J. William Pitcher, a veteran Annapolis lobbyist, is joining the national lobbying firm Husch Blackwell Strategies, which established a Maryland practice earlier this year, the firm announced Wednesday.
The Washington, D.C.-based firm hired Sarah Peters, a lobbyist and former Hogan administration official, to establish a beachhead in Annapolis in February. Prior to that she had worked at the Bellamy-Genn Group, LLC.
Pitcher had been hanging his hat at the Bellamy-Genn Group in recent months after running his own government affairs shop for roughly 30 years.
“The opportunity to add Bill’s connections and intimate
knowledge of Maryland’s business community is a big addition for our firm,” said Gregg Hartley, the CEO for Husch Blackwell Strategies.
The firm’s multi-state government practice group now includes coverage in five states – Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia. According to the company website, clients include Altria, AT&T, Exelon, Expedia, Facebook and the World Wildlife Federation.
Another HBS executive, CFO Andy Burch, said Pitcher’s hiring can help the firm provide “guidance and reassurance” during “times of uncertainty.”