Sinclair Public Affairs 

Vice President, Business Development & Public Affairs 

Parker Cleveland Public Affairs, LLC

Serve as principal at full-service public affairs firm dedicated to developing effective strategies to educate stakeholders, elevate client perspectives and achieve policy objectives on the state and federal levels. 

Offer communication and crisis communication services, coalition building and activation, community engagement and direct legislative and regulatory advocacy.

Principal

Weedmaps

Oversaw Weedmaps’ (NASDAQ: MAPS) government relations engagement across 13 states. Managed two employees, eight external consulting teams and 10-15 trade/business advocacy groups. Focused on opening new cannabis marketplaces through a combination of public affairs, direct legislative advocacy, regulatory engagement and coalition building. 

Secured passage of long-term company legislative priority – the Local Jurisdiction Retail Access Grant Program – in FY 2022-23 California Budget, providing startup funding for California jurisdictions interested in establishing retail cannabis programs. 

Engaged regularly with legislators, regulators and industry stakeholders in new, developing and priority markets like Arizona, California, Montana and New Mexico. Directed political contributions to legislative allies, managed public affairs campaigns, wrote and edited outward facing messaging, drafted legislative and regulatory language. In 2022 election, engaged in 13 ballot referenda through a combination of grassroots activism, earned and paid media – with nine passing favorably. 

Worked cross-functionally with legal, marketing, sales, investor relations and CSI/social equity teams to ensure coordinated and streamlined external engagement approach.

Associate Director, Government Relations 

Office of the Governor, State of South Carolina

Speechwriter for Governor Henry McMaster and Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette.  Developed and implemented policy platform alongside Governor and other senior staff. Served as lead on:  2018 State of the State Address; 2019 State of the State Address; 2020 State of the State Address, 2021 State of the State Address; 2018-19 Executive Budget Statement; 2019-20 Executive Budget Statement; 2020-21 Executive Budget Statement; 2019 Inauguration Address; 500+ speeches, op-eds and scripts for Governor McMaster and Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette. Developed executive budget priorities for FY 2018-19, FY 2019-20, FY 2020-21, FY 2021-22 and crafted messaging for same, resulting in more than 160 proposals passed by the South Carolina General Assembly in FY 2021-22 Appropriations Act.

Director of Policy and External Communications

Humane Society Legislative Fund

Oversaw communication strategies for 501(c)(4) supporting 50+ political candidates on the federal and state levels; conducted district-specific independent expenditure and earned media campaigns (>50% electoral success rate); reviewed and edited outbound content. Worked with DC and national press corps to advance messaging goals. Lobbied federal and state legislators and policymakers in coordinated government relations effort to advance key legislative and regulatory priorities. Worked successfully to generate grassroots activism campaigns, pass pro-animal regulations and legislation and defeat anti-animal ballot initiatives, including Oklahoma “right to farm” effort in 2016.

Communications Director

The Humane Society of the United States

Advised president & CEO on policy, strategic planning, marketing, messaging and outreach for a multinational non-profit with a presence in 50 states, 20+ countries and more than 1,000 employees. Coordinated organizational engagement on a range of state and federal policy initiatives. Organized and developed successful conservative outreach program following 2016 election. Wrote op-eds, LTEs and blog posts for international audiences on broad spectrum of animal welfare issues.

Policy Advisor and Special Assistant to the President

DC Strategies

Oversaw media engagement for clients in legal, education, news media and non-profit sectors; developed and executed communication strategies. Ghost-wrote and placed op-eds in national outlets like USA Today and Washington Post; researched and wrote extensively for confidential client publications, including two books and one NYT bestseller. Worked closely with DC-based media contacts to advance client goals.

Public Affairs Manager

US Securities and Exchange Commission

Reviewed IPO submissions for compliance with Securities Act requirements; analyzed periodic filings and treatment requests for adherence to SEC guidelines and regulations.

Legal Aide, Division of Corporate Finance

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Wrote and edited communications blog highlighting key international victories in support of ongoing intergovernmental relations effort; interviewed and profiled journalists, activists and pro-democracy dissidents in 22 countries where free media remains banned or unestablished.

Press Officer

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham

Served as constituent and stakeholder liaison for armed services, budget, energy/environment, foreign policy, housing, national security, technology/telecommunications and veterans affairs.

Legislative Aide

Policy and communications professional with 15 years of experience in government, law and public affairs. Demonstrated success advancing and passing legislation, writing and publishing for principals, streamlining and simplifying complex information for a variety of audiences across the media and stakeholder spectrum. Expert at speechwriting, strategic communications, government and media relations.

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