Team State and Federal Communications is attending National Conference of State Legislatures 2013 National Summit. You’ll find us at Booth #921. Come by and say hello!

Team State and Federal Communications is on its way to the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit in Atlanta, Georgia! We are looking forward to a full schedule of NCSL and SGAC events.

If you are attending the exciting conference, be sure to say hello at our NCSL headquarters, Booth 921. If you are not attending, keep an eye on our NCSL page for our live webcam.

The mission of State and Federal Communications is to make sure your organization can say, “I Comply.”

We are the leading authority and exclusive information source on legislation and regulations surrounding campaign finance
and political contributions; state, federal, and municipal lobbying; and procurement lobbying.

Visit us at Stateandfed.com and be sure to try our free online Executive Source Guides Demo! You can also sign up for our free Compliance Now e-newsletter.

Contact us to learn how conveniently our services will allow you to say “I Comply” for your compliance activities. If you have any questions, you can reach us at 330-761-9960, or info@stateandfed.com.

August 2-5, 2013   National Governors Association Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

August 8, 2013   Public Relations Society of America, Tangiers in Akron, Ohio

August 12-15, 2013   NCSL Legislative Summit Booth 921, Atlanta, Georgia

September 19-22, 2013   CSG National Conference, Kansas City, Missouri

September 25-27, 2013   Public Affairs Council State and Local Government Relations Conference, Washington, D.C.

All our bags are packed, we are ready to go. We are standing here, outside our door…If you follow my columns you will know I use a lot of references to songs. That’s about all I have in common with this one…but I was thinking of it today.

NCSL’s Legislative Summit begins on August 11th in Atlanta and you will find the State and Federal Communications team ready for action. We are involved with the Legislative Summit, NCSL’s Foundation Board meeting and its activities, SGAC’s activities, Virginia Night reception, WASRG’s reception, Women’s Legislative Network events, etc. Basically you will find us everywhere.

Stop by Booth 921 beginning on Tuesday and we will give you a tour of our new website, which will be presented to everyone within the month. We will also run a LIVE feed from our booth so you can stop by and wave to our on-line audience.

Thank you,

Elizabeth Z. Bartz

President and CEO

Last week on Friday, June 21, 2013, fourteen of our State & Federal Communications’ employees, including five interns, visited the East Akron YMCA on South Main Street to celebrate United Way Day of Action. After a warm welcome from Director and Vice President of Community Development Tony Grimes, the State & Fed team brought out the rollers, paintbrushes, and cans of “Legendary Blue” paint and began the day of service.

Dressed in t-shirts that read “Live United,” each member of State & Federal Communications pulled his or her own weight in work; all participated in painting the gymnasium walls and doors as well as numerous hallways. However, the volunteers never felt the task to be daunting and instead thought of it as more of a privilege.

“Though I have lived in Akron my whole life, I am often introduced to places in this community that could use a little assistance. I am always eager to help in any way possible, and I am thankful for United Way Day of Action in giving me the opportunity to do just that,” recalls Research Intern Cristina Dickos.

State & Federal Communications has participated in United Way Day of Action for several years, and each year the company looks forward to spending a day outside the office, showing that our work reaches beyond the desk.

Marketing Intern, Joanna Kamvouris, shared her sentiments: “Day of Action gave me a chance to appreciate what I sometimes take for granted and help brighten the day of children and workers within our Akron community,” Kamvouris said. “The work we completed as a team went beyond applying bright blue paint to the walls along the East Akron YMCA. We came together and made a difference that the children will see every time they visit the YMCA.”

Summit County Executive Russ Pry is such a good friend that I will even endure a little bit of his good-natured ribbing as he congratulates State and Federal Communications.

They say it is good to know people in high places.

In 2009 my twin brother Ted and I decided to make a trip to Washington, DC and to take our dad, who had never visited the city before.  Ted and I have visited numerous times and so we got busy making up a list of our favorite places to visit and things that Dad really should see. Dad mentioned to some church friends all of us have known for many years that he was taking this trip with us. They offered to connect us with their son-in-law, an employee of the Office of Management and Budget, who might be able to take us on a tour of the White House.

It turns out that particular day the White House had already arranged for public tours of the grounds, so we could not tour the mansion itself. Our friends’ son-in-law graciously agreed to escort us around the grounds. At the appointed time the three of us, along with former State and Federal Communications, Inc. temporary employee Andrew Houk, who was completing a Master’s Degree at George Washington University at the time, met at the corner of 15^th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue and began our tour. Our guide’s credentials enabled us to not wait in the extremely long line of people.

Our guide proved to be not only knowledgeable, but friendly, down-to-earth, and an all around great guy. In our conversation I found him very bright, engaging, articulate, ambitious, and hard working. He was awaiting Senate confirmation to the position of Comptroller of the Office of Management and Budget.  In short, I was very impressed.

Earlier this year he was named the point person at OMB to coordinate the agency spending cuts that are part of the federal sequestration. Not an enviable position. Today I read that he was appointed by President Obama to be the interim director of the Internal Revenue Service. Perhaps a less enviable position.

I have every confidence that Danny Werfel will do an outstanding job in his new role, and I plan to do some more name dropping as I engage in the many lively political debates that seem to go hand-in-hand with our business. And… I will triple check next year’s federal income tax return!

Congratulations Danny!

State and Federal Communications is proud to be a speaker sponsor for the Women in Government Relations Spring Reception, which will be held at Union Station’s Columbus Club in Washington, D.C. The theme of the reception will be “New Heights for Women Leaders” and will be happening on Thursday, May 16, 2013 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

According to the WGR website: The Spring Reception brings together Members of Congress, Hill staff and the government relations and public affairs community to honor Congressional leaders who embody the vision of WGR – to advance and empower women in our field. This year we will be honoring two outstanding Members of Congress, Senator Mary Landrieu and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, as well as our very own Distinguished Member, Angel Riley.

Elizabeth Bartz, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications, Federal Compliance Associate Rebecca South, and Marketing Manager Melissa Coultas will be attending the event.

Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic offers his congratulations to State and Federal Communications on its 20th Anniversary! We thank the mayor, who is a longtime friend of Elizabeth Bartz, for taking a moment amid a busy schedule to offer his thoughts:

It was very nice to see Laura Brelin from United Way of Summit County last week. Laura dropped by to present a framed “Excellence Award” to State and Federal Communications.

Excellence Awards are presented to those organizations whose employees demonstrate outstanding excellence with at least 75% participation and either $100 per capita or a 35% increase over last year’s campaign. We are proud to say that in 2012 we had 100% participation and $835 per capita giving!

State and Federal Communications is a proud supporter of United Way of Summit County. Aside from working hard each year on our annual campaign, we have had staff participation in the Day of Action, the Corporate Challenge Soap Box Derby, the Corporate Volunteer Council, and the Account Executive program.

Thank you, United Way! We look forward to a long partnership.