Our Team
The HBS+ Team develops and implements national public engagement campaigns designed to support traditional lobbying efforts and turn today’s legislative dysfunction into an opportunity at the federal, state and local level. Our team works at the intersection of government and business with the accuracy and speed of a political campaign.
HBS+ is led by Meghan Cox and enlists a global network of public affairs strategists and operatives. Meghan and her team have led public engagements across all 50 states as well as the United Kingdom and the Philippines.
Also, at the ready is the team of federal and state public policy advocates and lobbyists of HBS with offices in seven states and Washington DC.
HBS+ STAT
Situational Tactical Assessment Team
We start each client engagement with immediate access to HBS+ STAT. This specialized team below provides clients a senior-level all hands on deck approach to assessing opportunities and challenges and ensures we deploy our resources in the most effective way.
MEGHAN COX
Meghan is a leading expert in public affairs and ballot initiative access and strategy and has managed campaigns and ballot access efforts in all 50 states as well as the Philippines and the United Kingdom. She takes an active role in the firm’s success as CEO of HBS+ where she designs, implements and activates strategic initiatives for clients.
In 2008, she co-founded an award-winning public affairs firm where she led large scale national grassroots campaigns for both political, trade association and corporate clients. Her skill in developing comprehensive logistical planning and management have been the hallmark of her success.
Meghan has directed multiple grassroots campaigns for clients such as Americans for Clean Coal Electricity, Wynn Las Vegas, eBay, StubHub, The Navajo Nation, Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, the National Restaurant Association and the National Realtors Association. She has also directed the paid field efforts for notable political candidates.
GREGG HARTLEY
Gregg Hartley is Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Husch Blackwell Strategies. Having been repeatedly recognized as one of the “Top Hired Guns” in Washington by The Hill newspaper’s exclusive list of the best lobbyists in D.C., clients benefit from his insights from more than forty years of insider experience at all levels of government and politics. He has been a volunteer or employed operative in dozens of political campaigns (both Democratic and Republican) for state legislators, state-wide office holders, Congress and leadership races. Numerous senior elected officials, foreign government leaders, trade associations and non-governmental advocacy groups have relied on him as a strategist and advisor.
As a top leadership staffer in the U.S. House Majority Whip Office, Hartley oversaw the vote counting operation and directed coalition efforts, working with outside groups in “grow the vote” activities. He has conducted extensive research on the political re-positioning of conservative policy makers regarding climate change policy. He spent a decade converting policy to action in legal services for the poor and programs for older Americans.
Gregg founded Cloakroom Advisors LLC after serving for over a decade as Vice Chairman and COO of Cassidy & Associates, one of the oldest and largest government affairs firms in the United States. He remains of counsel to Cassidy & Associates. Cloakroom Advisors became part of Husch Blackwell Strategies in 2018.
ANDY BLUNT
As Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Husch Blackwell Strategies, Andy Blunt has utilized his understanding of politics and government to achieve consistent victories for the firms’ clients. Working together with his partner, Gregg Hartley, the team has led the firm to explosive growth with a robust Washington lobbying practice that was recognized by Bloomberg News as the top new lobbying firm in DC and offices in a growing number of states where the firms team members represent a multitude of clients. Andy is recognized nationally as a top political strategist and named a top lobbyist by The Hill newspaper and Missouri Lawyers Weekly.
Andy has served as an advisor to a Presidential campaign, managed multiple winning statewide campaigns, as well as several state House and Senate campaigns. Andy also serves as Director of Strategic Development for the polling firm American Viewpoint where he leads new business growth in corporate and public affairs.
Andy maintains an active lobbying practice in addition to advising clients who are facing significant challenges in public affairs and reputation management. His ability to consistently produce results when it matters most has helped clients across the country achieve their strategic priorities. Andy was a founding partner of Schreimann, Rackers, Francka and Blunt law firm and later founded the Missouri-based lobbying firm Statehouse Strategies. In 2018, Blunt’s firm merged with DC-based Cloakroom Advisors to create Husch Blackwell Strategies.
MATTHEW COHEN
Matthew is an expert in corporate and political campaigns with 13 years of experience in the industry and has managed campaigns and ballot access efforts in 35 states. He serves as Executive Vice President of HBS+ where he manages all aspects of diverse and dynamic projects for our clients.
In 2015, he joined Lincoln Strategy Group, an award-winning public affairs firm where he crafted and executed large scale national grassroots campaigns for numerous political clients. He’s led teams that have canvassed over 7 million doors and has had a key role in the recruiting, training, and development of Field Managers and Professional Political Operatives alike.
Matt has previously worked on Chris Christies 2013 reelection campaign in New Jersey and for the RNC. He is an Alumnus of the class of 2018 EA Morris Fellowship, and serves as a Special Advisor to the Triangle Community Forum.
JEFFERSON THOMAS
Jefferson brings 14 years of expert experience with political campaigns and ballot issues to the team. Thomas has managed various projects and campaigns nationally, including Presidential efforts in 2016 and 2020.
Prior to joining HBS+, Thomas founded a political consulting firm that grew to having clients in 5 states. Thomas oversaw the largest volunteer field program in Colorado history while serving as the RNC Colorado State Director, knocking over 2 million doors and making over 5 million phone calls. He also served twice as Wisconsin Recount Director for a Presidential campaign.
Jefferson and his wife Paige reside in Northern Colorado along with their two Bernese Mountain Dogs. Thomas is an alum of the University of Missouri and enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing, and traveling when not assisting clients.
SAMUEL WRIGHT
Sam brings 10 years of experience handling outreach campaigns for political and corporate clients alike. He has overseen a range of efforts from local targets to national advocacy. He drives the successful execution of the strategic initiatives HBS+ crafts for our clients.
Before he joined HBS+ as Managing Director, Sam worked at the nation’s premier digital-first political agency executing data driven activation campaigns. He also served on the staff of the chairman of the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee and in the Senate Majority Whip’s office.
Sam is an avid cook and fitness enthusiast and travels the world when he is not working to deliver wins for our clients.
BROOKE REINSCH
Brooke is a project manager for HBS+. She worked with Husch Blackwell Strategies for two years before joining the HBS+ team. At HBS she ran lobbyist reports, monitored hearings for clients, and assisted on campaign financing.