Profile and History for Judy Augenstein

People hire lobbyists because they need to activate the political system. My job is to educate legislators about clients and their issues. The legislative process may seem frustrating and disappointing and can appear to be complex. The system is set up to facilitate input from people and groups so it can take some time to bring about change. The lobbyist is the middle person between the client and legislators who can provide credibility, thus open doors that might otherwise remain closed. Effective lobbying is achieved through credibility. Credibility can only be earned and is the key element in getting a clients story told and supported. The five basic elements to lobbying are fact finding, monitoring, lobbying, credibility and access.

I established the first female legislative consulting business in 1978. I am proud of the fact that I have developed positive working relationships with both Republicans and Democrats. I have represented various special interest groups and have been successful with legislative efforts put before the legislature on their behalf. Prior to becoming a lobbyist, I worked for over a decade in the Michigan Senate. I have developed an excellent understanding of both the legislative and political process as well as a strong statewide network of contacts.