Governor Sundquist, a former 2-term governor and 6-term Member of Congress, is a national figure and a co-founder of the firm. His significant contributions in the public and private sectors provide considerable insights to complex government and social issues.
2-term Governor of Tennessee (1995-2003)
- As Governor of Tennessee, Sundquist pursued aggressive reforms to ensure a more effective and accessible State Government.
- Exercised a true understanding of corporate needs and concerns to achieve record-breaking levels of new domestic and international business investment in the state that totaled more than $40 billion and created over 300,000 new jobs.
- Led 20 international trade and investment missions to Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China, the United Kingdom, Israel, Germany, Bulgaria, Sweden, Norway, France, and Italy. Served as a member of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee.
- Founding member and Honorary Co-Chair of the Japan-America Society of Tennessee, Inc.
- Received special acknowledgement from the SEUS/Japan and Japan/SEUS associations for his outstanding support throughout his 8-year tenure.
- Managed $20 billion budget.
- Built upon his relationship with the Bush administration and the Federal Government to create a historic five-year waiver for the state’s low-income health care program, which annually saved the State $150 million. Instituted reforms that led to the greatest level of un-mandated health coverage for children in any state.
- Demonstrated his commitment to diversity by appointing to his Cabinet more minorities with greater geographical representation than any Governor in the State’s history.
- Chaired the Southern Governors’ Association. Chaired the Human Resources Committee of the National Governors’ Association. Co-Chaired the Appalachian Regional Commission.
- Streamlined departments and agencies in the State creating a much more efficient infrastructure.
- Achieved the first inter-state sharing of children’s immunization records as Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Association.
- Created ConnecTen, a project that made Tennessee the first state to connect every public school and library to the internet.
6-term Member of Congress, 7 th District of Tennessee (1983-1995)
- Recognized for enforcing Federal budgetary discipline.
- Fought for free and fair trade policies.
- Served on the House Ways and Means Committee, the Budget Committe e, the Trade Subcommittee, Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, the House Republican Task Force on Ethics Reform, the Technology Assessment Board (Vice Chair), and the House Republican Task Force on Trade (Chairman). Served as Republican Southern Whip on behalf of House Republican Leadership.
- Principal co-author of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989.
Political Activism
- In addition to his own political campaigns, Sundquist spent much of his adult life supporting local, state, federal, and Presidential candidates across the country. Noteworthy were his positions as Tennessee State Chairman of the successful 2002 “Bush for President” campaign, U.S. House of Representatives manager for the successful 1988 “Bush for President” campaign, and campaign manager for the 1980 “(Howard) Baker for President” effort. Sundquist’s activism within the Republican Party stretches across more than 40 years, and includes his one-time tenure as National Chairman of the Young Republican Federation.
Private Sector Service
- Professional leadership positions with Graphic Sale of America, Inc., Josten’s Corporation, and John Deer. Co-founded the Virginia-based national chain of Red Hot & Blue Restaurants, and two community banks in Tennessee: BankEast and the Bank of Germantown.