FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Contact: Cory Tilley or Sarah Hansford

(850) 222-3767

Ballard Partners Opens Office in Ft. Lauderdale,

Elite Fundraiser Stephanie Grutman Joins Team
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Floridas top government affairs firm, Ballard Partners, today announced the opening of a new
office in Broward County. Veteran government relations professional and fundraiser Stephanie Grutman will join the
practice in Broward County, working closely with the team of professionals in the Tallahassee office and five regional
offices throughout the state. Grutman has more than 17 years of experience in Florida government and is well-respected
for her fundraising expertise and tireless work ethic. In 2009, she was named as one of the most influential Democrats in
Florida by Politics Magazine.
As the second most populated county in Florida, Broward County is a natural place for Ballard Partners to open a new
office and Stephanie is the perfect person to help get our local practice off the ground. Stephanies deep connections in
South Florida and her extensive knowledge of the political landscape will ensure our success in this exciting new market
and will benefit our clients tremendously, said Brian Ballard, president of Ballard Partners. Im also thrilled that we
now have the entire Southeast Florida corridor covered with top-notch government relations professionals in three
different offices.
Grutman spent four years as the Finance Director of Senate Victory for the Florida Democratic Party, under Senate
Democratic Leaders Sen. Nan Rich, Sen. Chris Smith and Sen. Arthenia Joyner. Under her leadership, in 2012 the Senate
Democrats had their most successful fundraising cycle in history raising more than $6.4 million and won three of four
targeted races, increasing the caucus by two members for the first time since 1987.
Having spent my entire career in Florida politics, I am honored to have the opportunity to join the largest and most
influential government affairs firm in the state, said Grutman. I look forward to working with Brian and the entire team
as we build a thriving practice in Broward County.
Before joining the Florida Democratic Party, Grutman was the Deputy Chief of Staff to then-Florida Chief Financial
Officer (CFO) Alex Sink, where she oversaw daily operations of the CFOs Capitol office and served as a senior advisor
to the Communications, Legislative Affairs and Cabinet Affairs departments.
Grutman worked on the campaigns of Mayor Buddy Dyer, Congressman Ron Klein, Congressman Tim Mahoney, State
Senator Maria Sachs, State Senator Darren Soto and many other candidates at the local, state and federal levels.
She began her career as an intern and later a senior aide to then-State Senator and current Congresswoman Debbie
Wasserman Schultz. Most recently, Grutman served as the Director of Development for the University of Florida Hillel,
where she developed and implemented a national fundraising plan and oversaw communications and marketing.
Grutman received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Florida State University and lives in Weston with her
husband and two children.
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About Ballard Partners
Ballard Partners has been named by state and national publications as the leading government affairs firm in the
Sunshine State. The Florida-based lobbying firm, with offices in Tallahassee, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Miami, Ft.
Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa, combines extensive experience in government affairs with unwavering advocacy to
maximize results for the clients they serve. Visit http://ballard-partners.com for more information.