Michael Best Strategies: Adds Senate minority leader’s former chief of staff to Madison office

 

MADISON (Dec. 19, 2016) – Michael Best Strategies LLC has added Nathan Houdek, former chief of staff to the minority leader in the Wisconsin State Senate, to its Madison office as senior advisor. He will support its regional office government affairs initiatives and the Shared Value Consulting Team. Michael Best Strategies is the lobbying and regulatory-consulting arm of law firm Michael Best & Friedrich LLP.

Houdek will apply his government and public policy background, which includes more than a decade in politics and legislative support roles to provide political and strategic communications counsel, issues management, and a spectrum of campaign-related work in the Wisconsin and Midwest region.

“Nathan is a self-starter and experienced public policy strategist,” said Ted Kanavas, President of Michael Best Strategies. “As a member of our Shared Value Consulting Team, he will play an important part in helping companies leverage their resources and networks to enhance community development and drive economic success for all local stakeholders.”

Houdek began his career in politics working as a legislative aide in the Wisconsin State Assembly assisting in policy development and constituent services. He progressed from there to be the Director of Legislation & Advocacy at the Wisconsin Association of Health Plans, where he was responsible for managing public policy issues impacting member health plans, and providing tactical counsel on several legislative and regulatory matters.

Eventually earning a position as Legislative Director and then Chief of Staff for Wisconsin State Senator and Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, Houdek developed and oversaw legislative planning and strategy for the senate Democratic caucus, managed the senator’s policy agenda, supervised state senate administrative functions, and successfully worked with disability advocates to secure $18 million to increase worker training opportunities for people with disabilities.

“Nathan’s arrival to our Madison office will be a huge advantage to our regional clients,” said Amy Bruchs, Michael Best’s Madison Office Managing Partner. “He is ideally suited to help current and prospective regionally-based clients find long-term sustainable funding solutions for several, including higher education and workforce programs, and investments in infrastructure like transportation.”

“I am very excited to be joining Michael Best Strategies and look forward to helping the group expand,” said Houdek. “My background in public affairs and extensive knowledge of the political landscape provides me a broad understanding of how the public and private sectors interact. I anticipate a very collaborative environment and approach to business, with an aim to create stronger communities that benefit society.”

Houdek earned his M.B.A. and B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Additionally, he is also a former executive board member and mentorship co-chair of the New Leaders Council in the Madison Chapter, and past advisory board member for Wisconsin Health News.

About Michael Best Strategies

Michael Best Strategies is a government relations, public affairs, business, and nonprofit consulting group affiliated with the Michael Best & Friedrich LLP law firm. The group has offices in multiple states and Washington, D.C. Michael Best Strategies is a values-driven company, working with clients across a variety of industry sectors to advance their goals. The group is frequently engaged to facilitate strategic relationships among players in a common industry or between clients and public officials and other thought leaders, along with more traditional government affairs and lobbying engagements. For more information, visit michaelbeststrategies.com.

About Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Michael Best is a leading law firm, providing a full range of legal services to clients on a local, regional, national, and global basis. The firm has more than 220 attorneys in Milwaukee, Madison, Waukesha, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Chicago, Illinois; Missoula, Montana; Midvale and Salt Lake City, Utah; Washington, D.C.; and Austin, Texas. Michael Best’s main areas of practice include: intellectual property, labor and employment relations (including employee benefits), litigation, and transactional (including corporate, tax, real estate/project development and financing, and wealth planning). For more information, visit michaelbest.com.