What do International Paper, Pet Partners, Southwest Airlines, Wendy’s, and the National Restaurant Association have in common? They have all turned to Amy Showalter for her expertise and motivation to elevate their government relations influence. Amy is a grassroots and PAC influence expert who founded The Showalter Group to help associations and corporations increase their grassroots and PAC effectiveness. In fact, over 85% of her long term consulting clients have experienced an increase in budget, staff, and senior management recognition after collaborating with Amy.
She has galvanized thousands of grassroots evangelists and staff for her clients who want to advance their cause politically. For nine years she directed the efforts of the highly acclaimed Nationwide Insurance Civic Action Program (CAP). During her tenure, over 2,000 public affairs professionals across the country ranked Nationwide’s program as one of the top two corporate grassroots programs in the country. (Ed Grefe and Martin Linsky, The New Corporate Activism)
Amy’s blog “Politicking the Bottom Line” was published on Forbes.com, and she currently is a columnist for Bloomberg Government and Lobbyblog.com. Over 500 media outlets have featured her insights, including the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, Politico, CNN Money.com, Foxnews.com, CNBC.com, and Roll Call. She is the author of “The Underdog Edge: How Everyday People Change the Minds of the Powerful. . . and Live to Tell About It.” (Morgan-James) and “The Art and Science of the BFF: 105 Ways to Build Relationships on the Hill, at the State House, and in City Hall”, which has sold over 16,000 copies. Amy also is the Executive Editor of Creating and Managing an Association Government Relations Program, published by the American Society of Association Executives.
Over 3,000 government relations professionals subscribe to her Roots of Success newsletter. She is the Co-Founder and Producer of Innovate to Motivate ® a conference for veteran political involvement professionals.
She has served as a faculty member at the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management, and as a guest lecturer at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management. Amy has served in several national government relations leadership positions, as a past Chairman of ASAE’s Government Relations Section Council, as a board member of the Washington Area State Relations Group, and the Association of Government Relations Professionals.
Amy has a BA in Political Science from Wright State University and an MSA from Central Michigan University.
She and her husband, Randy Boyer, co-exist with their rescue dog, Eli, and Finnegan, the “mystery dog” in the greater Cincinnati area. Finn is a certified therapy dog, and he and Amy are regular visitors at the Cincinnati Ronald McDonald House and the “Barks and Books” program at the Clermont County Library.
You can find her at @AmyShowalter and on LinkedIn.
“I love what you said. . .'Where you are is who you were.”–Gayle King, The Gayle King Show, Oprah Winfrey Radio, Sirius XM Channel 150
“Thank you, Amy, that was brilliant!”–Michael Bower, Producer, KCBS Radio, San Francisco
“You are the platinum standard on this topic. Great job!”–Ed Tyell, Host, WEUS 810, Orlando
“Amy you were great! Looking forward to your being on again and teaching me how to win!”–The Leslie Marshall Show
“Amy, you are a delight!”–The Jim Bohannon Show, Westwood One Radio
- Mistrust Unavoidable in Grass-Roots Efforts
- Nice Guys Finish First – Even When Lobbying
- Bailout Vote Offers Lesson in Persuasion Tactics
- Interest Groups Rely Too Much on E-mail Advocacy
- Toward the Facts and Away from the Fake: How to Lead Your Stakeholders to the Truth
- The Top 5 Predictors of Success When Attempting to Influence an Undecided Legislator
- Seven Tips for Making a Lasting Impression with Members of Congress
- 6 Steps to Increase the Effectiveness of Your Lobby Day Efforts
- Influencing a Hostile Opponent in Washington
- How to Build Trust with New Members of Congress (and People You Don’t Like)
- 7 Things Highly Successful Advocacy and Lobbying Organizations Know
- The Science Behind Rewards & Recognition for Political Engagement Programs
- Are Legislators More or Less Open to Persuasion
- Setting the Groundwork for Innovative Ideas
- Here’s How the Founding Fathers Became History’s Most Successful Grassroots Lobbyists
- Which Organizations are Trusted the Most on Capitol Hill?
- Five Reasons The NRA Won The Recent Gun Control Debate That Have Nothing To Do With Politics
- How Special Interests Won and Lost the Budget and Sequester Fights
- ‘Own The Awkward’ and Three Other Presentation Lessons from Senator Marco Rubio’s State Of The Union Response
- Four Presentation Lessons from President Obama’s State of the Union Speech
- The Right Way for Businesses To Engage In Politics In 2013
- The Top Underdog Persuaders of 2012
- Lessons From Obama’s Victory And Romney’s Loss That You Can Apply To Your Cause
- Americans Celebrate President Barack Obama’s Victory
- The Final Three Persuasion Lessons from the Final Presidential Debate: Obama’s Zingers vs. Romney’s Restraint
- Three Methods of Persuasion You Can Copy From Obama and Romney (and one from Joe Biden that you should not copy)
- Mounting Chatter that Victory is ‘Inevitable’ Could Boomerang Against Obama
- What Joe Ricketts is Doing Right with His Super PAC
- Wielding Influence: How Scotts Miracle-Gro Got It Right With Super PAC Donation
- Big Business Does Best in Washington When It Plays the Underdog
- Study: Shoe Leather Moves the Advocacy Needle More than Social Media
- Three Steps for Turning One-Time Events into Strategic Advocacy Plans
- Why Advocacy Needs to Move Beyond ‘Awareness’
- Getting Past Gridlock in the Age of Divided Government
- Let’s Talk Advocacy in 2016
- How To Help Advocacy Resonate with Leaders
- Associations Should Look to the States for Advocacy Action
- Lunchtime Links: The Business of Politics
- Why Don’t Members Care About Advocacy?
- Leading Through the New Advocacy Landscape
- The Innovators: Let’s Talk
- Report: Associations Struggle to Engage Members in Advocacy Efforts
- Ready to Run: Government Relations in 2016
- Trust: The Ultimate Grassroots and PAC Motivator
- The Science Behind Successful Get Out the Vote Programs
- Enhancing Grassroots Productivity
- Tips for Creating a True Online Grassroots Community
- Tips for Managing the “Loose Cannon” Grassroots Activist
- Do You Know Your Grassroots Activists?
- Tips for Building Grassroots Loyalty
Grassroots success requires constant effort; more groups raising profile on advocacy team.
Amy’s advice and insights regarding grassroots Key Contact development were featured in CEO Update.
Super PAC hopes to soften ground for association advocacy.
Amy shares why talking politics at work is actually good for business
Amy shares why candidates need to share specific proposals with voters
Identity crisis: Warriors or polished politicians at the big Republican debate?
How do you pick a likable underdog?
Talking politics on the job is good for business
Amy has been interviewed on over 50 nationally syndicated and local radio shows, including The Leslie Marshall Show, The Gayle King Show, Jim Blasingame’s Small Business Advocate, and the Bill Cunningham show.
- Lobbying, Even for the Little Guy, December 2009, Cincinnati Business Courier
- Voter Education at Work Requires a Bigger Vision, September 19, 2008, San Antonio Business Journal
- Companies Get Results when They Educate Workers on Bigger Issues, August 22, 2008, Columbus Business First
- Companies that Educate Employees on Civic Issues Get Results, August 15, 2008, Cincinnati Business Courier
- 4 keys to developing ‘connected converts’ to win sales or persuade others, Insurance & Financial Advisor
- Engaging the Underdog Edge to Find Success at Persuading, Insurance & Financial Advisor
- The Upside of Under: Engaging the Underdog Edge for Persuasion Success, Article Weekly
- The Upside of Under: Engaging the Underdog, Promotional Consultant Today
- Not All Underdogs are Equal: Obtaining Underdog “Street Cred”, Promotional Consultant Today
- Mean What You Wear, The Baltimore Sun
- Politics at Work: Can cooler heads prevail?, The Christian Science Monitor
- Don’t Just Register Voters, Create an “Allegiance”, Cincinnati Business Courier
- Greener Grassroots, Michigan Society of Association Executives
- Grassroots Programs Are an Effective Way to Get Involved, Mobility Magazine, ERC Coalition
- The Tripping Point . . . How to Maximize Grassroots Advocate Hill Visits, Ohio Society of Association Executives
- Tending to Grass Roots – Advocacy Has to be Customized. One Size Doesn’t Fit All By Amy Showalter and Kelton Rhoads, PhD., Influence
- Debunking the Myths of Political Involvement, PIA Young Professionals
- How to Harness the Science of Persuasion for Increased PAC Involvement and Dollars, Public Affairs Support Services
- The Habits of Effective State Advocacy Groups, Ohio Contractors Association, Washington Area State Relations Group, Massachusetts Dental Society, American Society of Association Executives, American Occupational Therapy Association
- Tips for Creating a True Online Grassroots Community, Public Affairs Council – Impact
- Tips for Managing the Rogue Grassroots Advocate, New Jersey Society of Association Executives
- What Now? How to Grow Your Grassroots After the Election, Capitol Executive, Tallahassee Society of Association Executives
- Turning Your Employees into Your Own Lobbying Firm, Inside Tucson Business
- Grassroots at the Water Cooler—How to Grow Your Employees into Your Own Lobbying Firm, Arizona Business Gazette
- Turning Employees into Lobbyists, Tucson Business
- Grassroots Political Action by Small Business Owners Counts, Entrepreneur.com
- Tips on Coping with Those Mixed In-House Notions About Your Grassroots Program, Winning at the Grassroots, The Public Affairs Council
- Maintaining Momentum in a Grassroots Program, Winning at the Grassroots, The Public Affairs Council
- How to Maximize Your Key Contact Training, Winning at the Grassroots, The Public Affairs Council
- Business Owners Get Politically Involved, Business First of Columbus
- The Habits of Effective State Advocacy Groups, Massachusetts Dental Society Journal
- High-Impact – Low-Budget Grassroots, Ohio Matters, Ohio Chamber of Commerce
- Super PAC hopes to soften ground for association advocacy, CEO Update, March 2012
- Underdogs Have More Power Than They Think, Small Business Opportunities, March 2012
- Engaging the Underdog Edge for Persuasion Success, Agency Sales Magazine, October 2011
- Will Obama’s Grassroots Stand Tall?, Politico.com, February 17, 2009
- Amy featured in Cincinnati Business Courier April 21, 2006
- Amy featured in Philadelphia Business Journal August 26, 2005
- Reforming Social Security Online, The Washington Times, by Gene J. Koprowski, June 2005
- Letting Workers Go To Vote, The Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY, May, 2005
- New Campaign Law Strengthens Ohio, The Enquirer, Cincinnati, April, 2005
- Area Voters Use Power of the Pen, DallasNews.com, March, 2005
- Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Lobby, Philadelphia Business Journal, December, 2004
- The Web: ‘Bots’ Pushing Poll Results, UPI, by Gene J. Koprowski, October, 2004
- Mean What You Wear, The Baltimore Sun, August, 2004
- Politics at Work: Can cooler heads prevail?, The Christian Science Monitor, July, 2004
- Calera Debates Need For Lobbyist Ponders If One Could Get Money For Bypass, Birmingham News, April, 2004
- Empowering The People, Dallas Business Journal, February, 2004
- Why It Pays to Make Politics Your Business, Jeff Wuorio – Microsoft Central, August, 2003
- Persuade Legislators With the Personal Touch, Dairy Today, May, 2003
- Syndicated Columnist Jane Applegate featured benefits of Showalter’s grassroots political efforts. Jane Applegate’s “Success in Small Business” column reaches 10 million readers a week via newspapers including the Los Angeles Times, The Des Moines Register, San Francisco Business Times, Denver Post, The Orlando Sentinel, Chicago Sun-Times, The Detroit Free Press, and The Atlanta Journal and Constitution.
- How to Make Washington Pay Attention, Jane Applegate – Business Week Online, September 4, 2001
- Getting Involved in Grassroots Political Action, Jane Applegate – Entrepreneur.com, August 20, 2001
