Michael E. Thomas Mike is a senior vice president of Virginia state government relations based in the Richmond office. He initially joined the firm in February 2007 before leaving in 2011 to manage George Allen's 2012 Senate Campaign. Mike provides senior-level insight to our clients on legislative, regulatory or administrative issues at the state and local level in Virginia and in other states focuses his practice on government relations, grassroots/grasstops, issues management and technology matters. Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Mike served as state director and chief of staff for U.S. Senator George Allen. As state director, he managed the staff and five regional offices throughout the Commonwealth and worked with individuals, businesses, state and local government organizations, and others that needed help with federal government agencies or programs, or who wished to affect the Michael E. Thomas legislative process. SR. VP, GOV. RELATIONS Mike served in state government from 1998-2001 as the director of the Virginia MCGUIREWOODS Department of Information Technology (DIT) (now known as VITA). DIT was the state CONSULTING LLC agency which provided telecommunications and data processing services to state agencies and institutions, and to many of Virginia’s local governments and school T +1 804 775 1908 systems. From 1998-2000, he also served a transitional role as Virginia’s first F +1 804 698 2075 Deputy Secretary of Technology. Gateway Plaza From 1994-1998, he served as secretary of administration in then-Governor George 800 East Canal Street Allen’s cabinet. He was responsible for thirteen state agencies, including the Richmond, VA 23219-3916 Department of Information Technology, the Council on Information Management, the Department of General Services and the Department of Personnel and Training. [email protected] Prior to this, Mike was campaign manager for the successful George Allen for Governor campaign and served as transition director for Governor Allen in the PRACTICES months preceding the inauguration. Public Affairs Mike has been an aide over the years to U.S. Senator Paul Trible, U.S. Senator John Warner, and Congressman Tom Bliley and has helped organize and manage grassroots operations for dozens of state, local and federal elected officials and INDUSTRIES candidates. Education Real Estate Capital Markets EDUCATION University of Richmond, BA, Political Science, 1982 AFFILIATIONS Member, State Board for Community Colleges, 2010-present First Vice-Chairman, Republican Party of Virginia, 1996-present Member, Virginia Information Providers Network Authority Board, 1996-2000 Member, Council on Technology Services, 1998-2000 Member, Commonwealth Competition Council, 1995-2000 Chairman, Governor’s Commission on Surplus Property, 1996-1997 Chairman, Land, Growth and Stewardship Subcommittee, Chesapeake Bay Program, 1995 EVENTS Speaker, "Getting Projects Approved in the Age of Social Media," Land Use in the 21st Century, November 17, 2016 The McGuireWoods website provides information of general interest to the public. The website does not offer legal advice about specific situations or problems. You should consult a McGuireWoods lawyer if you have legal issues requiring attention. Nothing on this site creates an express or implied contract. McGuireWoods does not intend to create an attorney-client relationship by inviting you to contact us. Unless and until we and you agree that we will represent you, we will not have any duties to you, including any duty to keep what you send us confidential or any duty to protect your interests. This means that nothing you send us will be kept confidential, unless we mutually agree that we will keep it confidential. Past legal successes described on this website are not indicators of future results. The outcome of particular legal matters is dependent upon the facts and law applicable to the matters. McGUIREWOODS LLP | 1 Michael E. Thomas McGUIREWOODS LLP | 2.