients. Mr. Fitzgerald comes to Paladin after serving twelve years in the Wisconsin State Legislature. During the most recent session, Mr. Fitzgerald served as Speaker -- "the body's highest post. He has also served as Majority Leader and Assistant Majority Leader during his time in office. Through the leadership of Mr. Fitzgerald, the Assembly Republicans retook control of the Assembly in 2010 after losing the majority two years earlier. As a result of his years in the legislature, Mr. Fitzgerald has a thorough understanding of legislative strategy and procedure. He is very well positioned to help a client navigate government in the most efficient and effective way. Mr. Fitzgerald was
also a candidate for the United States Senate in 2012, giving him a statewide profile and relationships with numerous companies and communities throughout Wisconsin.