INFLUENCE
100
David HART, Edie OUSLEY AND Frank WALKER {PLAYERS}
Marion HAMMER
PHOTO: Mark Wallheiser (Hammer); Colin Hackley (Hart, Ousley, Walker)
{ADVOCATE}
Marion Hammer has the best email list in Florida politics, estimated at over one million. Decades of experience lobbying legislators following her service as NRA national president have given her a keen understanding of legislative process and personalities. She is strident in her views and cutting in her frequent committee testimony. Hammer is, essentially, the voice of gun owners in Florida. And with millions of Floridians sharing the goals and values of the NRA, Marion can harness instant political influence with several keystrokes or a “call to action” to her loyal followers. Legislators are known to swing by Marion’s office early before votes for advice, counsel and occasionally forgiveness. She’s usually already working by 4 a.m. This grandmother and cat lover has been a workaholic longer than some young legislators have been alive, with no signs of slowing down. As Second Amendment protection and firearms policies continue to swirl in our national debate, Marion will be on the front lines for freedom. – Matt Gaetz, U.S. Congressman
I think of them as “The Terrific Trio,” driving the business agenda in Tallahassee. Augmenting the outstanding leadership of President Mark Wilson at the Florida Chamber of Commerce, three senior members of his team are in the trenches every day, fighting to secure the state’s economic future: Executive Vice President David Hart, Vice President of Public Affairs Edie Ousley, and Vice President of Governmental Affairs Frank Walker. These three public policy pros form the nucleus of a seamless, cohesive chamber team that seems to pop up everywhere important conversations are taking place around Florida: at major state policy conferences, at the media events of newsmakers and at crucial legislative committee hearings. Hart always maintains a sense of perceptive calm as he steers numerous hairy, heavy-lift issues through the House and Senate. His demeanor is understandable: After all, this is a guy who spends vacation time testing his limits by scaling big mountains such as Denali in Alaska. Tough legislative issue? No sweat. Ousley is one of the hardest-working, most multi-tasking PR pros in the capital city. With her rich background in politics and media relations, she runs a communications shop that churns out a seemingly endless stream of messaging and content on issues running the gamut from Assignment of Benefits reform to infrastructure investments to state water policy. Leading the chamber’s team of 20 lobbyists is Walker, a Tallahassee native who previously spent 11 years in Washington, where he held key policy and leadership positions with U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster, along with former U.S. Sens. George LeMieux and Mel Martinez. Walker is also omnipresent at legislative events and committee meetings, calling the audibles as the chamber’s lobby team fans out for their diverse assignments. I have had the pleasure and privilege to work with this Terrific Trio often over the years and am always impressed by their upbeat drive and determination to continually improve Florida’s business climate and to score wins for hardworking families. If there’s a public policy battle to be had, I want this trio on my side. – Ron Bartlett, Managing Director, Hill+Knowlton Strategies
SUMMER 2018 INFLUENCE | 101