ROBERT P. HOUSTON, President Emeritus and Legislative Advocate, has 30 years experience in governmental affairs and lobbying. More specifically, Mr. Houston has thirty-eight years of business experience in Governmental Relations; purchasing; office management; and office service with Henry J. Kaiser’s Affiliated Companies. In his capacity with Henry J. Kaiser, Mr. Houston was responsible for developing, implementing and managing many ongoing programs and special projects for the various Kaiser entities. Mr. Houston has amassed a detailed working knowledge of the California State legislative, administrative, and regulatory processes and has interfaced with both the public and private sectors on a broad range of issues of interest to the manufacturing, mining, engineering, construction, transportation and industrial communities.
DOUGLAS D. HOUSTON, President and Legislative Advocate, represents a diverse list of resource related clients before the State Legislature and is recognized statewide as one of the principal spokespersons for local and regional parks in the state. He is the principal lobbyist for the California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS), the East Bay Regional Park District and a lobbyist for the Tahoe City Public Utility District, the County of Los Angeles, Marin County Parks and Open Space District, Sonoma County Regional Parks, and others. In his capacity as a lobbyist, Mr. Houston was the principal local parks advocate on Propositions 12 and 40 resource bonds and has an intimate knowledge of the funding provisions contained in these acts. In addition to his professional work, Mr. Houston also busies himself in the civic arena having served as park commissioner and planning commissioner for Placer County as well as an economic development commissioner for the City of Auburn. Mr. Houston also sits on the board of the Placer Land Trust.
BRUCE A. MAGNANI, Vice President and Legislative Advocate, joined Houston Magnani and Associates in November of 2005 after most recently serving as Legislative Advocate for the California Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Magnani has 15 years of government relations experience and specifically has expertise in environmental issues, including air quality, Prop 65, transportation and Prop 42. Additionally, Mr. Magnani has experience in public and private works of construction, government procurement, public real estate transactions and construction labor issues. Mr. Magnani has a unique insight into how state government operates which is attributable to the six years he worked as a Government Relations Specialist for the Department of General Services under the Wilson, Davis and Schwarzenegger administrations. In 2004 he was appointed to the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Advisory Committee on Environmental Justice as a business representative.
LAURIE J. HANSEN, Legislative Advocate, affiliated with Houston Magnani and Associates in 2002 after working throughout the western United States as the Government Affairs Director for the American Plastics Council for thirteen years. Ms. Hansen represents clients at both the state and local level – before the State Legislature and Regulatory agencies; and before city councils and municipal government. Hansen specializes in difficult issues framing on behalf of clients and develops comprehensive strategies that can include crisis issues management, public relations, communications and outreach, direct advocacy and grassroots activation. Her clients include national and state trade associations, plastic manufacturing corporations, building materials suppliers and product manufacturers, construction subcontractors, and retailers with such diverse interests as plastics, the environment, insurance liability and residential construction and trade issues. In addition to governmental affairs, Hansen also specializes in providing consulting services to companies exploring environmental opportunities at the state and local government levels. Prior to joining the American Plastics Council, Ms. Hansen worked with the California State Legislature, in senior positions with members of both the Senate and Assembly. She was also a lobbyist for the state’s top educational lobbying firm and participated as a lead staff member in a number of state and local elections and ballot initiatives.
LAURA L. COTTRELL, Executive Assistant and Office Manager, joined the firm in 1998after receiving her undergraduate degree from California State University, Sacramento. During her time at school, Ms. Cottrell was nominated for C.S.U., Sacramento’s faculty award for outstanding academic performance, was recognized by the National Scholarship Board for distinguished academic performance and graduated with honors. Aside from her academic credentials, while at school, Laura worked for Local Government Information Services and served as an intern for Assembly Member Virginia Strom-Martin and previous Attorney General, Dan Lungren. During her internships, Ms. Cottrell’s duties included attending bill hearings, tracking bills, writing press releases and answering constituent mail.