After several years of running political campaigns in West Virginia, I had the opportunity to represent the banking industry as part of the West Virginia Bankers Association (WVBA) advocacy team during the 2025 West Virginia Legislative Session. I found that advocating for the banking industry is exciting and rewarding, so I chose to join the WVBA as a full-time government affairs strategist.

I find advocacy exciting for three primary reasons: strategy, adapting to situations and communicating with legislators with diverse interests. Before the session starts, we develop and follow a carefully defined process that identifies issues, legislative relationships and team resources. Once the session begins, issues develop and change at a fast pace. As issues develop, we must pursue and adapt our communication with legislators to help key lawmakers understand and hopefully support our views. 

In the 2025 legislative session, pursuing each agenda item for the WVBA required a different approach. Though we follow a defined process in tracking and monitoring the core elements of a bill’s progress, the ability to successfully advocate for its passage requires tailoring. For instance, the bill to prevent credit unions from acquiring banks required a strategy very different from our strategy to expand jurisdiction limits for magistrate courts. The requirement to develop specific strategies is likewise true in our work to defeat bills adverse to banking.

Navigating legislative agenda items through different committees, sponsors and relationships requires constant communication and attention to ensure our voice is heard and understood. Our agenda cannot be successful unless fully communicated to a wide range of stakeholders by providing accurate, timely information and context on our broader legislative goals. 

I find advocacy rewarding because we achieve meaningful results for a critically important industry and because I have the opportunity to develop relationships with legislators and bankers. I also get to apply my grassroots experience in politics to enhance the banking and business climate in West Virginia.

In the 2025 legislative session, we defeated bills that would expose banks to needless and unfounded lawsuits. We also successfully advanced six bills that enhance the banking environment in West Virginia.

The key to effective WVBA advocacy efforts is building relationships. Building relationships is a constant, important and rewarding activity. Our legislators come from a wide array of backgrounds — from lawyers and coal miners to engineers and small business owners. Our success depends upon finding a common understanding with many legislators. 

We can all play a part in building relationships. During campaign season and the “interim” period between sessions, the Association and its members remain engaged with legislators, ensuring consistency in our relationships at the Capitol. Further, during the session, legislators enjoy hearing from bankers in their district when our bills are being considered — this applies both a personal touch and a unique, expert voice to the legislative process.

I am looking forward to building relationships with bankers to help support our advocacy efforts. Our ability to strategically employ bankers to engage directly with legislators is a critical component of our advocacy function. Further banker engagement in our legislative advocacy helps ensure that our legislative agenda provides the best value possible to our members.

Advocacy and running a political campaign have more in common than meets the eye. Each requires a command of the facts and an ability to communicate with stakeholders, both internally and externally. Both are about relationships and bringing people into the fold to work towards a common goal. 

As I begin my full-time role with the association, I am excited to work with our team and members to further enhance WVBA’s advocacy and political engagement efforts. I am always available to discuss what we’re doing and how you can become more involved.