• EDUCATION:
  • B.A. - Chapman University

Elise Finley Pickering

Principal

Bringing 16 years of in-the-trenches work experience with senior leaders in Congress, industry and political campaigns, Elise Finley Pickering is widely recognized as one of the most effective Republican strategists and well-respected policy advocates in Washington.

Elise is a multi-tasker. She served as Executive Director for the House Republican Policy Committee (the 5th ranking entity in House Leadership) while also tackling the high-performance duties of Chief of Staff to Arizona Rep. John Shadegg. Elise oversaw a staff of 22, helping run Congressman Shadegg’s office and staffing his work on the Energy & Commerce Committee. Earlier responsibilities included supervising his staff on the Select Committee on Homeland Security and the Financial Services Committee.

In 2004 Elise took a “time-out” from the Hill, serving as the Congressional Liaison and Legislative Director for the 2004 Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. At the campaign she was the lead interface with Republican Members of the House and Senate and their staffs, working closely with the Members on politics and policy.

Elise began her Hill career in 1990. During the Democratically controlled Congress she worked as Legislative Assistant for then-Representative William E. Dannemeyer (R-CA), and as the Legislative Director for Representative Roscoe G. Bartlett (R-MD). A fast learner, hard worker and notable achiever, Elise soon rose to Chief of Staff for Representative John B. Shadegg (R-AZ).

Even in her previous 2-year stint in the private sector, Elise held a government-centric job. She worked as Manager of Federal Affairs for the Southern Company, a Fortune 100 energy company based in Atlanta, Georgia.

A California native, Elise currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband, Air Force Colonel Trent Pickering.