FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Cory Tilley or Sarah Hansford Thursday, September 17, 2015 (850) 222-3767 Ballard Partners Opens Office in Ft. Lauderdale, Elite Fundraiser Stephanie Grutman Joins Team TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s 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. Stephanie’s 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. “I’m 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 CFO’s 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. ### 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. .