LobbyComply Blog

Every client I work with wants the same thing–results which matter. Better outcomes. Clear direction. Real momentum.

But here is the truth most people do not talk about— progress rarely comes from giant, dramatic leaps. It comes from showing up, again and again, even when things feel messy, unfinished, or uncomfortable. Perfection can feel motivating at first. It gives us a vision of how things should look. But perfection also has a downside: it makes people wait. Wait until conditions are ideal. Wait until they feel more confident. Wait until everything is lined up right.

Progress does not wait.

Progress happens when you take the next right step—even if it is small. Even if it is imperfect. Even if you are still figuring things out.

The most successful clients I see are not the ones who never struggle. They are the ones who keep moving forward when challenges show up. They ask questions. They adjust. They stay engaged. And over time, those small, steady actions compound into tangible results.

If you are feeling stretched, uncertain, or overwhelmed right now, that does not mean you are failing. It means you are in the process of growing. 

So, here is the invitation: Focus less on getting everything perfect, and more on taking the next step that moves you forward. Momentum builds clarity. Action creates confidence.

You do not have to do everything today. You just must keep going. And I am here to help you every step of the way.

Stay in touch,

Elizabeth Z. Bartz

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Women in Government Relations (WGR) will celebrate its 50th anniversary at its annual conference in Washington, DC, September, 18th and 19th. The organization is expecting more than 300 women in advocacy for leadership development, policy insights, and networking.

Attendees will expect inspiring keynotes and breakout sessions focused on outreach, engagement, governments affairs, and career growth. Specific sessions include grassroots advocacy, public speaking, and executive presence tailored for women in government relations.

This conference marks a significant milestone for WGR, celebrating its 50th anniversary and honoring the contributions of women in government relations.

State and Federal Communications is a sponsor and an integral participant in the program. If you have an interest in attending, please go to www.wgr.org for additional information and registration materials.

Until next month, please take advantage of professional development opportunities. In this case, WGR does not want cost to be a barrier. The 1975 Fund offers support for WGR membership, event registration, and conference attendance. Check it out.

Elizabeth Z. Bartz

@elizabethbartz

State and Federal Communications is thrilled to be celebrating its 32^nd anniversary this month. During this time there have been a wide range of changes that the company has adapted to and grown to meet. However, the one common thread that has remained steadfast throughout is our President and CEO, Elizabeth Bartz. The company is now thriving and working with some of the biggest names across many industries in the U.S., but it wasn’t always this prominent. Elizabeth had to work hard for what her company has become.

In 1993, Elizabeth was looking for a change. She was working at State and Federal Associates in Washington D.C. and was ready to move back home to Akron, Ohio. As it turns out, her employer was also looking for a change and approached Elizabeth with an interesting offer.

“They approached me because they were thinking of closing my department and asked me if I was interested in buying it and moving it to Akron. My other choice was coming back and managing a Subway store with my father. I had 10 years in managing a compliance department and I was good at it, so it was an easy decision, but a risk… and I didn’t know what I didn’t know.”

Elizabeth was up for the challenge of making something altogether new to the industry, a company solely focused on lobbying compliance. However, it was a big risk moving it back home to Akron from the hub of activity that is Washington D.C. State and Federal Communications was born, with Elizabeth at the helm, quite a few obstacles to overcome, and a small eager staff.

Through persistence and a lot of networking, Elizabeth made her company a success and began to grow a reputation as reliable and precise. As the company has grown one quality, perhaps above all others, has helped Elizabeth to make her business a success – the ability to connect with people and help fill their needs. This has manifested itself in many ways, both within business, and with philanthropic giving within the local community. This spirit of giving has become a cornerstone within the culture of State and Federal Communications with its Corporate Social Responsibility Program. The CSR program has become so integral that it has projected the company into the top 10 corporate givers to United Way within Summit County.

 “Especially now, with everything going on, we need people to help other people… We provide charitable service hours for any employee who gives .5% or 1% of their compensation. This becomes a win-win with United Way of Summit and Medina County receiving the financial benefit and the employee’s choice of charity receiving their charitable hours.”

Elizabeth’s personal giving focus is very diverse, but one of the causes closest to her heart is education. Helping to fund scholarships and grants through The John S. Knight Foundation, Akron Urban League, and Akron Press Club are among her passions. Another passion of Elizabeth is helping others to succeed both in her industry and within the local community. This passion has helped her staff develop professionally, and in turn allowed a relatively small staff of compliance professionals to make State and Federal Communications into the gold standard in lobbying, procurement lobbying, and political giving compliance.

Today, State and Federal Communications boasts a large online database of federal, state, and municipal legislative codes. The company has come a long way since Elizabeth’s scrappy start-up sent out loose-leaf binder guidebooks and helped clients in navigating the information via telephone. Through maintaining excellent relationships with clients; unwavering attention to detail in the service provided; and an uncanny ability to network with decision makers State and Federal Communications was able to make its presence felt in the industry and its services indispensable to many.

At the center of State and Federal Communications’ success is Elizabeth, keeping the company striving toward what is needed by clients and innovating to stay ahead of the curve. Today, clients have more needs, with the ever-changing compliance guidelines, and State and Federal Communications continues to adapt to being more of a full-service business partner rather than just a service provider.

The future is bright at State and Federal Communications, and Elizabeth, as always, has her eye on it. The company has begun a five-year transition into becoming an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) with Elizabeth once more leading the way.

“I want to make sure I’m taking care of my people. Over the years I have worked hard to help many of my staff to become the future leaders this company needs to not only succeed but thrive. I am very excited to see what the future brings for State and Federal Communications.”

At State and Federal Communications, we equate Joseph May with Corporate Social Responsibility. Joe started on the staff in 2007 working in our social media department. He took—what I call a brief leave of absence to train as a hospital chaplain in 2017. He realized it was not the full-time position he needed and returned to State and Federal, in our new department of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). And nothing has been the same.

We have defined CSR as our company’s efforts to operate in an ethical and sustainable way, considering its impact on society, the environment, and the economy. It goes beyond simply making a profit – it is about doing business in a way that benefits people and the planet.

This month, you will receive our 2024 Annual Report on our corporate social responsibility programs. It will show how State and Federal Communications has been involved locally, in the states, and nationally to show how we are corporate citizens wherever we go.

The work we do with United Way Summit/Medina is second to none. UWSM can count on us to help with donations to students with school supplies. We make sure our Akron Canton Foodbank and Good Samaritans have the food and help needed to distribute food to those in need. There are so many ways we can all help.

What we have found about CSR is easy to list:

• CSR improves brand reputation and trust.
• CSR increases customer and employee loyalty.
• CSR reduces regulatory and legal risks.
• CSR opens new market opportunities.
• CSR enhances long-term profitability.

In short, CSR is about businesses being good corporate citizens—not just focusing on what they can gain, but also on how they can give back.

We hope you enjoy our 2024 Annual Report. Call us at 330-761-9960 if you do not receive it—either digitally or printed. We will share it with everyone.

Until next month, enjoy your month.

Thank you.

Elizabeth Z. Bartz
@elizabethbartz

In today’s fast-paced world, longevity in a single organization is increasingly rare. That is why it is both an honor and a privilege to celebrate the great staff who have dedicated years to State and Federal Communications. The unwavering commitment, loyalty, and professionalism have left a lasting mark on our team and culture.

Since joining the staff, everyone has embodied the values that define who we are, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and service. From the early days in their roles to their current position this group has grown alongside the company, witnessing its milestones and playing a key role in many of them.

I receive many calls and emails describing our staff as people who lead by example, with a calm presence, a wealth of institutional knowledge, and a readiness to mentor others. Whether it is navigating challenging projects, training new staff, or simply offering a kind word of encouragement, the presence of the team has been a constant source of strength.

Longevity like this does not just happen, it is the result of passion, perseverance, and a deep-rooted belief in the work being done. It also speaks to the kind of workplace culture that values people as much as performance.

We will recognize our entire staff in September. Until then we extend our deepest gratitude for the decades of excellence and dedication. Hail to a legacy which inspires us all—and to the years still ahead.

Thank you.
Elizabeth Z. Bartz
@elizabethbartz

To quote Ellie Shaw from American Express, #FirstWoman is leading the Public Affairs Council in its 70-year history…And, I love it.

In October 2024, the Public Affairs Council announced Nneka Chiazor would serve as the organization’s next President. She follows Doug Pinkham who retired January 1st, thereby moving my status up as the second oldest member of the Council, next to Ken Gross!

The minute she was announced, I connected with her on LinkedIn; I sent an email congratulating her; I connected her with Gamble Hayden who had planned to be at Institute, but weather prevented her attending; and I invited her to join me for dinner at The Advocacy Conference. You know what she did next? She invited me to dinner at the PAC Conference!!! She wanted to get a small group of board members together to talk about their experiences with the Council.

Just so you know, I am usually the inviter, not the invitee.

I enjoy getting to know her, talking with her, and talking about my experiences. She has been readily available when needed and I appreciate she has a council staff member with her to make sure she has collected all the information from our conversations.

Prior to joining the Council, Chiazor served as Market Vice President at Cox Communications. She brought more than two decades of experience in communications and public affairs to her new role. At Cox, Chiazor leads a multimillion-dollar operation with more than 1,200 employees representing one of the company’s top five markets, fostering a culture to drive positive business outcomes and excellence. Prior to being promoted in this business leadership role, she also served as Vice President of Government and Public Affairs at the company. Before joining Cox, Chiazor spent 14 years at Verizon Communications, where she held several leadership roles, including Vice President of Public Policy. Chiazor was a member of the Council’s Board of Directors from 2018 to 2023.

I believe her next formal PAC appearance will be at the Spring Executive Board Dinner and Meeting April 23rd and 24th. Introduce yourself to Nneka. You will find you have a new friend.

Thank you.
Elizabeth Z. Bartz
@elizabethbartz

I learned a long time ago people donate resources to three, five at the most, organizations. In my case, those three are the Greek Orthodox church, Kent State University, and United Way of Summit/Medina (UWSM) — not in that order.

Helping the United Way can be a great way to make a positive impact on your community. United Way works on various issues such as education, financial stability, and health, and they collaborate with local organizations to create long-term solutions.

Many companies partner with United Way to organize workplace giving campaigns. We have a great workplace giving program. If your workplace hosts one, you can get involved by contributing financially or helping to promote the campaign to your colleagues. I currently serve on the UWSM Executive Committee and in 2023/2024, I was the campaign chair helping to bring in new workplace campaigns.

Let me say State and Federal Communications’ work with United Way started decades ago. We had just hired Nola Werren to the staff and she asked why we didn’t donate to United Way. Her father, Chuck Hogan, had led the United Way in Trumbull County. I called Bob Kulinski, then president of United Way in Summit County and our program started.

We built our workplace campaign after speaking with other leaders in Akron. We learned from a past campaign chair about the Fair Share + Program. This took the UW Fair Share amount — average 1.5% of someone’s salary — and added $1 per paycheck. In our case, which would be $24 more a year.

The local United Way provided a free PTO day at Christmas if they brought in 100% participation. We adjusted it a bit and now provide the day before Thanksgiving off for 100% participation. We reached it most years, but we did not in 2024. It really is okay; our campaign exceeded all other goals.

There are a lot of ways to help United Way. Some include:

• Volunteering your time — United Way offers a variety of volunteer opportunities. You can help by participating in community service projects, mentoring, tutoring, or assisting with special events. My staff particularly likes Stuff the Bus and Read-to-Me day.
• Advocate — This is easily done by spreading awareness about United Way’s mission by sharing their work on social media, writing to local leaders, or organizing events promoting their initiatives.
• Join a committee — If you are interested in a leadership role, consider joining one of United Way’s committees or their board. This is a way to contribute your professional expertise to help the organization succeed.

State and Federal just finished its 14th Annual Donuts and Cider campaign. We started this to add to what we were pledging to UWSM. We take orders from the community and Joe May and Nicolette Koozer lead the team to set up our table on Halloween Day. We donate all sales to UW. It does not bring in a lot, but we usually donate $1,000 to UWSM and a lot of people enjoy delicious donuts and apple cider.

What can I tell you about our company’s campaign, which just ended:

• 43 people pledged $65,022
• 22 people pledged Fair Share +
• 30 people pledged at leader levels starting at $500

People have their thoughts about the United Way. All that is known is in Summit/Medina County we are making changes with our Bold Goals, which are:

1. Ready for Success — 65% of Akron Public School third graders read at or above grade level.
2. Youth Success — College and Career Readiness where 90% of APS high schoolers graduate in 4 years, with 60% college/career ready and Youth Opportunities and Success where 60% of Akron youth employed or active in extracurriculars.
3. Financial Empowerment — 11,000 people in Summit County and 2,500 people in Medina County.
4. Health Equity — Reduce the Black infant mortality rate in Summit County to 6 per 1,000 live births.

There are 11,000 United Ways in this country. Find yours and make a difference.

Thank you.
Elizabeth Z. Bartz
@elizabethbartz

For the first time, State and Federal Communications dipped its toe in attending political conventions. Now do not be mistaken, we were not on the floor of the convention with the thousands of delegates.

Jean Cantrell and I participated in the receptions held by the Community Leaders of America in Milwaukee and the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) in Chicago. We were definitely outside of the perimeter and we did not wear credentials to attend anything outside of our small scope.

The Community Leaders of America sponsored the reception with the United States Conference of Mayors in the beautiful Milwaukee City Hall. The event started with a press conference with Republican mayors in attendance along with Milwaukee’s Democratic Mayor Cavalier Johnson. Miami’s Mayor Francis Suarez spoke on behalf of the convention, as he was there also as a delegate.

In Chicago, we partnered with the United States Conference of Mayors for a reception at the Marriott Marquis with the nation’s Democratic mayors. Again, this started with a press conference headed up by Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, this year’s president of the USCM, along with Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson. We all love surprise guests and this year, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg — in his capacity as a delegate and not Secretary.

The best of both conventions was really the activity on the floor. I am a fan of CSPAN because it has no commercials and we hear more of the speakers, while other stations take breaks. I like to hear from everyone.

Until next month, I encourage you to prepare to vote. Plan it now. Early voting starts October 8th in Ohio and I plan to be at the Summit County Board of Elections. It has been decades since I stood in line on Election Day to vote. Plus, we give everyone on staff an hour to vote — whenever they plan to vote.

Thank you.
Elizabeth Z. Bartz
@elizabethbartz

We totally have enjoyed celebrating our 30th anniversary. And now we move on. If it is July 1st then it is our anniversary and we are ready to start year 31! I had thought we could utilize a logo resembling Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors but the company doesn’t use “31 Flavors” anymore.

It is just our 31st year. We are busier than ever. Yes, it is a presidential year and we will be participating Community Leaders of America in Milwaukee and the US Conference of Mayors in Chicago at their respective receptions. At this time we are still waiting to see if the presidential candidates will participate in the debates scheduled with the Commission on Presidential Debates.

We are attending the Council of State Governments Southern, Midwest, and Eastern regional meetings along with the national meeting in December. You will see ten (10) of us at National Conference of State Legislatures National Summit [Booth 513] along with our great exhibit booth.

There is no moss growing because we will also be an exhibitor at the American Association of Law Libraries [Booth 629], American Legislative Exchange Council, and attending American Society of Association Executives, which is in Cleveland, Ohio.

We are not slowing down. Our services are being used by major companies who need to ensure compliance, trade associates, law firms, and government relations firms. We are so honored to work with these organizations.

Onward to year 35!!!

Enjoy this beautiful summer. We hope to see you on the circuit.

Thank you.
Elizabeth Z. Bartz
@elizabethbartz

I saw these two videos [below] last week at the National Governors Association meeting in DC… and, I have been thinking about it. How can I disagree differently this election year?

It’s a big deal in my household. My husband is a diehard Ohio State fan. I was born in Ann Arbor. My immediate family members still wear the maize and blue when the teams play together.

Truth be told, I don’t have a reason not to be an Ohio State fan but it does keep disagreements lively. Our daughter went to Ohio State Law School and I was talking to our grandson, James (or Jackpot as I affectionately call him) about Michigan’s beauty when he screamed out loud, “Mom, I want to go to Michigan!”

Okay, let’s get back to disagreeing differently. I heard from former Congressman J.C. Watts [right] at the State Government Affairs Council Leaders Policy Conference in November. He had a great comment. Maybe there would not be as much divisiveness if people watched more Andy Griffith than FOX News. I ran up to tell him after my sisters and I watch Andy Griffith with our father every night (I even saw the episode when Aunt Bee arrived.) We could go back to my household where my husband and I are of different political sides. I have not been nice about it. When President Obama won, I blocked FOX News from the main television. I hated hearing it blaring in the television when I returned home. I also did not remind him to vote on one Primary Election, but I felt guilty and told him 10 minutes before the polls closed. He did have time to speed to the local school and vote.

Most of the time we watch television on different floors during a presidential election year. I want to do it differently this year—especially after the ridiculous issues Ohio Secretary of State allowed on our 2023 ballots about changing the constitution and women’s reproductive health. Our daughter, Nicole, and I had old conversations with John about why both would severely affect women in the state. I was also afraid Nicole and her family would move to Colorado with her in-laws and I would NOT be happy—about the move, not the in-laws.

I will TRY the same thing this year. We need to get over the things we are both concerned with and that is the age of our candidates for president. At this point there is nothing we can do about it. Will I ever change his mind and vote for my candidate? Probably not. But maybe on November 5th, we can watch election coverage together.

It’s important we know why we want to vote for a specific candidate. Take the time to learn. There are so many ways than FOX or MSNBC. Read books, magazine articles, put it in your Open AI. Take the time because we have the time. Then VOTE.

Governor Mike Parson (R) Missouri and Governor Laura Kelly (D) Kansas

Governor Wes Moore (D) Maryland and Mayor Jack Coburn (R) Lonaconing, MD

I am always looking for great folks to add to our State and Federal Communications community. I recently was aware that Joe Wasser was looking for a new opportunity. Joe has more than 24 years of business development experience in the government relations and PAC industry. So I picked up the phone and called him.

Joe joined State and Federal Communications, Inc. in October as our new Senior Account Manager. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise in government relations and building relationships. I am thrilled he is on our team.

Prior to joining State and Federal Communications, Joe was one of the first employees of Capitol Hill Software which became Vocus before it was acquired by Cision. Joe was one of the most instrumental people in building the Vocus client base starting in 1997.

“I’m excited to work with my longtime friend Elizabeth and the team at State and Federal Communications,” said Wasser. “I know we can build upon the great work that has already been done and help the company grow.”

Joe will explore business development and new growth opportunities for State and Federal Communications including market assessment, and new and emerging industry potential.
When Joe started with Capitol Hill Software and Vocus, the products were sold as physical diskettes that were sent to clients. Similarly, State and Federal Communications sent out binders and guidebooks to clients and would regularly supplement them with additional pages.

While State and Federal Communications was modernizing the process of making compliance web-based, Joe and the Vocus teamwere doing the same thing to create one of the most widely used web-based filing tools for federal PACs. His experience adds great value to State and Federal Communications.

A life-long Maryland Terrapin, Joe is a big fan of Washington D.C. sports particularly the Washington Nationals. However, after getting a taste of a winning culture in the Cleveland Guardians, he has adopted the Guardians as a fan too.

Joe and his wife Suzanne live on the eastern shore of Maryland. They have two adult children and are delighted to be welcoming their first grandchild in January 2023.

If Joe knows you, he will be in contact with you. He is as much an extrovert as me and I already know he will be a great addition.

On behalf of the State and Federal Communications Family, we wish you and yours Happy Holidays and look forward to a busy 2023 in the states, federal government, municipalities, and international countries.

July 1, 2022 is the 29th anniversary of State and Federal Communications, Inc. Yes, 29 years!

I wanted to see the percentage of small businesses who are still around for 29 years. What is the average age of small business CEOs? What percentage of businesses succeed?

Let me just say we have outlasted the percentages. Most research talks about businesses around for only five years. I am far older than the average 44-year-old small business owner. Do you know 70% of small businesses fail after 10 years.

Enough of all that bad news.

The team at State and Federal Communications works together for our clients. That is the most important part of the work we do. We understand each of our clients have different needs and we work with them to help with compliance. Our website has grown and grown because we listen when our clients want additional reference information, want additional municipalities included, and adding additional countries to our growing International Guidebook.

There is a lot we need to do for the future. I am not getting any younger and I want to protect our work and our staff. So, what are we doing?

We are working together to find a new home in Akron when our lease expires in 2024 to be more efficient for the way we operate.

Our senior team will begin the EOS—Entrepreneurial Operating System—which integrates a complete set of simple tools and process to produce powerful business results.

And the largest is to plan to integrate an ESOP—employer stock ownership plan—which gives the staff ownership interest in the company.

There is a lot we need to do even before we start these programs…And we are up to the challenge. If there is something you would like to see us do, please reach out. We are open to your ideas.

Stay tuned…We will have a lot to share.

In the meantime, enjoy your summer. Please continue to be safe and protect yourself from COVID. #MaskUp

Every week we discuss the articles from lobbycomply.com and see which ones are opened the most often. No question about it, Ask the Experts—Employee Personal Political Contributions is the #1 blog post…Every single week.

The question is easy—”Before I can make a political contribution using my own funds, my employer requires that I obtain permission first.  Can my employer legally do this?”

As is the answer—Yes.

Employers may require employees to seek preapproval before making personal political contributions. Not only can your employer require this, but it’s also smart business to do so. Employers may even require preapproval from family members of employees.

This preapproval requirement has evolved because of the increased number of jurisdictions enacting pay-to-play laws. A seemingly innocuous contribution by an employee could result in the loss of government contracts, fines, and a ban on future contracting. Criminal sanctions may apply when repeated violations occur. By requiring pre-approval, your employer can properly vet the contribution for compliance with a jurisdiction’s pay-to-play law, including disclosure requirements.

In most jurisdictions, employees covered by pay-to-play laws include officers, partners, directors, senior management, salespersons, and their spouses and dependent children. In Pennsylvania and Kentucky, all employees are covered in the instance of a no-bid contract.

Requiring preclearance of employee personal political contributions is certainly preferable than imposing a ban on employee contributions, which could result in a violation of applicable labor laws. Various jurisdictions bar employers from retaliating against employees for engaging in political activities, which can include everything from participating in a political rally to making campaign contributions. Even though an employer can require preapproval, an employer cannot directly or indirectly affect an individual’s employment by means of discrimination or threat of discrimination based on the individual’s personal political contributions.

We have a busy election year ahead of us…and it continues until November 2024. Protect the company and ask before making political contributions. As I always say, this is not an issue where you can ask for forgiveness first…Obtain permission before proceeding.      I suggest you always plan your contributions before saying YES to the candidates calling and sending invitations. Make sure you do not exceed the limitation in the jurisdiction.

If you have questions about this, give me a call. I have a detailed Excel chart detailing my contributions so I know how much I have given per election. In fact, Nola Werren on my staff has that spreadsheet because she will let me know if I am exceeding the limit…I think my husband, John Chames, would do the same, but definitely in a louder tone!!!!!

Thank you.

EB
@ elizabethbartz

Attention all political science nerds and government relations geeks. State and Federal Communications has posted the State of the State Addresses from the Governors of the United States on its website. It is available to all of our clients on your dashboard.

This was a great idea from our new Senior Advisor Jean Cantrell at a department meeting. With Vice President Ren Koozer’s IT skills and Associate Director for Research, Michael Beckett, Esq. and his amazing team, the whole project was put together in no time and on our website.

Not every governor has given his/her State of the State Address and we will continue to update the site by providing a link to either the distributed Address or a link to the video of the Address being given.

I like having something interesting to do and this is perfect. [Truth be told, I have also spent time in the evening looking at candidate campaign finance reports and seeing if I notice irregularities.] This is a great opportunity when I am at the Public Affairs Council PAC Conference to catch up on what is going on in our country.

I would love to hear from you about this new addition. Please note this is only available to subscribers to our Guidebooks and to all our consulting clients. If that piques your interest, give me a call to discuss our services.

Next month I will discuss the #1 blog post at the company!! Stay tuned.