Thursday Thought Leaders Luncheon: Understanding Lobbying in Georgia – A Candid Conversation
Understanding Lobbying in Georgia – A Candid Conversation
Join us for a thoughtful, nonpartisan panel discussion with four professionals from across the lobbying spectrum. Moderated by Dale Russell, this panel will explore:
- Who lobbyists are and what they actually do
- The difference between corporate, contract, volunteer, and in-house lobbyists
- How individuals enter the lobbying profession
- Legal guidelines and ethical considerations of lobbying in Georgia
- Why lobbying matters to you—even if you’re not political
- Promote public trust in government through education and transparency
- Help citizens and business leaders understand the mechanics and purpose of lobbying
- Clarify misconceptions and offer real-world insights into how advocacy happens
Lewis Massey
Hunter Loggins
Jamie Lord
Jet Toney
Moderator:
Dale Russell
About Dale Russell
Dale was inducted into the Atlanta Press Club Hall of Fame and has recently completed a murder mystery based on crimes he covered, which he is now seeking to publish.
About Lewis Massey
About Hunter Loggins
Hunter began his career with NFIB in 2018 as a Grassroot Manager. Before joining NFIB, Hunter served several legislative and regulatory roles with the Georgia State Senate, the Georgia Agribusiness Council, and the Georgia Beverage Association. As an NFIB Grassroots Manager, he significantly contributed to the activism programs in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Hunter is a graduate of the University of Georgia.
About Jamie Lord
Jamie has been lobbying the Georgia legislature for more than a decade. As Director of Government Affairs, she shepherd’s GCO’s policy goals through the legislative process.
One of her proudest achievements was lobbying for the creation of the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program, now in it’s 8th year and benefitting more than 3,000 students who have been able to get the financial assistance necessary to attend a school that best meets their needs.
She has seen first-hand how changes in public policy can lead to changes in people’s lives. She is dedicated to doing her best to make sure that actions taken by the legislature remove rather than create barriers to opportunity for Georgians.
She has a B.S. in Political Science from Georgia State University and lives in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward with her husband, her two step-children, and a dog named Hank who is, arguably, the favorite of them all.
About Jet Toney
Jet Toney is President of Cornerstone Communications Group, Inc., one of Georgia’s most tenured public policy advocacy agencies. Jet has materially participated in 50 consecutive annual sessions of the Georgia General Assembly as staff or as a lobbyist. Among Cornerstone’s clients are the Georgia Affordable Housing Coalition, the Georgia Independent College Association, the American Legal Funding Association, the Georgia Society of Anesthesiologists, the Georgia Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Georgia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
He has worked as a newspaper reporter and associate editor and has consulted on more than 200 political campaigns at the state and local level. He is a conference presenter on media relations, political campaigns, and the legislative process.
In 2011, Jet was elected by his peers to serve as the founding chair of the Georgia Professional Lobbyists Association (GPLA). He has been re-elected each year. GPLA provides educational opportunities for lobbyists towards full compliance of Georgia’s ever evolving laws and regulations governing lobbyist activities and election campaign finance.
Jet served as Director of the Georgia House of Representatives Public Information Office from 1979 to 1986. He began his advocacy career in 1986 as the lobbyist and PAC Director for the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. Jet formed Cornerstone Communications Group in 1990 with partner Michael R. Holiman to promote a cafeteria business model offering public relations, media relations, association management and lobbying services in one shop. The firm manages state and national professional associations and other organizations and provides digital archiving services to local governments.
Jet is a cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia where he studied journalism. He and his wife, Bonnie, live in Loganville and are active in community and church opportunities.
