Bernard Reynolds

Contract Lobbying Firm

• Executed comprehensive lobbying strategies at local, state, and federal levels
• Specialized in legislative advocacy and regulatory affairs
• Designed and implemented effective grassroots campaigns and strategic initiatives
• Facilitated coalition building and managed stakeholder relationships
• Crafted compelling media messaging and position statements
• Provided expert workforce development consulting services
• Represented client interests before the Tennessee legislature and regulatory agencies (2013-2015)
• Managed trade association operations and member services
• Cultivated strong stakeholder relationships to build trust, enhance collaboration, and advance shared objectives

Georgia Electric Membership Corporations

• Leveraged a powerful grassroots network of 4+ million members across 42 Georgia Electric Membership Corporations to achieve strategic legislative and regulatory objectives
• Conducted educational outreach to legislators and regulatory officials on EMC operations, impact, and priorities
• Performed comprehensive legislative monitoring with detailed verbal and written analysis of policies affecting EMCs
• Orchestrated coordinated advocacy campaigns to influence state and federal legislation and regulatory decisions

Georgia Department of Community Affairs

• Spearheaded engagement initiatives across all 159 counties and 550+ cities throughout Georgia
• Served as chief legislative liaison representing DCA interests before the Georgia General Assembly
• Collaborated with lawmakers to design and implement state incentives enhancing Georgia's economic development landscape
• Cultivated strategic partnerships between public and private sectors to maximize community impact
• Directed the Office of Community Services and managed statewide AmeriCorps program operations
• Appointed as Executive Director of the Governor's Georgia Rural Development Council
• Coordinated Appalachian Regional Commission activities with complementary rural development initiatives across Georgia
• Executed large-scale leadership conferences and events with 500+ attendees
• Organized and facilitated legislative education sessions to promote awareness of DCA resources available to communities

Service Resources

• Led comprehensive monitoring, analysis, and reporting on complex federal and state regulatory frameworks affecting electric and gas utility operations
• Identified emerging industry trends and compliance requirements to position the organization ahead of regulatory shifts
• Chaired cross-functional task forces to develop and execute strategic action plans addressing critical business challenges
• Orchestrated implementation of strategic initiatives with measurable performance metrics and accountability frameworks
• Directed the development of sophisticated customer communication strategies for service changes and rate adjustments
• Created targeted messaging to diverse stakeholder audiences explaining technical, andregulatory impacts
• Served as subject matter expert on regulatory matters for executive leadership and operational teams
• Built collaborative relationships with regulatory agencies and industry associations to influence policy development
• Prepared and delivered executive-level presentations on regulatory impacts and strategic responses
• Facilitated regulatory compliance training for operational departments to ensure adherence to changing requirements
• Coordinated Appalachian Regional Commission activities with complementary rural development initiatives across Georgia
• Executed large-scale leadership conferences and events with 500+ attendees
• Organized and facilitated legislative education sessions to promote awareness of DCA resources available to communities

Political Affairs and Strategic Advocacy - Southern Company

• Spearheaded PAC membership expansion through targeted educational initiatives that directly advanced corporate public policy priorities
• Designed and implemented comprehensive training programs for division PAC coordinators to maximize engagement and effectiveness
• Orchestrated the strategic marketing and cross-subsidiary training for Southern Company's Governmental Resource System across four state operations (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi)
• Administered all aspects of Southern Company's Political Action Committee, ensuring rigorous compliance with federal election regulations and reporting requirements
• Conducted regular compliance audits and implemented best practices in political contribution management
• Provided strategic counsel to Southern Company employees on critical infrastructure planning projects to enhance long-term electric reliability throughout the Southeast region
• Developed project evaluation frameworks to align initiatives with regulatory requirements and company objectives
• Led the coordination of Integrated Resource Plan witness preparation and training for Georgia Power Resource Policy and Planning teams
• Created simulation scenarios and facilitated mock hearings to strengthen testimony effectiveness in regulatory proceedings
• Established measurement protocols to evaluate advocacy program effectiveness and return on investment

Legislative Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement - Georgia Power

• Conceptualized and executed high-impact legislative events, including comprehensive tours of power generation facilities and critical operations centers for key policymakers
• Designed strategic facility demonstrations highlighting technological innovations and infrastructure investments
• Maintained sophisticated tracking systems for state and federal legislation with potential financial implications for company operations
• Conducted in-depth financial impact analyses of proposed regulations and presented actionable intelligence to executive leadership
• Authored comprehensive legislative briefings identifying risks, opportunities, and strategic response recommendations
• Led Georgia Power's extensive grassroots advocacy network comprising employees, retirees, and influential community leaders
• Developed targeted mobilization campaigns to advance critical legislative priorities through strategic constituent engagement
• Created advocacy training curriculum and digital toolkits to maximize grassroots effectiveness
• Cultivated relationships with elected officials and regulatory stakeholders to enhance policy outcomes
• Established performance metrics to evaluate advocacy program effectiveness and optimize resource allocation