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ALL Announces First Recipients of Professional Lobbying Certificate

November 16, 2006, Alexandria, VA  - At its annual meeting earlier this week, the American League of Lobbyists awarded its first Professional Lobbyist Certificates (PLC). The Lobbying Certificate Program is the first of its kind and is designed to help lobbyists continue their education and training in a profession that is constantly changing.

To survive and succeed in Washington's complex political environment, a lobbyist must have a comprehensive understanding of all the laws and rules governing how lobbyists operate in our system of government. ALL's comprehensive and challenging LCP, developed in consultation with some of Washington's top lobbyists, delivers the body of knowledge and skills every lobbyist needs to work more effectively in the national policy-making arena.

"I am extremely pleased with our first-year success with the LCP. Eight individuals completed the program this year and over 300 people have taken one or more sessions," stated Paul Miller, Presient of the American League of Lobbyists.

ALL's LCP is a strong program that fills the current void in continuing education for lobbyists. It will set the standard for all lobbyists in the future. ALL believes firms, associations, and corporations will begin to look at potential employees to see if they have achieved an LCP before hiring them. The program requirements are six mandatory sessions and nine electives. Detailed information on ALL's LCP can be found at http://www.alldc.org/certificate/index.cfm.

"I always believed that filling out a few forms each year should not be the standard we live by in our profession. We needed a higher goal and the League has created the standard that I hope all lobbyists will strive to achieve. We will become a stronger profession if we all have PLC after our names," added Miller.

Through this certificate program, we can provide more continuing education and resources to those entering the lobbying profession. "This first class has set the bar and it is my hope that all associations, firms and corporations will eventually require their lobbyists to attend the certificate program," concluded Miller.

2006 PLC Recipients

• Robin Angle, Senior Associate, Capital Partnerships (VA), Inc.
• Ken Butler, Senior Principal, Capital Partnerships (VA) Inc.
• Laura Dennis, Gov't Relations Specialist, National Court Reporters
• John Gifft, Manager, Governmental & Regulatory Affairs, Rockwell Collins
• Peter Grollman, Senior Associate, IKON Public Affairs
• Amanda Kadilak, Associate, Capital Partnerships (VA), Inc.
• Wayne McOwen, Senior Vice President, GUARD Financial Group
• Paul A. Miller, Partner, Miller/Wenhold Capital Strategies, LLC

ABOUT THE AMERICAN LEAGUE OF LOBBYISTS: For the past 26 years, the mission of the American League of Lobbyists has been to enhance the development of professionalism, competence and high ethical standards for advocates in the public policy arena; collectively address challenges which affect the first amendment right to "petition the government for redress of grievances," and promote ethical lobbying through the ALL Lobbying Code of Ethics. Membership, which currently stands at over 800, is available to governmental affairs professionals working at the federal, state, or local level.