Kevin Wilkinson
The Southern Group
wilkinson@thesoutherngroup.com
704.763.3642
209 Fayetteville Street, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC, 27601,
Subjects: All Subjects
Links: Website, LinkedIn
2021 NC Top 25 Lobbyist2019 NCED Leadership Award
1) Associated Builders and Contractors of the Carolinas, Inc.
2) Betson Gaming
3) Cash Titan
4) Confianz Global Inc. DBA StackBench
5) Dealer Services Network, LLC
6) Encompass Health Corporation
7) Everway, LLC
8) Eviden
9) Firstfloor, Inc.
10) GL Partners, Inc
11) HeyTutor Inc.
12) Hillpointe Construction LLC
13) International Business Machines Corporation ("IBM")
14) Invenergy, LLC
15) JLC Services, Inc.
16) Knautz Capital LLC
17) LifeStance Health
18) Merlyn Mind, Inc.
19) Mooresville Btr Developers, LLC
20) North Carolina Sports Legacy Foundation
21) North Carolina Troopers Association
22) Prontoblock Inc.
23) Reconnect, Inc.
24) RedSpeed USA
25) Riverbend Preserve, LLC
26) SeatGeek, Inc.
27) Securly, Inc.
28) simplySOLV
29) Starmount Healthcare Management
30) Stiegler EdTech Inc.
31) TickPick, LLC
32) Town of Elizabethtown
33) Town of Troutman
34) Treenail Development, Inc.
35) Vapor Technology Association
36) Windstream Services, LLC on behalf of its operating companies in NC
Kevin Wilkinson joined The Southern Group in 2024, expanding the firm's footprint in Raleigh, North Carolina. He brings extensive legislative and executive experience from roles in both the public and private sectors.As a proud North Carolinian, Kevin's professional path has been largely dedicated to molding and promoting key policies at local, state, and national levels. From 2016 to 2019, he held leadership roles in North Carolina's public education sector. First, as the Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to the N.C. State Superintendent at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, then later as the Executive Director of External Affairs at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. In these roles, Kevin helped design and gather support for the organization's policy priorities and initiatives.Before that, Kevin served as a Policy Advisor to Senator Robert Bryan. He led and implemented several education reforms and staffed various committees such as Appropriations, Education, Judiciary, Pension, and Retirement. Kevin also worked on Capitol Hill as a staff member for U.S. Representative Robert Pittenger, supporting and advocating for the needs of constituents across his district.Most recently, Kevin took his experience in North Carolina's government to the private sector, serving as SVP of Government Affairs at EQV Strategic. In that capacity, Kevin worked directly with policymakers on the state and federal levels to advocate for his clients. His range of policy areas includes education, economic and business development, technology, transportation, telecommunications, healthcare, gaming, sports, and local government.Outside his day-to-day work, Kevin uses his expertise to give back to his community as Vice Chair of the Board of Visitors for Appalachian State University.Kevin has received numerous awards and recognition for his work, including being named one of the top lobbyists in North Carolina by the North State Journal since 2020 and receiving the North Carolina Education Leadership Award in 2018.Kevin studied political science and economics at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and earned an M.B.A. from Liberty University. He resides in Raleigh with his wife Megan and their daughter Margot.
Last Updated: July 29, 2025
