Clay is a federal funding expert. As Vice President and Senior Advisor, Clay utilizes his 25+ years of experience on Capitol Hill, in a federal agency, for a Governor, and at a public affairs agency to achieve extraordinary results for clients at the federal level.
Prior to joining Merchant McIntyre, Clay was Founder and CEO of Capitol Innovations, a full-service advocacy firm specializing in empowering clients and delivering results through a combination of government relations and public relations strategies.
Clay previously served as Senior Vice President at Ketchum’s D.C. Public and Corporate Affairs practice, where he specialized in federal, state, and local government relations.
Prior to that role, he served as Vice President at Russ Reid, the nation’s largest marketing and communications agency representing exclusively nonprofits. During his eight years at Russ Reid, Clay won the most federal funding for nonprofit clients than any other executive at the firm.
From 2001- 2004, Clay worked at the U.S. Department of Education, serving as senior advisor to the deputy secretary and acting assistant secretary/secretary/principle deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs. As senior advisor, he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the deputy secretary’s office, managing policy development, and implementation and serving as the political advisor to the deputy secretary.
As Department of Education Acting Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary, Clay provided oversight of the department's legislative activities and managed a 23-person staff. During his tenure, he led the department’s legislative efforts to obtain successful passage of the president’s signature education reform effort, the No Child Left Behind Act. He also briefed Members of Congress on Administration legislative priorities such as higher education, vocational and technical education, and special education.
Prior to joining the Department of Education, Clay served as a top federal affairs advisor to then-Governor Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania, who later became the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As the associate director for the Governor’s Washington, D.C. staff, Clay worked with Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation and cabinet agencies on appropriations and policy issues related to education, transportation, defense, and veteran’s affairs.
In this role, Clay was instrumental in securing more than $460 million for Pennsylvania projects and initiatives.
A native of Brunswick, Maine, Clay began his career in government working for then-Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (ME).
Highlights:
- Secured hundreds of millions in federal funding
- Founder and CEO of Capitol Innovations
- Top Appropriations Lobbyist at Russ Reid Company
Expertise:
- Congressionally Directed Spending
- Higher Education
- Healthcare
- Local Government
- Social Services
Education:
- B.A., University of Miami