As a seasoned government relations professional, State and Federal Communications, Inc., was thrilled to bring on Jean Cantrell as the company’s first senior advisor in January, 2022, with a particular focus on stakeholder management

Because of her vast experience in the industry, President and CEO Elizbeth Bartz felt Jean’s insights and expertise would be valuable when it came to stakeholder outreach and management.

“I like to think I provide a bit of a fresh perspective. As a former State and Federal client, I had the opportunity to walk in our clients’ shoes,” Jean explained.

Jean was a former client when she worked at Dun & Bradstreet, a commercial data and analytics business. This was Jean’s first job in the government relations industry, where she began as the Administrator of the company’s political action committee. Twenty years later, Jean assumed the role as leader/head of government relations at Dun & Bradstreet.

“The bottom line is I had a spectacular mentor. I started in the proverbial mail room at the lowest rung of the ladder and worked my way up,” she said.

She leveraged her experience and moved to other GR positions for companies, like Circuit City, EDS (now HP), and Philips, where she started its first state government relations program.

Jean’s expertise extends beyond the workplace, too. She has been a volunteer with the Commission on Presidential Debates since 1988 and worked with the Commission to set up presidential debate watches on more than 500 college campuses. She has served in a number of leadership positions:  President of both the Washington Area State Relations Group and the State Government Affairs Council, was Vice President of the NCSL Foundation, and co-chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Business Council.

Jean has two guiding philosophies when it comes to work and life: meet people “where they live” and leverage your knowledge and experience.

“If you’re working with a potential client, you want to understand what their pain points are, and avoid assuming they’re at Point A when they may be at Point B,” she explains.

She also suggests, “The other thing is use every resource at your disposal to be the best you can be in your job.”

Mentorship is also incredibly important to Jean. Because her mentor had so much to do with her success, Jean strives to intentionally pay it forward and enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with others.

I am so happy to report we have a new staff person on board. Jean Cantrell has joined us, in a part time capacity, as a Senior Advisor. Jean has served in many senior government relations roles and brings more than 38 years of experience to State and Federal Communications, Inc.

Jean brings a wealth of experience and expertise in government affairs and building relationships. We are so excited she is joining our team.

She will work directly with me to explore business development and new growth opportunities. Opportunities include thought leadership, new stakeholder engagement, market assessment, and new and emerging industry potential.

At a recent meeting with the staff Jean said, “I’m looking forward to working with Elizabeth and the great staff at State and Federal Communications. I know we can build upon the great work that has already been done as the company continues to grow.”

Previously with Dun & Bradstreet, Circuit City, EDS, and Phillips/Signify, Jean most recently completed a two-year assignment with the Commission on Presidential Debates, the nonprofit organization who sponsors and produces the quadrennial general election presidential debates.

Jean is a past president of The Washington Area State Relations Group (WASRG) and the State Government Affairs Council (SGAC).  Other leadership positions include National Conference of State Legislatures Foundation Vice President, US Conference of Mayors Business Council co-chair, and Public Affairs Council board member. As an Issue expert on leadership and mentoring, Jean is a sought-after speaker at trade association and industry forums.

Originally from Oklahoma, Jean graduated from Oklahoma City University with Bachelor of Music and Master of Performing Arts degrees. She earned a Washington Representative certificate from George Washington University, is a graduate of Rutgers University State Government Relations Institute and the Public Affairs Council Institute. In December 2019, Jean received a Graduate Certificate in Arts Administration from the University of Connecticut.

You will see Jean join me out and about to conferences and meetings. In the meantime, do not hesitate to reach out to her at jcantrell@stateandfed.com.