H. BENSON DENDY III serves as President of The Vectre Corporation and a member of its Board of Directors. As a senior staff member for two Virginia Governors, he has held positions as diverse as Secretary of the Commonwealth, Secretary to the Governor's Cabinet, and Special Assistant to the Governor. He began his career in state government in 1978, as a legislative assistant to the Lieutenant Governor. Over the course of seven legislative sessions, he advocated for two Governors' agendas in the General Assembly. He served on transition committees for Virginia Governors Mark Warner and Terry McAuliffe.

In 2016, Dendy was appointed to the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University, where he currently serves as Vice Rector. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Containerization & Intermodal Institute. In 2002, he was appointed by Governor Mark Warner to the Council on the Southern Community of the Southern Growth Policies Board.

Dendy has been appointed and reappointed to the Board of Trustees of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, a state agency, by six Virginia Governors of both parties. He served as Chairman for nine years and is currently Chairman Emeritus. In 2003, he was appointed by the United States Secretary of the Interior to the Federal Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission and served as the Federal Commission's Vice Chairman. From 2013 – 2020, Dendy served on the Executive Committee of the American Evolution 2019 Commemoration which highlighted the 400th anniversary of key historical events that occurred in Virginia in 1619 that continue to influence our world today. These events were the anniversary of the first representative assembly in the New World, the arrival of the first recorded African slaves to English North America, the arrival of the first English women in significant numbers and the first official English Thanksgiving.

He served on the Board of Trustees of the Valentine Richmond History Center for 14 years and is a former director of the Virginia YMCA and the Maymont Foundation. He is a former member of the Board of Trustees of the American Council of Young Political Leaders, a core grantee of the United States Department of State that conducts international exchange programs for young governmental leaders. He is a member of the Honorary Council to the St. George's Foundation in Bermuda. Dendy also has extensive experience in helping international corporations develop business in this country.

Dendy graduated from the University of Richmond, magna cum laude, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. A member of Second Presbyterian Church, Dendy serves as an elder. He and his late wife, Stacey, had three children. The family enjoys skiing at Wintergreen and spending time in the summer at Virginia Beach.

He has served as Chairman of The Advocacy Group, the premier municipal, state, federal and international government and public affairs organization in the world and currently serves on its board of directors. Dendy was one of the first 24 government relations professionals nationwide to complete the State Government Affairs Council Professional Certification Program in 2012 and currently has completed the Council's silver level program for advanced certification.

A native of Louisiana, Brad Mittendorf is also a founding member of Southern Strategy Group (Louisiana). Leveraging expertise in energy and telecommunications policy, Brad represents clients before the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC). In addition, he coordinates issues management and media relations services for SSG clients.

The former campaign manager of Republican Jimmy Field's successful bid for public service commissioner, Brad also served as Commissioner Field's executive assistant. During his 7-year tenure with the LPSC, Brad advised on energy, telecommunications and transportation policies. In addition to serving as the commissioner's representative at regulatory hearings and workshops, Brad was also principal liaison to other elected officials and agencies.

In addition to his work in the political and regulatory arenas, Brad founded In Focus, LL -- a private research company. As president, Brad directed focus group research to test issues for a variety of political candidates and organizations and for law firms seeking to evaluate trial and mediation strategies.

Brad is a Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude graduate of Louisiana State University and served as co-editor of the Oxford Book of the American South (1997).

6-10 years

2019 Capitol Inside Texas Lobby Power Rankings - "Rising Star"

Texas Legislature
Texas Governor's Office
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Railroad Commission of Texas
Texas Water Development Board
Texas Department of Transportation
Texas Department of Agriculture
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Texas Animal Health Commission
Texas Department of Insurance
Texas Facilities Commission
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Texas General Land Office
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Texas Department of Public Safety

Matthew Bentley is a government relations consultant working for associations, companies, local governments and non-profit organizations in Texas. His practice is focused on environmental management, energy and utility regulations, private property interests, natural resources, infrastructure projects, economic development and alcohol issues. Matthew focuses his guidance on public positioning, issue management and government relations. His success relies greatly on his extensive relationships with elected officials and staff throughout the legislative and executive branches of state government. His work has resulted in the development and implementation of public policy; formulation of strategy with key government officials; and improved communication between legislative and business leaders at the highest level.

Matthew began independent lobbying during the 83rd Legislative Session (2013). Among others, he currently represents the country's largest telecommunications company, the state's leading utility association, a mining operation, a Class A water utility, a conservative tort reform organization, a multi-national transportation infrastructure company, a mid-sized manufacturer seeking regulatory rule changes, an association involved with the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, a group of Texas wineries, a residential developer and a non-profit cancer research foundation. Previous clients have included the state's two largest waste and recycling businesses, several landowner groups, an oil and gas trade association, special purpose districts, a leading power generation company and other major infrastructure projects. Matthew was recently named a Top Ten "Rising Star" by Capitol Inside, a bi-partisan publication covering Texas politics and government.

Throughout the 82nd Texas Legislature (2011), Matthew was under contract to Reggie Bashur, Cliff Johnson, Clay Pope and Luis Saenz, working on their clients' interests before the Texas Legislature and agencies throughout the state. During the 81st Legislative Session (2009), he worked for Commissioner Todd Staples at the Texas Department of Agriculture, as the Commission underwent the Sunset Advisory Commission review process.

Matthew also previously served as Business Development Manager for Procurement Strategy Group, Inc. This Austin-based government relations firm was well respected by government and business leaders for brokering mutually beneficial procurement solutions, until it dissolved due to retiring partners in 2012. Matthew helped companies target and win projects with federal, state and local governments.

Matthew has considerable experience and great success in working on political campaigns throughout Texas and the United States. In 2018, Matthew had a one hundred percent win rate as he consulted on Cody Harris' campaign for the Texas House of Representatives, U.S. Congressman Lance Gooden's open seat race for Congress and judicial races throughout East Texas. Matthew also served as Campaign Manager for State Representative Byron's Cook successful 2016 campaign for re-election. That race was among the highest profile and most seriously contested races that cycle. Matthew started his campaign work with Commissioner Todd Staples' statewide Agriculture Commissioner campaign and Governor Rick Perry's 2010 gubernatorial and 2012 presidential races. Matthew is very involved with the Texas GOP's Mighty Texas Strike Force, having served as the Virginia Co-Captain for the 2016 General Election.

Matthew presently serves on the Advisory Council for Texan by Nature, a non-profit organization founded by Former First Lady, Laura Bush, which focuses on safeguarding the environment with respect to private property interests and economic development. Matthew graduated from The University of Texas at Austin.