Anne Schaeffer Joins Mac Strategies Group as Director of Government Relations

CHICAGO, Jan. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Mac Strategies Group, a twenty-five time, award-winning strategic communications, public affairs and government relations firm, announced today that Anne Schaeffer has joined the firm as the Director of Government Relations. Schaeffer most recently managed a multi-state government affairs practice for a global Fortune 500 company but first honed her skills as a senior member of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's legislative and political team for more than a decade. In that capacity, Schaeffer served as the go-to staff person on a wide range of issues and high-profile projects, including directing the House's 2011 redistricting efforts.

Schaeffer joins former State Senate Republican Deputy Leader Matt Murphy in the firm's government affairs practice, expanding the agency's scope and demonstrating a strong, bipartisan reach for existing and future clients.

"Anne's breadth of experience in both the private sector and managing some of the state's most complex public policy issues as a senior member of Speaker Madigan's team prepares her well to represent our clients at the state Capitol," said Ryan McLaughlin, president and CEO, Mac Strategies Group. "As the House's point person during the 2011 redistricting process, Anne brings a wealth of knowledge to our clients that's matched only by her reputation as a thoughtful, measured and experienced professional."

Schaeffer most recently worked at Anheuser-Busch, where she managed multi-state government affairs. There, she advised senior leaders on legislative risks and opportunities, negotiated legislation to protect market strategies, earned regulatory approval for new products and route-to-market innovations, as well as built public awareness for the company's local engagement, environmental sustainability, and alcohol responsibility efforts. She also served as one of twelve members of the Women in Beer steering committee at the company's national headquarters.

In her eleven years working as a senior legislative staff member for the Speaker, Schaeffer was the go-to staff person on a wide range of issues and high-profile projects. She directed the state's 2011 redistricting project for the House, where she managed intense public scrutiny and complex technological tools to deliver a legislative map designed to appeal to divergent stakeholders and withstand legal scrutiny. Schaeffer also consulted lawmakers on strategic policy positions, tailored legislative agendas and built support for Democratic caucus initiatives. In addition, she crafted all types of communications for leaders to engage media, stakeholders and constituents in districts across the state and political spectrum.

In 2015, she was named "Best Legislative Campaign Staffer" by Capitol Fax, receiving the political blog's coveted "Golden Horseshoe Award." As an experienced campaign operative, Anne held primary on-the-ground responsibility for all campaign activities for nine hotly contested state representative elections in diverse regions of the state, including fundraising, messaging, organizing, and crisis response.

Mac Strategies Group continues its expansion of expert personnel representing clients. In the fall of last year, the communications division of the firm hired Monique Garcia as its Vice President of Public and Media Relations bolstering the firm's bench of top tier communications personnel.

About Mac Strategies Group
Mac Strategies Group is an award-winning, full-service strategic communications, public affairs and government relations firm with offices in Chicago and Springfield, Illinois.  Our clients include Fortune 100 companies, issue-advocacy coalitions, trade associations, units of government, public policy organizations, and non-profits seeking to enhance their profile and impact public opinion on the local, state and federal levels. Our team is bolstered by our combined experience having served in a variety of high-profile roles in governmental, public affairs and the media arenas, including positions inside newsrooms, the state legislature, Capitol Hill and prominent trade associations.

SOURCE Mac Strategies Group