15-20 years

National Co-Chair of Obama Presidential Campaign, 2008
Best Lawyers in America, 2008 - 2020
Lawyer of the Year, Government Relations Practice, Columbia, SC, Best Lawyers, 2020

20+ years

JoLee Gudmundson has been providing governmental relations for over 20 years in South Carolina and has represented major business and association interests before the SC General Assembly, SC Congressional Delegation and state agency regulatory bodies.

Founded in 1998, Gudmundson Consulting is a bipartisan firm that represents a range of lobbying, monitoring, and public policy issues. Her expertise includes, healthcare, judicial, criminal law, banking and finance as well as non-profit, business and corporate interests.

She is experienced in facilitating industry working groups and maintaining good relationships with allied organizations and state licensing agencies. She is a frequent speaker providing continuing education credits for her clients as well as other nonprofit organizations.

JoLee has a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and Journalism from Winthrop University.

As an active volunteer within her community and South Carolina, JoLee serves on several committees and boards, including the State Advisory Board for the South Carolina Small Business Development Center and the Board of Trustees for a leading Independent School in the Southeast.

0-5 years

6-10 years

Lander Hiott is a Lobbyist with Parker Poe Consulting and has more than eight years of experience in political campaigns, lobbying, grassroots networking and media relations. Lander Hiott is a graduate of the University of South Carolina in political science, bringing 7+ years' of connections in the South Carolina General Assembly to Parker Poe Consulting. In college Lander paged for various committees and power positions such as Speaker of the House and Chairman of Ways and Means, as well as serving on the floor of the House. Prior to joining Parker Poe, Lander ran political campaigns throughout the state, including being employed by the House Republican Caucus during the 2014 election cycle. Lander also worked in another firm representing clients in the fields of agribusiness, telecommunications, health care, education and small business. Having worked in the House of Representatives and in politics since 2008, Lander is very cognizant of the issues impacting South Carolina.

The TAG network consists of the top lobbying firms across the US, public affairs specialists in various countries and specialty services.

US Members:
50-States
DC Council
US Congress

International:
Profile Consulting (Aust) Pty Ltd (Australia)
Tactix (Canada)
Monarch Global Strategies (Mexico, Central & South America)
Kesarev (Russia, CIS, Central Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Turkey & Israel)
Instinctif Partners (United Kingdom & the European Union)

Specialty members:
Five Corners Strategies (Grassroots Advocacy & Public Affairs)
FOCUS, a Leonine Business (50-State Legislative & Regulatory Tracking & Analysis)
Select Litigation (Jury Selection)
Bullpen, LLC (Market Entry Strategy)
The Virtuous Cycle Collaboratory (Social Enterprise Business Development)
Law Offices of Mitchell D. Gravo, Inc. (Specialty Member)

20+ years

Kyle G. Michel is a Columbia, SC lawyer-lobbyist specializing in government policy and related law. His background is primarily in lobbying and providing guidance to clients interacting with state and federal government, which he has done since 1994. Mr. Michel also represents clients before local government bodies in South Carolina. He has considerable experience in budget, energy, economic development, and education issues, but also works in other issue areas including criminal justice, healthcare, environment, and transportation. In addition to policy advocacy, he represents clients seeking government contracts for goods and services.Mr. Michel is retained to execute advocacy projects on behalf of clients. This work involves developing policy strategies, direct advocacy with government officials, drafting policy documents, and legislative drafting. Mr. Michel is also retained to provide counsel on policy and political forecasting. This work involves monitoring policy and political developments and advising clients on likely outcomes that affect their interests. Prior to forming Kyle Michel Law Firm in South Carolina in 2003, Mr. Michel was Vice President and General Counsel of Morgan Meguire, LLC, a lobbying firm in Washington, DC. He founded the firm with a partner in 1998 and expanded it to a twelve-person practice before relocating to South Carolina. At Morgan Meguire, he lobbied on behalf of clients before Congress, the White House, and executive branch departments and agencies. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Michel practiced at the firm today known as Dentons in Washington, DC, specializing in federal government affairs. He represented Fortune 100 companies on policy matters in Congress and at the White House.Prior to practicing law, Mr. Michel worked as a Legislative Assistant in the U.S. Senate and in the White House as an advisor on personnel matters. Mr. Michel is a member of the South Carolina and Washington, DC, Bars. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Texas A&M University. He graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee School of Law. He and his wife Melanie have four children and live in Columbia.

LYNN STOKES-MURRAY serves as the Government Relations Director in Burr Forman McNair's Columbia office. Lynn is a governmental affairs and lobbying consultant who represents clients at the South Carolina State House and in local government matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Lynn was actively involved in numerous political campaigns across the state, including managing a South Carolina Congressional race in 1988. She has authored and implemented grassroots plans for major corporations to engage employees in the political process. Additionally, she drafts legislation and has extensive knowledge of the legislative rules and appropriations process.

Lynn recently served as chairperson and continues on the board of The Advocacy Group (TAG), which was established in 1992 as the first international public affairs and government relations corporation to provide a diverse array of professional advocacy services internationally.

20+ years

Silver Crescent LLC is the South Carolina lobbying, government relations and consulting practice of Dwight Cauthen. Dwight has over two decades of experience in this arena and has developed close working relationships with legislative leadership and key decision makers at all levels of state government.

Dwight has been working in and around the State House since his freshman year in college. He has the experience, skills and relationships necessary to effectively represent your interests and advocate on your behalf. Over the years he has accomplished much legislatively and politically for his clients.

Prior to lobbying, Dwight served as first executive director of the South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus under then Leader and now President Pro Tempore and Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman. He left the caucus to join the lobbying team of the state's largest law firm and in 2003 started his own practice.

Dwight paged for House Speaker Bob Sheheen, worked for Governors Carroll Campbell and David Beasley, and served as US Senate campaign communications director for Congressman Bob Inglis.

Dwight majored in political science at the University of South Carolina and later received his masters in public relations there.

6-10 years

Brian serves as a senior vice president for McGuireWoods Consulting's state government affairs group in Columbia, South Carolina. Brian represents clients before the state legislature, local governments and executive branch agencies.

Representing a diverse group of clients on a range of issues including energy, transportation, education, alcohol, retail and non-profit advocacy, Brian has helped pass legislation related to emerging transportation, alcoholic beverage control laws and the energy industry. He has extensive experience in developing and implementing comprehensive government, grassroots and public affairs strategies for his clients.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Brian worked on a number of political and grassroots campaigns, and worked for Congressman Joe Wilson in his district office. Upon graduation from The Citadel, Brian took a commission in the Army as a Military Intelligence Officer. In 2010, he was deployed to Afghanistan with the 1-178th Field Artillery Battalion and served as the unit's Tactical Intelligence Officer. He is currently a Captain in the South Carolina Army National Guard and serves as the legislative liaison.

Brian lives in Columbia with his wife, where they are raising their two daughters.

Mark Harmon joined Cornerstone in December of 2024, expanding the firm's South Carolina office and solidifying our southern reach and capabilities.

Prior to joining Cornerstone, Mark served as Principal at The Harmon Consulting Group, LLC, where he provided contractual lobbying and consulting services by representing multiple clients before the legislative and executive branches of the South Carolina state government. Previously, Mark worked at Maynard Nexsen, PC, formerly Nexsen Pruet, LLC, as Government Affairs Advisor, also providing contractual lobbying and consulting services at the state level.

Before shifting to contract lobbying and consulting, Mark served as Executive Director of the America Petroleum Institute of South Carolina, advocating on behalf of the oil and natural gas industry before the state and federal government. In this role, he also coordinated with state agencies to ensure oil and natural gas operators were able to get products into high-demand areas during hurricanes and natural disasters. Additionally, Mark cultivated relationships with several of the state's Historically Black Colleges and Universities to promote STEM opportunities in oil and gas.

Prior to his work with the American Petroleum Institute, Mark served as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy for the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Harmon represented the state's business community and led an internal team responsible for generating the Chamber's public policy agenda, implementation strategy and social media outreach.

Before his time with the Chamber of Commerce, Mark served as the Executive Director of the South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus, where he organized campaigns, led ethics compliance and financial accounting and acted as liaison between Caucus supporters and senators to ensure all parties' interests were represented. As part of this role, Mark served as the day-to-day policy advisor to Senate Republican Caucus members and organized legislative session events and annual retreats for members and contributors. During his tenure, the Caucus gained seats and expanded its majority.

Mark received his Bachelor of Science in Ceramic and Materials Engineering from Clemson University.

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.

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.

Launched Cornerstone's 13th state office in South Carolina

Former Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel for the South Carolina House Ways and Means Committee

0-5 years

-Successfully lobbied against an alliance of two trade associations and two cabinet agencies to defeat a piece of legislation that would put a client out of business.

-Successfully lobbied the General Assembly for funds allocated to a client through the budget process.

-Participated with other business lobbyists to pass safe harbor legislation that protected business during the pandemic.

-Successfully lobbied for additional funding authorization for coastal and tourism initiatives.

Have built relationships with legislators, committee staff, and members of government agencies as well as the governors office.

William Bowers is a lobbyist at Capitol Information Affiliates. He is a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in agriculture and business. A native of Columbia, SC he has deep roots in the community and state. He has extensive background in farming with an emphasis in wildlife and land management. His goal to provide top level research, develop plans and implement calls to action through legislative lobbying for clients. He is an active member at Church of the Apostles where he serves as an usher. In his spare time William enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his wife and Boykin Spaniel.

0-5 years

Sara joined McGuireWoods Consulting after six years with the SC Association of REALTORS as their director of political affairs. In that capacity, she managed the SC REALTORS Political Action Committee Board of Trustees, fundraising, finances, disbursements, ethics reporting, independent expenditure campaigns, and public policy campaigns.

Prior to that she served as executive assistant/scheduler to U.S. Congressman Tom Rice in Washington, DC. Her previous experience also includes campaign fundraising for multiple members of the South Carolina General Assembly and members of Congress.

Sara has a public relations degree from the University of South Carolina and is currently pursuing her Master's in business administration at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

20+ years

Jason Puhlasky is a Principal with Parker Poe Consulting and has more than 25 years of experience in lobbying, grassroots networking and media relations paid and earned as well as working on more than 100 political campaigns ranging from State House races to the President of the United States. Prior to joining Parker Poe Consulting, Mr. Puhlasky worked as a consultant and vice president of state government relations, and represented clients before the South Carolina Legislature, specializing in telecommunications, education, environmental and economic development issues. Additionally, Mr. Puhlasky served as the South Carolina Political Director for the George W. Bush presidential campaign in 1999. He has also served as the Political Director for the South Carolina Republican Party and the Director of the South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus.

20+ years

Julie Cox is a founding partner of Capitol Information Affiliates. Prior to Capitol Information Affiliates, Julie was a Senior Research Analyst for the South Carolina House Ways and Means Committee. Julie is a registered lobbyist and lobbies members of the General Assembly, the Governor's Office and various state agencies. She has an extensive background in taxation, environmental issues, regulatory and judicial matters, alcohol law and alcohol trade practice compliance. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with post-graduate study in economics. Julie served as an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina where she taught association management. She is an active member of Church of the Good Shepherd where she served on the Vestry. Julie is an active member of the Daughters of the King, Episcopal Church Women, the Flower Guild and the Altar Guild.