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.

May 8-10, 2013   OSBA – Ohio State Bar Association Convention Booth 24, Cleveland, Ohio

May 16, 2013   WGR Spring Reception, Washington, D.C.

May 30-June 2, 2013   NCSL Executive Committee Spring Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts

June 2-5, 2013   Heartland Governmental Ethics Conference, Louisville, Kentucky

June 21-24, 2013   CSG Leadership Meeting, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown offers his congratulations to State and Federal Communications on its 20th Anniversary! Sen. Brown attended Kent State University’s Washington Program in National Issues Celebration at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. and generously took the time to offer this message:

On Thursday, April 25, Kent State University’s Washington Program in National Issues (WPNI) celebrated its 40th year in existence. Current students and alumni of both the university and the program gathered at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. to reminisce about their time living in Washington D.C. and their experiences in the program throughout the years. State and Federal Communications currently employs three proud alumni of WPNI, including President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz. Elizabeth, marketing manager Melissa Coultas and compliance assistant Jonathan Spontarelli were all in Washington D.C. to attend the anniversary celebration.

WPNI is a semester long academic, internship program that allows students the opportunity to witness the political process firsthand and engage in national and international policy discussions. Each year a group of juniors and seniors from Kent State University are selected to spend the spring semester living and working in Washington D.C. Per the website, the programs three primary objectives are:

1. Facilitate learning about the U.S. political system and its policy issues.
2. Develop an understanding of the interrelationship of public issues and structures of government.
3. Encourage individual initiative and provide for experiences in internship and research.

During the reception, participants from each of the four decades delivered remarks about their time in WPNI, their internship and briefings, and the ways the program has forever changed their lives. Pulitzer Prize winner, Connie Schultz, introduced by her husband U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, delivered a compelling keynote address about her experiences before, during and after the program. She spoke at length on the importance WPNI played in her own life and the opportunities it provided to a small-town girl from a working-class family from Ashtabula, Ohio.

State and Federal Communications would like to send a special thanks to the Kent State University National Capital Alumni Chapter and program Director Dr. Richard Robyn for organizing the celebration. We look forward to seeing you all 40 years from now.

Coultas has extensive background in federal affairs and government compliance. She previously worked as a government relations and public affairs professional for GolinHarris in Washington, D.C., where she lobbied on behalf of higher education and nonprofit clients, managed public affairs campaigns, and monitored legislation and regulation for high profile clients.

During her last semester of college at Kent State University, Coultas worked for Senator Mike DeWine. She went on to graduate cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in Pre-Law. After graduation she accepted a full-time position with the office of Senator DeWine. Two years later, Coultas left Capitol Hill for the private sector where she stayed with GolinHarris for eight years. She is a member of Public Affairs Council and American League of Lobbyists. In 2013, Coultas decided to return to her hometown of North Canton, Ohio with her husband in order to be close to family.

“Ms. Coultas’ addition to our team, coming from a world-wide PR firm, will greatly expand our marketing efforts and her experience in the federal government relations field is an asset hard to find in northeast Ohio,” said Elizabeth Z. Bartz, president and CEO.

State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides government compliance information and consulting to many of the Fortune 500 companies, to trade, labor, and professional associations, and to corporate and contract lobbyists in all 50 states. The firm’s in-house staff of attorneys is expert in state, federal, and municipal laws regarding lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying. It provides accurate, comprehensive, and timely information through online and printed resources clients use to comply with laws in all 50 states, the federal government, and more than 125 municipalities.

Additionally, the company offers government affairs consulting services in which in-house attorneys work directly with clients to oversee government compliance reporting, and also provide information regarding ethics, gift laws, lobbyist registration and reporting, corporate political contributions, and government procurement lobbying.

This article is cross-posted from  the Akron Beacon Journal.

Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, is appearing in a public service announcement for the American Heart Association’s 10th Go Red for Women campaign. Here is the segment, which will be showing up on various radio stations in Northeast Ohio:

Ms. Bartz is also appearing in the April 2013 issue of Akron Life magazine. The publication is featuring a special supplement honoring the campaign.

State and Federal Communications is proud to be one of the sponsors of the Go Red for Women Luncheon at the Quaker Station in Akron on Tuesday,  May 14, 2013. Call 330-664-1908 for tickets.

David Adkins, Executive Director of The Council of State Governments extends his congratulations to State and Federal Communications on its 20th Anniversary! Mr. Adkins was in town last week as the featured speaker at the Akron Roundtable.

Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, is attending the 2013 BIO International Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

The global biotechnology event runs from April 22-25, 2013.

The BIO International Convention and State and Federal Communications are both celebrating a 20-year anniversary this year!

State and Federal Communications is a big fan of the Akron Roundtable and we attend their speaker series luncheon each month. “Bringing the World to Akron” is the Roundtable’s motto, and for us this is especially true this month.

We are very proud to sponsor this month’s speaker, David Adkins, who is the Executive Director and CEO of the Council of State Governments (CSG). Mr. Adkins will be speaking on “The State of the States” with insight and perspectives you can find nowhere else!

CSG is the only nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving all three branches of government.

Following the Akron Roundtable luncheon, State and Federal Communications will be offering a warm Akron reception honoring Mr. Adkins. The reception will take place from 1:15 to 3:30 at our office located across the street from the Quaker Station at 80 South Summit Street, Suite 100, Akron.

If you are interested in attending, please contact Alexis Pope at 330-761-9960.