Kelley Cawthorne Announces Hire of Public Affairs Veteran Jim Kirsch As Lobbyist

LANSING, Mich., May 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The leading Michigan multi-client lobbying firm Kelley Cawthorne announced today that it has hired Lansing legislative and public affairs veteran Jim Kirsch as a lobbyist.

Kirsch, who has served as Vice-President of Government Affairs for AT&T Michigan since 2006, brings extensive knowledge of the Lansing and Washington, D.C. political landscapes for current and prospective Kelley Cawthorne clients, firm officials said today. Kirsch will officially join the firm on May 8.

Kirsch, who was named the No. 1 Most Effective Corporate Lobbyist in Michigan by MIRS News in 2015, will continue to work with AT&T, a long-time client of the firm.

"Jim is a great addition to our already strong lobbying team," said Dave Ladd, a principal of the firm. "Jim knows business, political, and community leaders throughout Michigan, and that's especially important to us as we look to further expand our Detroit practice and implement our future growth plans."

Kirsch also has extensive experience in the legislative arena, also having served from 1999 to 2006 in the Michigan State Senate as a Policy Analyst for the Senate Judiciary Committee, responsible for monitoring committee activity and advising Senators on legislative content.

Kirsch, a native of Oak Park, is a summa cum laude graduate of Michigan State University, where he majored in Psychology and Criminal Justice. He also holds a law degree from the University of Denver College of Law in Denver, Colorado.

"I'm eager to join a firm with such a strong vision and strategic direction for its future," Kirsch said. "As the political arena evolves in Lansing and beyond, I'm looking forward to creating value for the firm's clients."

A veteran of the United States Navy, Kirsch served overseas as a Military Policeman, training more than 200 patrol officers and guards in all phases of required standards of duty performance. During his time in the service, Mr. Kirsch also worked as a criminal investigator who assisted the Naval Investigative Service (NIS) and the Judge Advocate General (JAG) in various law enforcement capacities.

Kirsch serves on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and the University Club of MSU Membership Committee.  He also was the recipient of the Navy Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Medal for his service during Operation: Desert Storm. Kirsch also appeared in the Hollywood blockbuster Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice in an uncredited role when the movie was filming on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing.

Kirsch currently resides in Holt with Angie, his wife of 20 years, and daughter Kennedy, 12.

Kelley Cawthorne is consistently rated as one of Michigan's leading lobbying organizations by Inside Michigan Politics and MIRS News, as are many of its individual lobbyists. It is the only statewide lobbying firm with dedicated offices in Lansing and Detroit.  Its highly diverse lobbying team has the policy and advocacy expertise necessary to create value in the public policy arena for clients such as AT&T, The Christman Company, DTE Energy, Michigan Special Olympics, Deloitte Consulting, Ford Motors, McLaren Health Care, Wal-Mart, and Wayne State University, among others. 

The bi-partisan firm was co-founded by former Michigan Democratic Attorney General Frank Kelley and former Michigan Republican House Leader Dennis Cawthorne. Its current principals are Rob Elhenicky, David Gregory, Dave Ladd, and Melissa McKinley.

Contact:
TJ Bucholz
517-898-4641
[email protected]

SOURCE Kelley Cawthorne