Lobbyist and political fundraiser Andrea McWilliams is a skilled strategist, combining grace with grit and patience with persuasion. Known for her meticulous attention to detail, McWilliams brings her unique expertise to every issue she engages, drawing on her time in both the private and the public sector.
In 2009, McWilliams was ranked by the Austin Business Journal as the #1 "Top Lobbyist in Texas." The Dallas Morning News also ranked McWilliams as one of Texas’ top grossing lobbyists in 2005, while Texans for Public Justice recognized her as the top female Texas lobbyist on their elite ‘Million Dollar Lobbyists’ list. Capitol Inside, the insiders’ news source of the Texas Legislature, has listed McWilliams as one of the top ten Impact Players in the industry.
Always a tireless force for her clients, McWilliams has a noteworthy track record. During the 81st Legislative Session, she passed $100M in incentives to insure that Texas was the first location on the globe to site the world's most advanced clean coal power plant that captures carbon. Her ability to achieve legislative results in the face of extreme adversity has been likened by the media to the resurrection of the biblical Lazarus. Indeed, in 2007, Capitol Inside reported on McWilliams’ key outside-the-Chamber role in saving a $3 billion cancer research package.
The national media, including the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, USA Today, CNN, BBC and NPR, have all reported on McWilliams’ role as a leading fundraiser and political strategist. She has been profiled in a number of Texas publications as well. During the 2007-08 presidential cycle, Andrea and her husband, Dean, served as Texas co-chairs for Republican Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee.
A Chief of Staff at 21, McWilliams went on to hone her private sector grassroots skills, working on major accounts including Southwestern Bell, at iconic public relations company Public Strategies, Inc. Today she is the co-founder of McWilliams, a full-service firm of governmental affairs consultants. McWilliams opened its doors when the husband and wife team of Andrea and Dean combined their talents and experience to form what has become a respected alliance, trusted at the local, state and national level.
Government Experience:
During her tenure at the State Capitol, Andrea was fortunate enough to work for the former Vice-Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and current Chairman of the House Human Services Committee, State Representative Richard Raymond. Andrea also served as a legislative aide for State Representative Rene Oliveira, the former Chairman of the powerful House Ways & Means Committee and current Chairman of the House Land and Resource Management Committee. During the 74th Texas legislative session, McWilliams also worked as a legislative aide for then Texas Senator Jim Turner prior to his service in the U.S. Congress.
While Chief of Staff for State Rep. Mike Martin, McWilliams was responsible for the Representative’s legislative program, including the complex insurance issues addressed during Rep. Martin’s tenure as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Insurance. In 1994, also McWilliams worked jointly for Rep. Martin and Senator Frank Madla, former Chairman of the Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee. Serving as Chief Committee Clerk for the Joint Interim Committee on Health Insurance Access, she made recommendations to statewide leaders and the Texas Legislature on the future of health insurance in the state. McWilliams subsequently served on the Lieutenant Governor’s Task Force on Health Care Reform.
During the 73rd Texas Legislative Session, McWilliams served as Chief of Staff for current Vice-Chairman Raymond, actively garnering legislative support for the North American Free Trade Agreement. In 1991,McWilliams played an integral part in federally mandated redistricting as Legislative Director for Representative Oliveira, current Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and past Chairman of both the House Mexican- American Legislative Caucus. During this time, McWilliams also worked on initiatives including environmental and regulatory issues, state appropriations and higher education.
McWilliams began her career in the Texas Legislature in 1989, during the 71st Session, working as Projects Coordinator for State Representative Steve Wolens, former Chairman of both the House State Affairs Committee and the Joint Committee on Electric Restructuring.
Family and Community:
Raised just steps from the Texas Capitol, McWilliams now resides in Austin’s historic neighborhood of Old Enfield, where she and husband Dean are raising their three children in an elegantly restored home.
A past president of Inherit Austin, McWilliams is a well-known philanthropist and community volunteer, who has been named on many occasions to the "All-Stars" of Austin American Statesman Fortunate 500 lists. In 2007, McWilliams began working with The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and KillCancer, two nonprofit groups committed to cancer prevention. Avid in her support of education and knowledgeable of the ongoing need for qualified health-care professionals, McWilliams is a long-time member of the St. David's Toast of the Town Committee, which raises funds for the notable W. Neal Kocurek Scholarship Fund. She is also a member of the Girl Scouts Centennial Celebration Committee.
McWilliams has served as a board member for many other nonprofit organizations, including Texas Lyceum, the Heritage Society of Austin, Mexi-Arte Museum, Ballet Austin, Rise Across Texas Challenge, HeartGift, the Elizabeth Ann Seton Hospital, Austin Children in Crisis, Pioneer Farms, Old Enfield Homeowner's Association and the Waterloo President's Council. As an active supporter of the arts, McWilliams is an inaugural member of the Long Center's Notable Women and a former member of the board of directors for Arthouse. Aside from her continued membership with the Heritage Society of Austin, she is also involved with the Women’s Symphony League. In 2010, she chaired Austin's largest charity event, the Ballet Fete, benefiting Ballet Austin.
This past fall, McWilliams served as honorary chair for the fundraising event, the 2011 Mamma Jamma Ride, which since its 2009 inaugural ride, has raised over a million dollars for nonprofits serving the thousands of Central Texans coping with breast cancer. She also co-chaired the prestigious annual Marathon Kids gala, which honored Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs as its "2011 Hero for Health." Marathon Kids is a free program promoting healthy initiatives for children that began in Austin 16 years ago and will serve a quarter million registered elementary students across the state and country in the upcoming school year.
McWilliams has been a recipient of the Austin Business Journal's Profiles in Power Award and was also honored by the Girl Scouts of Central Texas with the coveted 2009 Woman of Distinction Award. The Austin American-Statesman has also honored her as a member of their Glossy 8 list. In 2012, Andrea also received the Austin Under 40 award.