Gilmore Hagan Partners and The Southern Group have combined their economic development and government relations firms.
The move means The Southern Group’s Jacksonville office is expanding from two lobbyists to five.
“For more than 20 years, The Southern Group has been at the tip of the spear of Florida government relations,” The Southern Group founder and Chairman Paul Bradshaw said in a news release.
“Our innovative approach to local and state lobbying has enabled us to become the Sunshine State’s largest influence firm. This momentum is something we are constantly looking to build upon, and the addition of the Gilmore Hagan team in Jacksonville does just that,” he said.
Jacksonville lobbyists Jim Gilmore and Chris Hagan founded Gilmore Hagan Partners.
For more than 30 years, Gilmore has been part of public-private partnerships in the region including the creation of Cecil Commerce Center and the Jacksonville International Airport Community Redevelopment Area.
Hagan formerly led government affairs for the Northeast Florida Builders Association and was regional government affairs manager for Advanced Disposal.
“Northeast Florida is a dynamic region with a wide range of opportunities for the public and private sectors to collaborate. I’m confident this new venture will enable us to capitalize on these opportunities for our clients and our community,” Hagan said.
Also joining The Southern Group from Gilmore Hagan Partners is Taylor Mejia, a University of North Florida political science graduate who has led strategic partnerships for the firm since 2015.
“Chris, Taylor and I look forward to adding value to The Southern Group and its clients, and I know our new colleagues will offer the same to our existing clients,” Gilmore said in the release.
The Southern Group’s Jacksonville partner Matt Brockelman said the three “are powerful advocates for their clients in Northeast Florida.”
The Southern Group has nearly 30 lobbyists in six markets including Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Miami and the Florida Keys. The firm represents hundreds of clients at all levels of Florida government.
