Haley Faulkenberry understands the power of strong relationships and effective communication. As a partner at A&A Advocates for nearly a decade, she has developed a reputation at the Oklahoma State Capitol for her proven executive and legislative lobbying skills. Whether a public-facing issue or advocacy campaign, Haley and her colleagues execute a team approach to ensure their clients’ interests are represented during the legislative and administrative decision- making process. In the Q&A below, learn more about Haley and her track record of success in Oklahoma government and politics.
Can you tell us more about your day-to-day with A&A Advocates?
No day is the same in the world of lobbying. We execute tailored strategies to tackle some of our clients’ and our state’s most pressing issues. Often, that’s serving as their liaison with state legislators or meeting with state agency personnel to discuss administrative matters. A unique service I offer is association management, where I formulate and enact tactics to help small industry groups achieve their goals. As lobbyists, our careers are largely dependent on our relationships with peers, industry leaders, and state officials. Most of my spare time is spent attending happy hours, networking events, and conferences. Outside of work, I like to unwind by being outdoors, cooking, or hanging with my fur babies. My cat Minou loves making appearances in my virtual meetings and can be quite a handful.
What do you believe sets A&A and its team apart?
We love what we do and have a lot of fun doing it. We care about the people we serve and are always ready to roll up our sleeves and work hard for them. We are known for our strong relationships with legislative leaders, agency personnel, and industry associations, which empower us to reach solutions that move our clients’ goals forward while benefiting Oklahoma’s people. Our team has more than 45 years of combined experience with unique skill sets. Many firms will assign one specialized team member to each client, but at A&A Advocates, we proudly leverage the expertise of our entire team to support every client.
You focus heavily on executive lobbying. How did you develop this specialty?
Working with various state agencies during my tenure at the Oklahoma Public Employees Association (OPEA) helped me build a solid foundation in executive lobbying. I love diving deeper into critical issues that help our state government work. Instead of our efforts ending whenever the state legislature passes a bill, I walk alongside clients as they navigate implementation with state agencies and solve real-world problems for Oklahomans. As one of the OPEA’s former leaders, you worked closely with state agencies and legislative committees. How does this experience lend itself to your current work? My time with OPEA was an amazing springboard for my career, helping me learn more about policy development and implementation by the legislature and agencies. But perhaps more importantly, I gained experience in managing associations and building coalitions—one of my key services. Industry groups and organizations are critical in advocating for better policies, but many are not large enough to warrant a full-time staffer. A&A Advocates aids small groups in building their membership, cultivating relationships, and developing strategies to accomplish their goals.
What do you see as the primary benefits of being part of NASL?
NASL enables me to continue growing as a professional and delivering the highest quality service to our clients. I can network with the top lobbyists in other states, stay updated on leading issues across the country, and learn best practices and ethical standards.
For more information about Haley and A&A Advocates, visit aa-advocates.com.