Former Iowa GOP chair Strawn partner in new Chicago firm

A news release today from Matt Strawn, a former chairman of the Iowa Republican Party who lists a number with a 312 area code for contact (312 is the area code for downtown Chicago).

Former Iowa GOP leader Strawn to head Chicago-based NGPA Firm
Technology-focused public affairs and capital development firm to also open Des Moines office

CHICAGO – A trio of Midwest businessmen, including former statewide political party officials from Illinois and Iowa, today announced the formation of a new, Chicago-based public affairs and capital development firm, Next Generation Public Affairs Inc. (NGPA).

Founding NGPA principals include former Iowa GOP chairman Matt Strawn, former Illinois GOP chairman Pat Brady, and veteran Chicago advisor and business leader Bob Fitzsimmons. The firm will have a distinctive upper Midwest focus and initial offices in Chicago and Des Moines.

Drawing upon decades of experience at the intersection of business, public policy, politics and capital formation, Brady said, “NGPA is a full-service public affairs firm providing clients with comprehensive and technologically sophisticated government affairs, issue advocacy and media relations strategies.” In an innovative approach to public affairs, Brady noted that the firm will also have a practice group experienced in sourcing capital and structuring large-scale public-private partnership projects.

Brady, who served as chairman of the Illinois GOP from 2009-2013 and as a member of the Republican National Committee, is a former federal prosecutor and a “Big 4” accounting firm partner. As the leader of NGPA’s Advocacy practice, Brady brings NGPA a rare combination of business, law, political and media perspective.

Strawn, who served as chairman of the Iowa GOP from 2009-2012, is a central Iowa businessman with interests in the agriculture, technology and sports and entertainment sectors. As an equity partner in numerous technology start-up companies, Strawn will lead NGPA’s Digital Technology practice. “NGPA will be at the forefront of developing customized social media engagement and data capturing technologies to help its clients more efficiently allocate resources across increasingly complex mixed-media platforms,” said Strawn.

Fitzsimmons is a former equity partner at two of the largest global law firms. He currently serves as chairman of Next Generation Capital Partners (which actively structures and invests in public-private partnership projects in several jurisdictions) and co-chairman of the Government Committee of Chicago’s Metropolitan Planning Council.  Drawing upon his extensive transactional, entrepreneurial and regulatory experience, he advises public, private and non-profit institutions on advocacy, compliance and capital investment issues. Fitzsimmons will head up NGPA’s Capital and Transactions practice.

“The link between public affairs and capital investment is changing dramatically. The two do not occur in a vacuum anymore. Too often comprehensive public affairs strategies for transactions that require both public and private resources are an afterthought, or used defensively in attempt to rescue failing or stalled deals,” said Fitzsimmons. “The ability to develop sophisticated advocacy campaigns, source capital and navigate complex transactions to completion truly is the next generation of public affairs.”
Additional details regarding NGPA, including full bios on the founding partners, can be found on the firm’s website at nextgenerationpublicaffairs.com.