Norris, Knott buy State Public Policy Group
PERRY BEEMAN Sep 23, 2016 | 3:45 pm
1 min read time
313 wordsAll Latest News, Government Policy and LawIowa government work veterans John Norris and Bradley Knott bought consulting firm State Public Policy Group from longtime exec Tom Slater.
The company, founded in 1984, works with clients on issue management, advocacy, research, stakeholder outreach and facilitation, project management and administrative services. President and CEO Arlinda McKeen will remain on staff indefinitely, but Norris and Knott will take over the top two slots, Norris said.
Norris said he and Knott are equal partners. “We may have to flip a coin” to see who takes which title, he added.
Norris, from Red Oak, returns to Iowa after two years in Rome representing the United States at the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization and the World Food Program as the U.S. minister-counselor for agriculture. He is a past chairman of the Iowa Utilities Board and also served as a commissioner on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Norris worked as chief of staff to Tom Vilsack both at the governor’s office and during Vilsack’s term as U.S. agriculture secretary. His wife, Jackie, former chief of staff for first lady Michelle Obama, is preparing to take over aspresident and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa.
“We wanted to move back to Iowa, and I am looking forward to working on policies that are important to Iowans,” Norris said.
Knott, a native of Carroll, is founder and managing partner of HAVA Partners, a technology company that specializes in online training and learning and member engagement strategies. He will focus on managing current operations and on online learning and training, and will provide strategic communications services. Knott was an aide to former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin and swerved as an assistant attorney general in Iowa. He later worked as an administrative law judge at the U.S. Department of Labor.
All current staff will be invited to remain, and Slater will serve as a senior adviser.
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