Dawn Nicklas, Principal
Dawn has over 35 years with Missouri state government and association management. Dawn started her career working for a government relations firm that specialized in lobby and association management as a secretary to the Missouri Financial Services Association and the firms’ legislative bill tracker.
After starting a family, she began working as a legislative assistant to multiple state representatives. That work led her to accept a position for the late Governor Mel Carnahan in his Boards and Commissions Division and then later served as Legislative Director for the Assistant Majority Floor Leader in the Missouri House of Representatives.
In 2003, Dawn left state government to return to association management where she was the Manager of Legislative and Member Services for the Missouri Energy Development Association (MEDA).
As manager of legislative and member services, Dawn was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the associations’ fiscal obligations, including monitoring and lobbying issues relevant to MEDA. Other duties included the planning and executing of all board and committee meetings and hosting dinners and fundraisers with legislators.
During this time, Dawn served for two years on the Executive Board of Missouri Society of Association Executives, and was Vice Chair of membership. She is a graduate of Missouri Chamber of Commerce Leadership Missouri. Her notable civic activities include 2005 President (first and only female) of the Jefferson City Jays High School Football Boosters, past President of the North School PTO and past First Vice President of the Jefferson City Council of Clubs.
For 10 years she was an Associate with Burton-Liese Government Relations until leaving in 2013 to start her own firm. Dawn resides in Jefferson City.