Katie Ashley Joins Bradley as Senior Advisor for Government Affairs
Katie Ashley, former director of legislation for Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, has joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP’s Nashville office as a senior advisor in Bradley’s Government Affairs and Economic Development practice groups.
“We are thrilled to welcome Katie to our firm as a senior advisor on diverse government affairs and economic development issues,” said Bradley Managing Partner and Chairman of the Board Jonathan Skeeters. “Katie’s experience and wealth of knowledge gained during her long tenure as a key official in the Tennessee governor’s administration will be great assets to our clients.”
In a release, the firm said Ashley represents clients before the executive and legislative branches of government in Tennessee and Washington, D.C., helping to develop successful strategies for achieving clients’ business goals.
As the chief legislative executive for Haslam, Ashley advised the governor, his senior staff and 23 department commissioners on political strategy and legislative affairs. The Office of the Governor’s press release states that during her eight-year tenure with the Haslam administration, Ashley played an essential role in budget matters and policy development that led to Tennessee being recognized as a national leader in education, economic development, efficient and effective government, and fiscal strength. Among her achievements, Ashley helped launch the Drive to 55 initiative, with the goal to increase to 55 percent the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary degree or credential by the year 2025 to meet future workforce demands. Ashley’s legislative efforts also helped Tennessee become the first state in the nation to offer high school graduates a chance to earn a certificate or degree beyond high school free of charge and with a personal mentor.
Previously, Ashley worked for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander in Washington, D.C.
Ashley received her Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from the University of Tennessee at Martin, and is not an attorney.
