OUR STORY
Capitol Information Affiliates (CIA) is the premier Legislative Monitoring, Governmental Consulting, Lobbying, and Change Management company in Columbia, South Carolina. With a combined total of 80 years of legislative experience, 60 years of lobbying experience, and dozens of satisfied clients, we’re committed to providing you with the most fluid trip through the maze that is state and local government.
​
Julie Cox left her position, as Senior Research/Budget Analyst with the SC House Ways and Means Committee, in 1989 to start a new business, Lobbyist Resource Service (LRS). Cox created LRS to act as an information conduit between the legislature, lobbyists, businesses and trade associations. LRS had three basic service components: direct legislative lobbying, on-site legislative monitoring, and researching & drafting legislation and budget amendments. With expertise in business, finance, taxation, health and Medicaid, Cox’s main client focus was with the state appropriations process.
​
Wendy Holmquist left her position as Director of Research for the Joint Legislative Governors Committee on Mental Health and Mental Retardation, in 1990 to join Cox and expand LRS into a broad-based legislative/public relations firm called Capitol Information Affiliates (CIA). Holmquist added a new layer of expertise in public relations, communications, insurance and the judiciary.
Cox and Holmquist utilized the talents of an IT specialist to create a state-of-the-art computerized legislative reporting system. This system has been upgraded repeatedly to maintain its premier reporting status, and has allowed an additional level of legislative monitoring for businesses, trade associations, state agencies and lobbyists.
​
By combining their talents, soliciting IT expertise, and adding additional staff as needed, CIA expanded to provide more direct legislative lobbying, two levels of legislative monitoring, in-depth legislative and legal research, association management, grassroots education and management and event planning. While CIA has expanded in size and areas of expertise, the founding partners maintain their primary goal: To tailor services to meet the individual client need by providing the most honest, accurate and dependable information and services to all CIA clients. CIA has garnered and maintained legislative contacts from the staff level to elected officials. CIA has lobbied successfully through the leadership transitions in the House and Senate and through four governors. CIA’s successful legislative lobbying record is a testament to the integrity and honesty displayed by the staff.
​
CIA has partnered with other lobbying organizations, law firms and individual lobbyists to achieve legislative results. CIA maintains an open-door policy with other lobbyists and groups, and is willing to combine talents and create coalitions as well as represent a business or group independently.
CIA utilizes the expertise of former legislative staff and others to provide total legislative coverage in monitoring legislative activities. CIA has grown from a 2-man operation in 1989 to a multi-staff, multi-functional business that provides an array of legislative services tailored to meet specific client needs. CIA proudly boasts of its presence at the State House from the time the gavels sound to open the Session the first Tuesday of January through the final Sine Die adjournment.
OUR TEAM
Julie Cox
Julie Cox is a founding partner of Capitol Information Affiliates. Prior to Capitol Information Affiliates, Julie was a Senior Research Analyst for the South Carolina House Ways and Means Committee. Julie is a registered lobbyist and lobbies members of the General Assembly, the Governor’s Office and various state agencies. She has an extensive background in taxation, environmental issues, regulatory and judicial matters. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with post-graduate study in economics. Julie served as an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina where she taught association management. She is a member of Church of the Good Shepherd where she served as Secretary of the Vestry, and is an active member of the Flower Guild and the Altar Guild, and Daughters of the King. Julie serves a member of Boykin Spaniel Rescue Board of Directors.
​
William Bowers
William Bowers is a lobbyist at Capitol Information Affiliates. He is a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in agriculture and business. A native of Columbia, SC he has deep roots in the community and state. He has extensive background in farming with an emphasis in wildlife and land management. His goal to provide top level research, develop plans and implement calls to action through legislative lobbying for clients. He is an active member at Church of the Apostles where he serves as an usher. In his spare time William enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his wife and Boykin Spaniel.