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CHRIS GOBBLE

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CHRIS GOBBLE

(Tennessee, )

Stones River Group

chris.gobble@stonesrivergroup.com
615-645-0233
511 Union Street, Suite 1100, Nashville, TN, 37219,

Chris Gobble is a respected government affairs specialist with deep issue expertise and a broad base of policymaker and stakeholder relationships. He leverages his insights into the state General Assembly, Tennessee executive branch, and local governments to help SRG clients navigate complex political challenges and effectively advance meaningful policy solutions. Prior to joining SRG, Chris served as senior director of public policy for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and was the legislative and policy director for the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security under Governor Bill Haslam.

0-5 years

Chris Gobble is a respected government affairs specialist with deep issue expertise and a broad base of policymaker and stakeholder relationships. He leverages his insights into the state General Assembly, Tennessee executive branch, and local governments to help SRG clients navigate complex political challenges and effectively advance meaningful policy solutions.

Prior to joining SRG, Chris served as senior director of public policy for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, where he helped drive policy changes and facilitate government affairs efforts for 2,000 businesses representing over 180,000 employees. He also regularly and effectively collaborated with local, state, and federal elected officials to advance Chattanooga's status as a leader in education, workforce, and economic development.

Prior to Gobble's tenure in Chattanooga, he was the legislative and policy director for the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. In this role, Gobble worked closely with Governor Bill Haslam's office and the state legislature to develop and implement a variety of public policy initiatives.

Originally from Bradley County, Chris earned a B.A. in Political Science and Communications from Lipscomb University. He and his wife Sarah live in Nashville.

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MARK CATE

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MARK CATE

(Tennessee, )

Stones River Group

mark.cate@stonesrivergroup.com
615-645-0233
511 Union Street, Suite 1100, Nashville, TN, 37219,

Mark Cate is the Founder and President of Stones River Group, a Nashville-based public affairs firm serving both Tennessee, regional and national clients. He formerly served as Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam's chief of staff, where he was his top advisor, strategist and negotiator.

1) Acadia Healthcare

2) ACT, INC.

3) Advantage Capital

4) Alliance Healthcare Services, Inc.

5) Alzheimer's Association

6) Aunt Bertha, a Public Benefit Corporation d/b/a findhelp

7) BlackRock Funds Services Group, LLC

8) Blount Partnership

9) BusPatrol America LLC

10) Campaign for Great Public Schools dba as City Fund Action

11) Catapult Learning

12) CG of Tennessee LLC

13) CHEEKWOOD BOTANICAL GARDEN AND MUSEUM OF ART

14) Client Network Services, LLC

15) CMH Services Inc.

16) Cognia

17) Communities In Schools of Tennessee

18) Critical Nurse Staffing, LLC

19) Curriculum Associates, LLC

20) DELTA DENTAL OF TN

21) DGA Residential LLC

22) Edmentum

23) Empower Schools

24) Energy Systems Group, LLC

25) Ernst & Young LLP

26) Family First, Inc.

27) FFF Enterprises, Inc.

28) Geographic Solutions, Inc

29) Graduation Alliance, Inc

30) Greater Nashville Regional Council

31) Ingram Barge Company LLC

32) INGRAM INDUSTRIES, INC.

33) Joe C Davis Foundation

34) Junior Achievement of East Tennesse

35) Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee

36) Knox County

37) Knoxville Zoological Gardens Inc.

38) Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC and Affiliates

39) Koch Government Affairs, LLC and Affiliates

40) L3Harris Technologies

41) Liminex, Inc dba GoGuardian

42) Livanova

43) Lorraine Civil Rights Foundation dba National Civil Rights Museum

44) MARK43 INC

45) Maximus, Inc.

46) Memphis Brooks Museum of Art Inc

47) Memphis Shelby Crime Commission

48) Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority

49) Merit International Inc

50) Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

51) Nashville Soccer Holdings, LLC

52) PathGroup

53) PayIt, LLC

54) Salesforce, Inc.

55) SAS Institute Inc.

56) SH Advisors LLC

57) Skinny Labs Inc. (dba Spin)

58) Southern College of Optometry

59) STV Incorporated

60) Tech901

61) Tennessee Charter School Allies

62) The Adoption Project

63) The Coalition for Better Health

64) The United Company

65) TN Development District Assn

66) Uptown Property Holdings LLC

67) WASTE MANAGEMENT

68) Wolf River Harbor Holdings, LLC

69) YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South

6-10 years

I have been recognized by the Nashville Post list of In-Charge: Government & Politics for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022

Our firm was recognized nationally by the Public Relations Society of America for our comprehensive public affairs campaign to bring Major League Soccer to Nashville

Mark Cate is the Founder and President of Stones River Group, a Nashville-based public affairs firm serving both Tennessee, regional and national clients. He formerly served as Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam's chief of staff, where he was his top advisor, strategist and negotiator.

During his tenure with the Haslam Administration, Mark led several legislative policy initiatives, including K-12 education reform, workers' compensation reform, civil service reform, an alternative approach to Medicaid expansion, and postsecondary education reform, including the nationally-acclaimed Tennessee Promise program.

Prior to serving in state government, Mark successfully managed Governor Haslam's first gubernatorial campaign in 2010, which led to a record-setting general election victory. He previously worked as an executive in real estate management and development and served for 16 years as a higher education leader. Over the course of his career, Mark has served as a chief development officer, chief planning officer, chief marketing officer, and as a chief financial officer�working on budgets ranging from $10 million to $30 billion.

Mark grew up in Maryville, TN and currently lives in Brentwood with his wife Cathy who serves as the Executive Director of Leadership Tennessee. He and Cathy have two daughters, Bailey who is a recent graduate at Rhodes College and currently serves as a fellow at the Crop Trust in Bonn, Germany; and Abbie who is rising junior at George Washington University.

Cate received a B.S from Carson-Newman College, an M.S from the University of Tennessee, and Harvard University's Institute for Educational Management certificate program. He's served on a wide variety of non-profit boards and was an elected member of the Maryville Board of Education.

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DOUG NELSON

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DOUG NELSON

(Missouri, )

Clarkston Nelson Government Solutions

doug@cnmissouri.com
(573) 353-8279
235 E High Street, Suite 301, Jefferson City, MO, 65101,

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website, TAG Profile

Clarkston Nelson Government Solutions is a full-service governmental relations and advocacy firm located in Jefferson City, Missouri. Although recently founded, our team shares a longstanding, respected reputation in the Missouri State Capitol. Our uniquely qualified professionals have decades of combined experience working in the Missouri state legislature, Executive Branch and state agencies.

The world of politics has changed over the years making it essential for businesses to have an effective and efficient working relationship with policy makers. Our team holds extensive policy knowledge, strong communication and relationship-building skills and precise legislative strategies resulting in successful governmental advocacy for our clients.

At Clarkston Nelson, we believe our teamwork approach based on years of experience, hard work and dedication to our client's interests provide a strong route to client advocacy and effective results bridging the gap between business and government.

FIRM SPECIALTY
DIRECT LOBBYING
In a world of constant change due to term-limits, ever changing political winds and executive branch turnover, we at Clarkston Nelson adapt and thrive due to our extensive experience and hard work. We work extremely hard to successfully help our clients reach their advocacy goals through our professionalism and unique understanding of the legislative and executive process. We provide direct lobbying efforts to shape legislation and regulations from the beginning to implementation. Our firm is capable of providing all services necessary such as legislation and issue monitoring, public engagement counseling, public testimony, and coalition building.

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
We believe that public opinion shapes much of the debate and decisions at the government level. Clarkston Nelson have a long history of working with clients in the preparation and development of messaging to assist in their advocacy efforts before the legislature, regulators or any other decision-making body. Our strategic communications will be aimed at reaching our client's underlying goal and often can be conveyed to the media and public to potentially sway opinion to our favor. Often times, strategic communications are aided with coalition building efforts to expand our sphere of influence and find additional partners that share with our goals and preferred outcomes.

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
Our firm recognizes the vast importance of relationship building throughout the political, regulatory, and industry sectors. We believe healthy relationships are built on honest communication and respect. We work diligently with legislators and department contacts to know our clients and understand why their issues matter. Clarkston Nelson strive to maintain professional and positive relations with state elected officials and decision-makers and can utilize our relationships to assist clients with ensuring their issues are properly understood and considered when needed.

27) Missouri Alliance for Children and Families

28) Missouri Association of Cosmetology Schools

29) Missouri Broadcasters Association

30) Missouri Consumer Credit Coalition

31) Missouri Farm Bureau

32) Missouri Fireworks Association

33) Missouri Press Association

34) Missouri Society of Accountants

35) Missouri Veterinary Medical Association

36) Mortgage Bankers Association of Missouri

37) National Council on Compensation Insurance

38) Netflix

39) Odyssey

40) Panorama Education

41) Plum Identity Inc.

42) Presidio Environmental, LLC

43) Public Education Employee Retirement System of Missouri

44) Public School Retirement System of Missouri

45) RAI Services Company

46) Renaissance Learning, Inc.

47) Smith Paper & Janitor Supply Company

48) Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits LLC

49) Southwest Transmission, LLC

50) Specialized Education of Missouri, Inc.

51) United Healthcare Services, Inc.

52) US Chamber of Commerce

DOUG NELSON spent five years as Missouri's State Commissioner of Administration working with all branches of government and every executive branch department on contracting and procurement matters. As Commissioner, he oversaw more than 2,000 active procurement contracts, information technology and cybersecurity issues, bond issuances and budget matters. Along with Doug's unmatched experience in all types of government contract issues, his extensive network of national and state contacts makes him a great resource to clients. Doug also spent more than 18 years as an Assistant Missouri Attorney General focusing on consumer and contract litigation and administrative/regulatory matters. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987 from the University of Missouri, Columbia, and Law degree in 1990 from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

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HEATH CLARKSTON

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HEATH CLARKSTON

(Missouri, )

Clarkston Nelson Government Solutions

heath@cnmissouri.com
573-469-4173
314 E High Street, Jefferson City, MO, 65101,

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website, TAG Profile

Clarkston Nelson Government Solutions is a full-service governmental relations and advocacy firm located in Jefferson City, Missouri. Although recently founded, our team shares a longstanding, respected reputation in the Missouri State Capitol. Our uniquely qualified professionals have decades of combined experience working in the Missouri state legislature, Executive Branch and state agencies.

The world of politics has changed over the years making it essential for businesses to have an effective and efficient working relationship with policy makers. Our team holds extensive policy knowledge, strong communication and relationship-building skills and precise legislative strategies resulting in successful governmental advocacy for our clients.

At Clarkston Nelson, we believe our teamwork approach based on years of experience, hard work and dedication to our client's interests provide a strong route to client advocacy and effective results bridging the gap between business and government.

FIRM SPECIALTY
DIRECT LOBBYING
In a world of constant change due to term-limits, ever changing political winds and executive branch turnover, we at Clarkston Nelson adapt and thrive due to our extensive experience and hard work. We work extremely hard to successfully help our clients reach their advocacy goals through our professionalism and unique understanding of the legislative and executive process. We provide direct lobbying efforts to shape legislation and regulations from the beginning to implementation. Our firm is capable of providing all services necessary such as legislation and issue monitoring, public engagement counseling, public testimony, and coalition building.

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
We believe that public opinion shapes much of the debate and decisions at the government level. Clarkston Nelson have a long history of working with clients in the preparation and development of messaging to assist in their advocacy efforts before the legislature, regulators or any other decision-making body. Our strategic communications will be aimed at reaching our client's underlying goal and often can be conveyed to the media and public to potentially sway opinion to our favor. Often times, strategic communications are aided with coalition building efforts to expand our sphere of influence and find additional partners that share with our goals and preferred outcomes.

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
Our firm recognizes the vast importance of relationship building throughout the political, regulatory, and industry sectors. We believe healthy relationships are built on honest communication and respect. We work diligently with legislators and department contacts to know our clients and understand why their issues matter. Clarkston Nelson strive to maintain professional and positive relations with state elected officials and decision-makers and can utilize our relationships to assist clients with ensuring their issues are properly understood and considered when needed.

27) Missouri Alliance for Children and Families

28) Missouri Association of Cosmetology Schools

29) Missouri Broadcasters Association

30) Missouri Consumer Credit Coalition

31) Missouri Farm Bureau

32) Missouri Fireworks Association

33) Missouri Press Association

34) Missouri Society of Accountants

35) Missouri Veterinary Medical Association

36) Mortgage Bankers Association of Missouri

37) National Council on Compensation Insurance

38) Netflix

39) Odyssey

40) Panorama Education

41) Plum Identity Inc.

42) Presidio Environmental, LLC

43) Public Education Employee Retirement System of Missouri

44) Public School Retirement System of Missouri

45) RAI Services Company

46) Renaissance Learning, Inc.

47) Smith Paper & Janitor Supply Company

48) Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits LLC

49) Southwest Transmission, LLC

50) Specialized Education of Missouri, Inc.

51) United Healthcare Services, Inc.

52) US Chamber of Commerce

HEATH CLARKSTON has more than two decades working for a variety of clients as a registered lobbyist in Missouri with state government relations and public relations experience. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration and Political Science in 1997 from Missouri State University in Springfield. He began his career as a legislative intern for the Taxpayers Research Institute, a division of Associated Industries of Missouri. After joining Gallagher Consultants Inc. in 2006, Heath quickly earned a reputation as a tenacious, hard-working voice in the Missouri State Capitol for his clients. An active member in many civic and professional organizations, Heath is the benchmark of hard work in the State Capitol.

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CJ DUNCAN

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CJ DUNCAN

(Tennessee, )

Stones River Group

cj.duncan@stonesrivergroup.com
615-645-0233
511 Union St #1100, Nashville, TN, 37219,

CJ Duncan supports SRG's government relations team, assisting in the development and execution of winning strategies to advance clients' state and local public policy objectives. Most recently, CJ worked for the government affairs division in the Montgomery, Alabama offices of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP.

1) Acadia Healthcare

2) ACT

3) Advantage Capital

4) AT&T Tennessee

5) Blount Partnership

6) CareGiver of Tennessee

7) Catapult Learning

8) City Fund Action

9) Critical Nurse Staffing

10) Delta Dental of Tennessee

11) Edmentum

12) Energy Systems Group

13) Ernst & Young

14) GoGuardian

15) Graduation Alliance

16) Greater Nashville Regional Council

17) Knox County

18) Koch Companies

19) LHP Capital

20) LivaNova

21) Mark43

22) MAXIMUS

23) Merit

24) Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

25) Music City Grand Prix

26) Nashville Soccer Holdings

27) Salesforce

28) SAS Institute

29) Science Applications International Corporation

30) Southern College of Optometry

31) Spin

32) Tech901

33) The Adoption Project

34) The United Company

35) Uptown Property Holdings

36) VitalSource

37) Wolf River Harbor Holdings

0-5 years

CJ Duncan supports SRG's government relations team, assisting in the development and execution of winning strategies to advance clients' state and local public policy objectives. Most recently, CJ worked for the government affairs division in the Montgomery, Alabama offices of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. Previously, CJ interned for the Davidson Criminal Court under Judge Randall Wyatt.

CJ is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where he majored in political science with a minor in corporate strategy. He also played wide receiver for the Vanderbilt Commodores throughout his college career. Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason called CJ "one of our most versatile and proven offensive performers, but even more than that, C.J. is very much a team-oriented player." In 2018, the Arizona Cardinals invited CJ to a rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, which resulted in CJ being signed to the Cardinals' 90-man offseason roster.

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JAMES LEAHY

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JAMES LEAHY

(CT, MA, )

Liberty Square Group

jim@libertysquaregroup.com
860-810-3298
P.O. Box 459, 5th Floor, Tolland, CT, 06084,

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website

Since 1999, the Liberty Square Group has been delivering strategic, integrated communications and public and government affairs counsel to a host of businesses, associations, political candidates and non-profit organizations.

1) Beacon Communities, LLC

2) Catapult Learning, Inc.

3) Connecticut Public Interest Research Group

4) CT Physical Therapy Association

5) First American Title Insurance Company

6) UConn Proud, Inc.

7) Urban Mining

20+ years

Jim Leahy brings 30 years of experience in lobbying, non-profit association management and political organizing to Liberty Square Group. An expert in building strong grassroots organizations, he has worked with clients in a wide variety of sectors, including healthcare, environment, consumer protection, budget, gaming, government procurement, public safety, development, as well as arts & culture. His advocacy track record includes several high profile wins, including two first-in-the-nation laws, one to require labeling genetically modified foods and another to require labeling small parts that pose choking hazards to children under 3.

A seasoned lecturer with a focus on leadership, grassroots advocacy and communicating with public officials, Mr. Leahy has addressed professionals at national, regional, and state organizations as well as students at more than a dozen New England colleges and universities. He is also a Certified Association Executive, the highest level of professional achievement available from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

A graduate of Brandeis University with a B.A. in Psychology, Mr. Leahy lives in Tolland Connecticut.

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MARTIN MILITA

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MARTIN MILITA

(New Jersey, )

Duane Morris Government Strategies

MJMilita@dmgs.com
(973) 222-1855
222 West State St Suite 211, Trenton, NJ, 08608,

Subjects: All Subjects

Links:Website

Marty is Senior Director in Trenton. Marty specializes in legislative lobbying, regulatory lobbying, business development, and public procurement. Prior to joining DMGS, he served as Managing Partner of Holman Public Affairs, LLC, which he co-founded in 2001. From 1997 to 2000, he spearheaded the turnaround of Fiore Group Companies as Chief Executive Officer, demonstrating his strong aptitude for senior-level leadership. He was named New Jersey's Medicaid Inspector General and served in that capacity from 1985 to 1990 and then held positions as general counsel in government affairs and administrative law at Sills Cummis, et.al. and Riker Danzig et.al. From 1981 to 1983, he held the position of New Jersey State Deputy Attorney General, where he served as Chief of Tax Fraud and Chief of the Solid Waste Unit of the Antitrust Section of the Division of Criminal Justice.

1) Catapult Learning LLC

2) Elevance Health and its Affiliates (fka Anthem Inc and its Affiliates)

3) Green Medicine NJ

4) Hunterdon Healthcare System

5) Impact Health Sharing

6) NOLA Education d/b/a Star Academy

20+ years

Marty has taken the lead on many high-stakes matters in which public and private interests intersect, including:

Obtaining environmental permits, public financing and tax incentives for major development projects on behalf of property owners and developers;

Lobbying state and federal agencies for the New Jersey Turnpike's "Northern Widening" environmental permits;

Leading efforts to solve New Jersey's EZ Pass (electronic toll collections) debacle;

Conducting internal investigations and managing crisis situations for public and private entities, such as GPU Nuclear, where he played a key role in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's requested internal corporate investigations following the Three Mile Island accident;

Securing a multimillion-dollar Medicaid Broker Enrollment Contract for a prominent Fortune 500 firm; and

Providing strategic advice to clients in the areas of legislative and executive branch lobbying, business development, procurement, issues management and business-to-government outreach.

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THOMAS ALSUP

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6-10 years

With more than 20 years of experience in building relationships between the public and private sector, Tommy Alsup leads all state and local government relations efforts for The Vogel Group.

Tommy previously served as Vice President of Government Affairs for Envision Healthcare, a $15 billion healthcare and national hospital-based physician group. At Envision, Tommy was responsible for sourcing and managing state-level lobbyists to ensure that the company's strategic goals were met with governors, state legislators and local officials across the country. His efforts were critical in securing favorable public policy on surprise medical billing issues in Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.

Tommy is an expert in managing national sales and procurement teams for companies seeking to grow revenue through state and local funding initiatives. He has overseen multiple requests for proposals (RFP) and large-scale procurement contracts for companies and industries alike.

In previous roles, Tommy was a senior-level government relations executive at Corizon Health and CoreCivic, the nation's largest owner of correctional, detention and residential reentry facilities.

With a strong, bi-partisan background in the state of Tennessee, Tommy served as Mayor of Oak Hill from 2002 to 2010, where he worked in partnership with Governor Phil Bredesen (D-TN) and Mayor Bill Purcell (D-Nashville, TN).

Tommy remains strongly engaged with the office of Governor Bill Lee (R-TN) and his administration.