Founder & Managing Partner

Clare Hester

Clare Hester, the founder of Capitol Resources LLC, is recognized as one of Mississippi’s top lobbyists. She is a force at the Mississippi State Capitol, waging and winning multiple political and legislative campaigns each year for and against propositions on behalf of businesses and trade associations.

Clare has extensive experience in developing grassroots initiatives and building coalitions for legislative and other politically related causes. She consistently demonstrates the political acumen to recognize opportunities for compromise and facilitating consensus.

Clare’s array of direct legislative, agency and longstanding political relationships, her command of the political battlefield, and her leadership skills propel the Capitol Resources team’s winning legislative efforts. She is an expert in devising smart strategies, refining tactics and ensuring the most effective implementation possible.

Managing Partner

Henry Barbour

Henry’s extensive political experience and success in state and national campaigns brings him into contact with a diverse array of leaders, policymakers, journalists and political insiders. This enables him to work well at the state and federal level.

As Mississippi’s elected RNC National Committeeman, Henry is active in Republican circles throughout the country. His experience provides clients with unique insight into Republican administrations across the country; and his campaign experience helps drive the strategies he crafts to ensure results for Capitol Resources’ clients.

Henry manages the firm’s campaign and communications efforts, and national political reporters often seek his views. He has been quoted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and appeared on Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, CSPAN, PBS, NPR, etc.

Lee Ann Mayo

Lee Ann’s tireless advocacy at the statehouse on behalf of Capitol Resources’ clients is unmatched in the halls of the state Capitol. And what’s even more impressive is that she advocates for and represents clients in both Louisiana and Mississippi. Lee Ann focuses on an array of issues with great depth and understanding – education, corrections, procurement and healthcare among them, spending her days talking to legislators of both parties and many backgrounds. She succeeds by mastering the nuances of complex issues and relentlessly making the case with policy leaders. She is one of Capitol Resources most talented communicators with excellent writing and research skills. Additionally, Lee Ann is a member of Gulf Coast Business Council, American Telemedicine Association, and an associate member of MS Press Association.

Professional Experience

• Director of Communications for former Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove
• Vice President of Development, Southern Research Group
• Washington D.C. Lobbyist, National Beer Wholesalers Association
• Senior Account Executive, The Jefferson Group
• Staff Member, Veterans’ Affairs Committee for former Congressman G.V. Sonny Montgomery

Reed Branson

Reed is on the ground at the Mississippi Capitol every day, advocating on behalf of clients and anticipating opportunities for clients. Reed focuses on energy, health care, transportation and a host of issues impacting non-profits. He is one of the most highly liked and universally respected lobbyists in Jackson. With a background in political journalism, Reed is particularly adept at listening to multiple sides of a debate and crafting effective messages and win-win strategies, as well as assisting clients as they prepare for and respond to media crisis.

Professional Experience

• Assistant Vice President for Government/Investor Relations, Enterprise Corporation of the Delta/Hope Community Credit Union
• Statehouse Political Reporter, The Commercial Appeal, Mississippi and Tennessee
• Delta Bureau Reporter, The Clarion-Ledger, Mississippi
• United Press International Statehouse Reporter, Louisiana
• Gannett News Service Statehouse, Louisiana

Carlin Milner

Carlin Milner, CPA, is our Chief Financial Officer. She manages the financial operations of the firm and provides strategic counsel to the partners on matters. Carlin interacts with all clients related to billing and contract management. She assures our accounts receivables and payables are up to date and manages all employees expenses and insurance. Additionally, Carlin supports office oversight and management, as well as contract compliance.

Adair Cunningham

Adair Cunningham manages our Jackson office and warmly greets our visitors and callers, all while providing vital administrative support to our team members. Adair also manages association clients, plans clients internal meetings and events and is universally loved by Capitol Resources staff and clients.

Mary Hampton Nicholas

Mary Hampton Nicholas’ advertising and public relations background and event planning experience provides crucial support to our clients at Capitol Resources and BullsEye Public Affairs. She helps run issue-based advocacy projects with an emphasis on message, grassroots campaigns and media relations. Mary Hampton also manages numerous public affairs projects and keeps our team in sync. Prior to joining Capitol Resources, Mary Hampton was public relations manager at an advertising agency.

Nicholas Thompson

Nicholas Thompson leads Arc Insights, a full-service consulting and research insights firm. Nicholas brings more than 15 years of experience in research, strategy, and messaging. Described as a “respected pollster” by The Washington Post, he has conducted opinion research for non-profits, issue campaigns, candidates for public office, and businesses throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Nicholas spent a decade living and working in Washington, DC, where his roles included serving as a senior Vice President for The Tarrance Group, a political research firm, a member of the White House staff under President George W. Bush, and a Director of Messaging & Message Research for Stand Together, a major non-profit.

Beth Hamilton

Beth Hamilton is no stranger to the political world. Her friendly demeanour and outgoing personality make her a natural at building coalitions and managing grassroots campaigns. Beth’s experience and relationships from years of campaign work are a great asset for our clients that need to get their story told in Mississippi, as well as understand the ins and outs of Governor Reeves’ Administration. In addition, her deep roots in Northeast Mississippi are very helpful in one of the fastest growing parts of the state.

Prior to joining Capitol Resources, she spent the last four years on staff with former Lt. Gov. Reeves and worked in a senior role in his successful campaign for governor. Additionally, she has managed a Congressional campaign and served as the political director at Clearwater Group. Like many other well-respected Mississippi political operatives, she began her career as a staffer for the late Senator Thad Cochran.

Lauren Ingram

Lauren Ingram serves as our Controller at Capitol Resources.  She oversees human resources, employee benefits, insurance, retirement plans, and assists our CFO with a broad range of financial and reporting duties.

Prior to joining Capitol Resources, Lauren worked at The William Morris Group, P.A. as a group benefits specialist, where she was responsible for working with both clients and insurance companies on group insurance products.

Matthew Majure

Matthew Majure is an up-and-coming lobbyist at the Mississippi State Capitol and adds to the outstanding Capitol Resources state lobbying team, influencing and providing legislative and government solutions on the local and state levels.

Most recently, Majure served as a government affairs advisor Adams and Reese LLP in Washington, D.C. before he transferred to Mississippi with the firm. There he was responsible for tracking legislation, political strategy, lobbying on behalf of clients and guiding them through the legislative and procurement process.

Prior to joining Adams and Reese, he served as a Special Assistant to U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker. In that role, he had broad responsibilities and worked directly with Senator Wicker and senior staff.

Harper Mims Coleman

Harper Mims Coleman is a testament to the saying “hard work pays off.” She began as an intern for Clare and the Mississippi team and soon impressed them with her go-getter attitude, attention to detail, and understanding of the issues. Couple those great qualities with a great desire to learn, Harper turned her intern gig into a full-time job.

At Capitol Resources, Harper will be responsible for managing the Mississippi team members’ schedules, researching client issues and policy, association management, PAC management, fundraising and more.

She graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Criminal Justice and a minor in Public Policy Leadership.

Lucie Peaster

Lucie worked over five years in Washington, D.C. and excelled at the Republican National Committee (RNC) working most recently as the Director of Major Donor Operations. She also gained valuable Capitol Hill experience serving as a Legislative Aide in the office of U.S. Senator Roger F. Wicker (R-MS).

At the RNC, Lucie kept the trains on the track for a busy team who raised hundreds of millions for the RNC. Lucie oversaw the team’s budget and expenses, staffed donor events with the President, Vice President, and Cabinet officials, and served as the finance liaison for the RNC Chairwoman, Co-Chairman, and Finance Chairman. She graduated from Ole Miss in 2017 with a major in Integrated Marketing Communications.

Pete Smith

Pete Smith is a highly respected a lobbyist and  public relations specialist whose experience and depth ranges across state government.  Pete focuses on education, transportation and healthcare policy, as well as public procurement and crisis management for our clients. When he’s not passing legislation at the Capitol, he can be found advising clients on messaging or building relationships with key decision makers.

Pete’s experience as press secretary for Gov. Haley Barbour during Hurricane Katrina and then as Chief of Government Relations and Communications for the MS Department of Education as Mississippi accomplished historic gains in achievement has proven invaluable to clients seeking sound, timely counsel. Pete’s relationships throughout state government, his experience as a communications expert, and his pragmatism and command of policy allow him to achieve superior results for clients.

Camp Murphy

Camp previously served as the managing partner at Corporate Relations Management, a prominent government relations firm located in Canton, MS. During his four-year tenure as managing partner, Camp achieved remarkable success, tripling revenues, and significantly expanding CRM’s presence in the advocacy, agency resolution, and business development sectors. Before assuming his role at Corporate Relations Management, Camp served as a distinguished Policy Advisor in the office of Governor Phil Bryant. In this capacity, he handled crucial areas such as military policy, public safety, emergency management, and budget policy, showcasing his expertise and dedication to public service. Prior to that, he worked diligently for over five years as a skilled Budget Analyst at the Legislative Budget Office.

Tanner DeYoung

Tanner is an accomplished researcher in the areas of science and public policy. He holds a degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Political Science from Mississippi State University where he graduated with honors. Tanner is also a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Award, which funded his research in the History of Politics and Society in the Netherlands.

Lindsey Chhabra

Lindsey begins her third year lobbying after showing great promise her first two years with Corporate Relations Management. Her ability to retain and understand client issues, gain access to decision makers, and effectively advocate on behalf of her clients has made her an instant success in the halls of the Capitol. Lindsey’s social skills and work ethic have accelerated her ability to succeed in her relatively short career as a lobbyist.

Clifton Carroll

Clifton Carroll works in our Jackson office working with BullsEye Public Affairs clients. He is a skilled communicator whose adds depth to our public affairs arm with his talents and political savy. Clifton also serves as Executive Director of The Skills Foundation of Mississippi, a non-profit that works to increase Mississippi’s supply of skilled workforce. Most recently, Clifton served as the Communications Director for Governor Tate Reeves re-election campaign and has outstanding policy, political, and creative skills that will serve a diverse group of our clients. Clifton is a member of the MIssissippi Republican Party Executive Committee and former Policy Advisor for Gov. Tate Reeves. He is a graduate of Ole Miss with a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications.

Josh Peaster

Josh has over five years of Senate staff experience working most recently as a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and previously in the offices of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS).

Josh worked on a myriad of issues during his time in the U.S. Senate, including managing appropriation requests and policy recommendations and led policy efforts on legislation pertaining to financial services, economic development, small business, housing, labor, and agriculture.