JOHN Y. BROWN III was elected as Kentucky's Secretary of State at the age of 32, the second youngest in the nation, and re-elected without opposition, serving from 1996-2004. His accomplishments as secretary of state include becoming a national voice for election reform, creating nationally recognized e-government services as well as programs to promote entrepreneurism and small business development, all while saving Kentucky taxpayers nearly a million dollars through efficient management measures. Before entering politics, John headed up franchising for Roaster's Inc., developing fast food venues in 37 states and several foreign countries. John served as vice-president of ResCare, working in government relations and public affairs for the Louisville based human services company with over 40,000 employees in over 40 states and several foreign countries. He served several years as an adjunct professor of business law at Bellarmine University. In 2007, John ran unsuccessfully as the lieutenant governor running mate on a ticket with gubernatorial candidate Jody Richards (Kentucky's Speaker of the House) in a seven slate Democratic primary. John graduated magna cum laude from Bellarmine University, earned a law degree (with distinction) from University of Kentucky, and then went back to Bellarmine University for his M.B.A.

6-10 years

Was an intern for a few lawmakers while in college for almost 7 years.
Successfully passed a legislation (HB 3230-C) related to improving Deaf and Hard of Hearing services provided by DHS.
Served on several committees and a commission for years.
Served on nonprofit boards on various non-elected and elected positions.
Many more!

Oregon Association of the Deaf
Oregon American Sign Language Teachers Association
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Private Citizens and Persons
Portland Commission on Disability
Oregon Disability Commission
Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, DHS
Oregon Deaf-Blind Task Force
Oregon Blind Commission
Office of Equity and Human Rights, Portland, OR
City Council, Portland, OR
US Congressman, Rep. Earl Blumenauer
Portland State University
Portland Community College
Clackamas Community College
Many more!

Mr. Brown graduated from Portland State University in August of 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree attained through double-majoring in Political Science and Social Science. He was admitted to graduate school in Public Administration within the Urban Studies and Public Affairs College of PSU in August 2004. He received his MPA degree in June 2007, with an advanced certificate in Nonprofit Development.

Mr. Brown has a good bit of background in political endeavors. He has been involved with the Oregon State Legislature since December 2002 as an intern; formerly in the House of Representatives for Rep. Steve March, Ph.D., a formerly elected Multnomah County Auditor in Portland, Oregon. During his internship, Mr. Brown and Rep. March successfully carried and passed a 2005 law called the Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Program (ODHHSP) which contained House Bill 3230-C. Mr. Brown was also a congressional staff intern with Congressman Earl Blumenauer from approximately January to June 2004. His federal legislative study projects included the review of Portland's public transportation plan and issues.

After his internship with Congressman Blumenauer, he returned as a state legislative advisor for Rep. March to finish his Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Legislation bill. His work with Mr. March lasted until the end of December 2006. After that, Mr. Brown decided to continue working with the Oregon State Legislature as an intern in the office of a House Representative, Mr. Mike Scheffler, from January 2007 until the end of the legislative session in July 2007.

After his state legislative internships, Mr. Brown decided to shift his political focus toward city-level government. He was a Commissioner for the Portland Commission on Disability (PCoD) for approximately four years with the Office of Equity and Human Rights (OEHR) in Portland. Also, he was a chairperson for several PCoD subcommittees, and a community member serving on still other subcommittees. His accomplishments with PCoD included the hiring model for employers hiring people with disabilities which was passed by the Portland City Council between 2008-2009. He was also involved with a proposed ordinance, which eventually was passed, requiring all businesses located in the Portland area to turn on closed-captioning during business hours, from 2014-2015.

Mr. Brown has been involved with nonprofit boards for many years, as well. He was Vice President of the Oregon Association of the Deaf (OAD) from 2015-2017, as well as Vice President of the Oregon American Sign Language Teachers Association (OR-ASLTA) from 2014-2017. He was chairperson, as well as co-chair, of several nonprofit committees, including the Law & Legislation Committee from 2013-present.

During his Vice-Presidential stints with OAD and OR-ASLTA, Mr. Brown successfully introduced (on behalf of the professional associations and the members represented,) lobbied and carried most of that year's Deaf and Hard of Hearing legislation bills toward becoming new laws.

Currently, Mr. Brown has been a registered lobbyist with the Oregon Governmental Ethics Commission (OGEC) since 2013. Mr. Brown has also represented several nonprofit groups, such as Oregon Association of the Deaf (OAD) and the Oregon American Sign Language Teachers Association (OR-ASLTA). He also works with several private clients who work directly under his consulting company, Social[58], LLC, which provides lobbying services.

20+ years

A founding partner of our Alabama office, Carol Brown has spent more than 25 years lobbying and working within her home state's ever-changing business and health care arenas. Before joining The Southern Group, Carol served as Vice President of Governmental Affairs and Manager of Federal Affairs for the Business Council of Alabama, the state's largest and most diverse business trade organization.Carol has worked on both sides of the political aisle, assisting Republican and Democratic candidates with their re-election bids and developing key relationships throughout the halls of government. A 1985 Auburn University graduate, Carol began her career in journalism covering politics and health care issues for the state's capital city newspaper, The Montgomery Advertiser.Since joining Southern Strategy Group, Carol continues representing clients throughout the business spectrum, including the energy, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries, as well as health care providers, telecommunications, and disaster recovery arenas. Carol has excellent working relationships with both the legislative and executive branches of government as well as strong relationships throughout Alabama's business and trade association communities. Carol's contacts include many of Alabama's regulatory agencies, such as the Insurance Department, Public Health, Medicaid, the State Health Planning and Development Agency, Industrial Relations, Homeland Security, and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

She has most recently played a key role in working toward broadband accessibility for all Alabamians, a policy initiative that helped garner $100 million in CARES Act Funding for low-income students.

20+ years

Major legislative successes over the years include modifications of the administrative procedures act, education funding formulas, growth management and land use reforms, health care practice licensure laws and tens of millions in capital and operating budget allocations for clients.

Charles R. (Charlie) Brown is an attorney who focuses his practice in full time government affairs and general legal counsel at the state legislative and administrative levels. He has been a professional lobbyist for more than twenty-five years. He also spent three years working as a congressional staff member in Washington, D.C., prior to attending law school at the Seattle University School of Law.

He has extensive experience in education policy and funding, as well as most business-related policy, including environmental law, administrative law, energy, taxation, land-use, oil and gas, agriculture, transportation, health care, general business, regulatory and licensing issues.

20+ years

With decades worth of hands-on experience in Texas government and politics, Sabrina Brown offers valuable strategic counsel, as well as access to a vast network of key associates and decision-makers to a broad spectrum of clients.

Brown's extensive expertise in the state's legislative, regulatory, public affairs and appropriations arenas - combined with her strong bipartisan relationships - provides businesses and organizations with vital political and governmental guidance. Utilizing her many contacts within the Texas House and Senate, Executive Office and state agencies, Sabrina has effectively achieved the public policy goals of a wide variety of clients, from aeronautics giants to groundwater districts to Fortune 100 companies.

Prior to opening her own consulting firm, Sabrina was a highly successful lobbyist for an Austin-based law firm, and previously spent a half-dozen years at the Capitol working for the Texas House of Representatives. Her first-hand experience has given her a detailed familiarity with the legislative process and an in-depth understanding of state lawmakers' perspectives. With these insights, Sabrina creates effective messages and uses her firm's resources to efficiently communicate a client's position to busy legislators.

Brown earned her Masters in Public Affairs at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas, and her bachelor's degree at Texas A&M University.

Brown currently serves on the boards of Dell Children's Medical Center Foundation, West Austin Youth Association, Beyond Batten Disease Foundation, Friends of the Governor's Mansion, Texas Conference for Women, and the Seton Development Board.

11-15 years

Emerging Leader Nominee, Just a Kid Big Brothers Big Sisters Flint campaign (2022)

Emerging Leader Award, Greater Flint Arts Council (2008)