The 45th Annual
Connecticut Lobbying Conference
Wednesday, October 7th, 2026

at the Courtyard by Marriott in Cromwell, CT

This year's Conference is sponsored by:

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

REGISTRATION -- 8:30am

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS -- 9:15am

PANEL: HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LOBBYIST -- 9:30am - 10:40am

• SEN. GARY WINFIELD: Chair, Judiciary Committee, CT State Senate
• SEN. STEVE HARDING: Minority Leader, CT State Senate
• SEN. CATHERINE OSTEN: Chair, Appropriations Committee, CT State Senate
• REP. TONI WALKER: Chair, Appropriations Committee, CT House of Representatives
• REP. LEZLYE ZUPKUS: Deputy Republican Leader At-Large, CT House of Representatives
• REP. MARIA HORN: Chair, Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee, CT House of Representatives

Moderator: KATE ROBINSON, Principal and Lobbyist, Gallo & Robinson, LLC

The 2027 session will be a "long" session. Elections will be fresh on the minds of the incoming "class.” Returning lawmakers may be in new positions, and the "freshmen" will be looking to make their mark. Legislators will want to make good on campaign promises and will be introducing new ideas. They will also be wrestling with long-standing challenges, starting with the budget. But, with challenges come opportunities. What’s the best way to move your agenda forward? How do you get a legislator to champion your cause? This bipartisan panel of legislators will give you honest advice from their varied perspectives.

SKILLS WORKSHOPS
* indicates workshops that are most helpful for new lobbyists and advocates.
We are still working on adding additional presenters so panels may change.

SESSION I -- 10:50am - 11:50am

WORKSHOP A: *LEGISLATIVE PROCESS 101*

REP. BOB GODFREY: Deputy Speaker Pro Tempore, CT House of Representatives
REP. GREGG HADDAD: Chair, Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, CT House of Representatives
JOE GRABARZ: Lobbyist, Gallo & Robinson, LLC

This workshop, designed for first time lobbyists, will cover the legislative process from introduction of bills, to passage in the House and Senate, and onto the Governor’s desk. Learn about the differences between ‘long’ and ‘short’ sessions, committee and screening processes at the caucus level, and the work that happens behind the scenes. They’ll cover the basics and ‘big picture’ of the legislative process.

WORKSHOP B: FINAL DAYS AND HOURS

SEN. GARY WINFIELD: Chair, Judiciary Committee, CT State Senate
REP. DOMINIQUE JOHNSON: Chair of Screening, CT House of Representatives
REP. TAMI ZAWISTOWSKI: House GOP Policy Co-Chair, CT House of Representatives
BILL WELZ: Lobbyist, Gallo & Robinson

In the last days of the legislative session, every second counts. If your bill has made it through one chamber, what is the best advice to getting the bill called in the other chamber as the clock keeps ticking? Will it be a “talker”? Is it a “consent-able” item? What gets a bill moving? What if the bill has been passed temporarily? These seasoned leaders and a lobbyist who previously worked in a Governor’s office will help you plan your arguments and tactics to draw on during the final days and hours of the session.

WORKSHOP C: EFFECTIVE GRASS ROOTS

REP. JANE GARIBAY: Chair, Aging Committee, CT House of Representatives
DIEDRE MURCH: Lead Organizer/Elected Organizer, Home Care; State Employees Independent Union, District 1199
ELAINE MINTZ: Vice President, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation
GUS MARKS-HAMILTON: Advocacy and Organizing Manager, ACLU of CT

How do you identify those individuals and organizations that can help you win passage of your bill? How do you build your network - and activate it - for the members to communicate effectively with legislators and with you? This workshop will cover how to organize those individuals and organizations effectively to help keep your issues before the legislature. These advocacy leaders will give you a frank assessment of what activities in the field have contributed to the passage of legislation.

SESSION II -- 12:00pm - 1:00pm

WORKSHOP A: *TESTIFYING AT PUBLIC HEARINGS*

REP. CRISTIN MCCARTHY VAHEY: Chair, Public Health Committee, CT House of Representatives
REP. DERELL WILSON, Vice-Chair, Labor and Public Employees Committee
SARA PARKER MCKERNAN: Policy Advocate, New Haven Legal Assistance Association

Now that your bill has been raised for a public hearing, what should you do? How important are public hearings? How can you maximize the effectiveness of this process? Should the lobbyist or the client testify? How many people should testify? Should they deliver live or written testimony? How are virtual hearings changing the approach? An experienced lobbyist, committee chair, and a ranking member will give you an inside and outside perspective of what works best and why.

WORKSHOP B: WORKING WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

MATTHEW BROKMAN: Chief of Staff, Office of Governor Ned Lamont
CARA PASSARO: Chief of Staff, Office of Attorney General William Tong
GABE ROSENBERG: Chief of Staff & Chief Legal Counsel, Secretary of the State’s Office
CHRIS SMITH, Partner, Rome Smith Kowalski

Few policies can be implemented without the Executive Branch. State agency budget/legislative requests, regulations, contracts, or policies are likely to have a greater impact on your organization than legislation. Yet, the state agency decision-making process can be harder to influence than the legislature. Learn from these panelists about the role of Legislative Liaisons, Chiefs of Staff, Commissioners, and how to lobby state agencies.

WORKSHOP C: HOSTING CAPITOL EVENTS AND WORKING WITH THE PRESS

REP. MATT BLUMENTHAL: Chair, Government Administration and Elections Committee, CT House of Representatives
BEN SHAIKEN: Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, CT Nonprofit Alliance
SUSAN RAFF: Chief Capitol Reporter, WFSB Channel 3
PATTY MCQUEEN: Principal, Communication Strategies

Publicity, visibility, and media can be powerful in making (or breaking) the case before the legislature. Lobby days and press conferences can draw attention to your cause, but how do you generate enough eyes and ears to break through? What gets reporters to attend an event or cover a story? What elements must be in a press alert and a press release? How do you reserve a room and what logistics do you need to consider?

LUNCHEON -- 1:00pm - 1:45pm

SESSION III -- 1:50pm - 2:50pm

WORKSHOP A: *LOBBYING ONE-ON-ONE*

REP. AIMEE BERGER-GIRVALO: Chair, Transportation Committee, CT House of Representatives
REP. GREG HOWARD: Ranking Member, Public Safety Committee, CT House of Representatives
JANÉE WOODS WEBER: Executive Director, She Leads Justice

What’s the difference between a hallway exchange and a formal appointment? How should you prepare for each? What questions should you be prepared to answer? What information should you provide, and in what form? This workshop, led by an experienced lobbyist and legislators from each party, will give you some best practices to consider.

WORKSHOP B: PREPARING FOR SESSION

SEN. JEFF GORDON: Ranking Member, Committees on Planning & Development and Veteran’s Affairs, CT State Senate
REP. ELENI KAVROS DEGRAW: Chair, Planning & Development Committee, CT House of Representatives
REP. MANNY SANCHEZ: Chair, Labor and Public Employees Committee, CT House of Representatives
BRIAN DAWSON, Lobbyist, Gallo &: Robinson, LLC

As you prepare for the legislative session, you may find you are already way behind. What can you do to best prepare in the summer, fall, and winter months leading up to the convening of the session? Are you ready for one-on-one meetings? What types of materials will you need to have ready? Will other organizations be allies or adversaries and should you meet with them? This bipartisan panel of legislators including a lobbyist who guides clients through session prep will give you a jump start on the 2027 session.

WORKSHOP C: WORKING WITH LEGISLATIVE STAFF

KIRSTIN BREINER: Judiciary Committee Administrator
FRANKLIN PERRY: Chief of Staff, House Democratic Caucus, CT House of Representatives
MICHAEL CICCHETTI: General Counsel, Senate Republican Caucus, CT State Senate

Lobbyists, legislators, and staff work closely alongside each other. Legislators often have both partisan and non-partisan staff with them in meetings. It is important to understand the roles of those staff members, so you can work more effectively. The panelists will tell you how each of the committees and nonpartisan offices work from the inside out, and the outside in. They will explain the roles of each of the different staff offices and caucuses, and how to work effectively with them.

SESSION IV -- 3:00pm - 4:00pm

WORKSHOP A: *A SUCCESSFUL LOBBYING CAMPAIGN*

REP. COREY PARIS: Chair, Children’s Committee, CT House of Representatives
REP. KATE FARRAR: Deputy Majority Leader, Internship Chair, CT House of Representatives
EVA BERMÚDEZ ZIMMERMAN: Coalition Director, Child Care for CT
MERRILL GAY: Executive Director, CT Early Childhood Alliance

This workshop features a recent case history of a lobbying campaign around a challenging, multi-year issue that was successful, and an honest assessment of why this campaign worked. Was it grassroots lobbying, political connections, timing, luck, or some combination? Two involved lobbyists and two legislative champions will outline what factors contributed to their victory, and the obstacles they faced along the way.

WORKSHOP B: LOBBYING THE BUDGET

SEN. MATT LESSER: Chair, Human Services Committee, CT State Senate
JEFF CURREY, Chief of Staff, Office of Majority Leader, CT House Democrats
KATE ROBINSON: Lobbyist, Gallo & Robinson, LLC

The state budget process is complicated and navigating it can be a challenge. How to handle a fiscal note, build consensus on budget items, and have your priorities heard? Is there any room for a new allocation? What if there is no budget? These panelists will explain the state budget process, including state agency proposals, the Governor’s budget proposal, the Appropriations Committee public hearings, subcommittees, and beyond.

The last few years the conference has sold out early so we recommend registering as soon as you can.
We are still working on adding additional presenters so panels may change.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.