Association lobbyists faced a challenging landscape in 2023. The year opened with a new and divided Congress, continued economic instability and a slow return to the way they communicated pre-COVID with association members, legislators and the public. 

Considering such challenges, CEO Update and Association TRENDS are honoring four government relations professionals as the Leading Association Lobbyists for 2024. The awards are part of the annual Salute to Association Excellence, which will be held Feb. 27 at the Capital Hilton, in Washington, D.C. 

The honorees are David Hickey of the International Sign Association, Jillien Flores of the Managed Funds Association, Allison Cunningham of the American Gas Association and Robin Bowen of the Plant Based Products Council. 

Congressional turmoil did not deter Flores, Cunningham and Bowen from getting things done — and Hickey said his members actually preferred advocating before a divided Congress. 

“You can have one party in Congress that wants to increase regulation and increase taxes, or you can have another party that might go to the other extreme, which our members would prefer,” he said. “If they can’t have a Congress that is pro-business, then they’d rather have one that can’t get anything done.” 

Bowen said she had no problem advancing Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) priorities because “a lot of our agenda is fundamentally related to rural economic development and that's something both parties can definitely agree on.” 

CEO Update interviewed the honorees to see how they advocate for their industries and their members. 

For Hickey, politics is local 

David Hickey’s work takes him deep into the local trenches. The International Sign Association (ISA) represents the on-premise sign, graphics and visual communications industry. 

“Most of what we work on are local zoning issues because on-premise signs are regulated almost entirely at the local level of government,” Hickey said. “So, we work with city councils and city planners and local officials to educate them about signs. There are over 20,000 local sign ordinances across the country, each with their unique sign code.”  

As ISA’s vice president for advocacy, Hickey said access to decision-makers is much easier on the local level. Hickey, who joined ISA in 2011, spent six years working on Capitol Hill, in both the House and the Senate, “and I know it is really hard to get in to meet with members of Congress.” 

“On the local level it is easier to get your industry voice heard, to get your customers’ voices heard and to affect a positive outcome,” he said. “It’s a totally different game.” Hickey said when he joined ISA, he immediately realized the need for change. 

“When I started, we were focusing largely on federal issues and there are not that many (federal) issues that involve on-premise signs,” he said. “We’ve helped change dozens and dozens, if not hundreds, of jurisdictions’ sign ordinances. We’ve been able to get in front of over 9,000 local officials since I joined ISA.” 

ISA and its members try to emphasize the importance of paying attention to regulatory ramifications of the ubiquitous signs. An example of a current issue that impacts many in the industry is sign lighting restrictions, which Hickey has tackled head-on.  

Hickey has led local coalitions to ensure officials understood the importance of signs for their communities, including a major victory in Chicago, where a years-long process to get a new sign permitted was revoked. 

Although the pandemic was a “great challenge” for ISA, Hickey said, “We were able to help get our industry through (it) including getting the sign industry classified as critical infrastructure.” 

He also stressed the importance of technology to his lobbying efforts. 

“We try and use technology as much as possible . . . to communicate, not only with our sign company members but also with the regulators who develop sign ordinances,” Hickey said. “Whether it’s e-blasts or blogs or webinars or short videos, we pretty much do it all to try and communicate with key stakeholders.”  

Flores tackles new efforts to regulate the industry 

The Managed Funds Association (MFA) represents the global alternative investment industry and its investors. Alternative investments include real estate, precious metals, hedge funds and commodities, among others. 

The industry was subject to minimal Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulation — until recently.  

Jillien Flores, MFA’s executive vice president and head of global government affairs, spearheaded the association’s advocacy during what she called unprecedented government scrutiny.  

Her efforts led legislators to send letters to the SEC echoing MFA’s positions, and to hold several hearings that highlighted how the association’s members are impacted by the federal agency’s agenda. President Biden also signed legislation that contained language urging the SEC to consider how its rules will harm minority- and women-owned firms.  

“The SEC is undertaking the most aggressive regulatory agenda since the global financial crisis,” Flores said. “Many of these rules seek to fundamentally reshape the alternative asset management industry by applying a retail, mutual fund-like regulatory regime to private funds.”  

Flores also lobbies in the United Kingdom and the European Union. Her work helped lead to a major overhaul of the UK’s short-selling regulatory framework and in the EU she secured changes that enable MFA members to raise capital, invest and generate returns for their beneficiaries. She joined MFA in 2021 after six years at Vanguard, where she advocated on a range of issues related to U.S. capital markets, tax and retirement policy. 

While the COVID pandemic created alternative methods of communication that remain in use, Flores said in-person meetings are still important. 

“The nonverbal communication that takes place when you are in a room with someone improves the outcome of meetings,” Flores said. “That said, the ease of conducting meetings virtually has expanded the network of people I am able to meet with regularly.” 

Flores said her successes underscore what a woman can do in an industry that “has historically been male-dominated.” 

“I make it a priority to extend my professional passion outside of my work at MFA, dedicating time to support and elevate women who are forging their paths in government and government relations, including hosting regular networking and development events for women in financial services advocacy,” she said. 

 “I think it’s really encouraging that increasingly there are more and more women taking on more and more senior roles within both government affairs advocacy as well as senior roles in government itself,” Flores said.  

AGA focuses on energy affordability 

The American Gas Association’s (AGA) primary concern is “the future of America’s utility space,” according to Allison Cunningham. While AGA focuses on greenhouse gas reduction and climate-friendly solutions, “balancing that with affordability for customers, reliability and other important issues that utility customers face” is of utmost importance. 

The Department of Energy’s first-ever efficiency regulation on cooking appliances is one of the issues that tops AGA’s agenda. Cunningham, the association’s senior director for governmental affairs and public policy since April 2022, managed to secure strong bipartisan support for key legislation such as the Save Our Gas Stoves Act, which places limits on energy conservation standards for kitchen ranges or ovens. 

The divided Congress was not an issue in passing the House bill (it awaits Senate consideration) as “issues of affordable home energy resonate with everyone, regardless of political party,” Cunningham said.  

Cunningham also fostered new bipartisan support for the continued role of the direct use of natural gas (as opposed to generating electricity with it) in a clean energy future. 

Being an association lobbyist presents unique challenges, she said. 

“As an organization, AGA represents more than 200 companies in every state,” Cunningham said. “This means that we have to take into account a broad range of perspectives and local regulatory environments while working towards consensus decisions.”  

This is not the first time Cunningham has been acknowledged for her lobbying efforts: She was recognized by The Hill newspaper in its 2021 and 2022 lists of top lobbyists. 

“I’m incredibly proud of the relationships I’ve built. Washington is a lot like a small town — your reputation, good or bad, will absolutely follow you,” she said. “I always endeavor to be a straight shooter, and to make sure the information I provide is accurate and comprehensive. People have come to expect that of me, and to know they can trust what I have to say.” 

Similar to Flores, Cunningham said it’s important to encourage women to get into leadership positions within advocacy. 

“I think that women are still going to be dealing with challenges of being in what was a male-dominated industry for a while,” she said. “Fellow women lobbyists joke that a lot of work happens on the golf course. I haven’t been golfing in years. 

“It feels like it’s a male-dominated space, even if it’s not intended to be, so the more we can get excited young women in positions of leadership, I think that’s better for everyone,” Cunningham said.  

Bowen’s farm experience helps cultivate change 

Robin Bowen, PBPC’s senior vice president of external affairs, credits growing up on a farm in rural America with honing her ability to lobby for sustainable, plant-based products. 

Bowen is also senior vice president of external affairs for the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) and said her work for each organization — managing government relations, stakeholder engagement and communications — complements the other. In addition, she leads CRA’s government relations committee. She joined both organizations in 2019. 

Corn refiners manufacture sweeteners, starch, advanced bioproducts, corn oil and feed products from corn components such as starch, oil, protein and fiber. 

“My advocacy approach is shaped by my farm background — achieving change through planning, creative thinking and patience,” Bowen said. “It takes substantial effort to gain the higher-value result I’m after and although this kind of approach has generated some challenges during my career, I’ve learned to educate others on my methods and stay focused on the long game.” 

Bowen has been working on changes to the 2018 Farm Bill, which in November was extended until September 2024.  

Some of her early legislative victories were the initiation of the U.S. Composting Infrastructure Council and development of draft legislation that supported the introduction of the COMPOST (Cultivating Organic Matter through the Promotion of Sustainable Techniques) Act in the House and Senate in the 117th and 118th Congresses.  

Bowen takes immense pride in her roots, adding that much of her successful lobbying approach can be credited to her upbringing. 

“I’m most grateful to show that the daughter of Kentucky dairy farmers can work hard, take risks and have a positive impact in the unpredictable tides of public policy,” she said. “I try to put into practice every day the principles and life lessons that my parents taught me. The skills and resiliency it takes to handle Mother Nature’s curveballs is perfectly applicable to policy advocacy.” 

Bowen started her career in advocacy as a senior legislative assistant for Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in 1992. With two decades of lobbying experience behind her, Bowen’s advice to those looking to gain traction in their work on the Hill: “The internet doesn’t have all the answers. Ask questions and listen very closely. Even if you know the basic answer, nine times out of 10 you’ll learn something new that will be useful to you.” 

Information on registering for the Salute to Association Excellence is available at Salute to Association Excellence: Washington, D.C. (associationtrends.com).