About Ashley Groome

Ashley is a Senior Vice President of State Government Relations and a partner with McGuireWoods LLP. She specializes in providing counsel and strategic advice to help clients meet their corporate and public affairs objectives. She has consistently been ranked as one of Georgia’s “Top Female Lobbyists” by James Magazine and was ranked as one of Georgia’s 60 most powerful behind-the-scene politicos in 2017 by politics.  Ashley served two terms on Atlanta’s Urban Design Commission and has served on the Board of Directors for the Agape Community Center, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Child Development Center at Central Presbyterian Church, and NewPower PAC, a non-partisan organization dedicated to electing more women to office in Georgia.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Council for Quality Growth.  Prior to joining the firm, Ashley was director of Government Affairs for Waste Management, Inc., the nation's leading waste disposal firm. In that capacity, she supported lobbyists in 12 Southeastern states and worked with them to enact and defeat legislation that impacted the waste industry.

Prior to joining Waste Management, Ashley worked as an associate at an Atlanta litigation firm and as a legislative assistant for Fulton County. In addition to her legislative and legal background, Ashley possesses communications experience as a former associate producer for Cox Interactive Media and as a television reporter for WRBL-TV in Columbus. She was also a candidate for the Georgia State House of Representatives in 2006.

About Danica Thompson

Danica Thompson is experienced in civic engagement with a focus in government relations. She currently serves as a vice president of state government relations where she provides strategic advice and lobbying services to help clients meet their corporate and public affairs objectives. Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Danica worked with state elected officials for 13 years at the Atlanta-based Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Inc. Starting as a legislative intern, she seamlessly rose through the organization’s ranks to the position of executive director where she managed the daily operations of the caucus, coordinated legislative conferences and ensured that the caucus fulfilled its mission to protect the general welfare of people of color, the disadvantaged and the underserved citizens throughout the state of Georgia.

Throughout her professional career Danica has committed herself to making a difference at work and within her community. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Georgia Women's Policy Institute. Presently, Danica serves as chair of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Corporate Roundtable Gaming, Sports and Entertainment Policy Committee, serves as a board member for the United Methodist Children's Home, and volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to support children in foster care. She was also recently selected to serve on the Grady Ambassador Force, which consists of nearly 100 community leaders, to create awareness and community support for the Grady Health System.

Danica has been recognized by her peers for the past three years as a Rising Star lobbyist in the James magazine. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Spelman College and a Juris Doctorate from Birmingham School of Law.

About Robyn Miller