PRESENT POSITION:  Lara Laneri Keel has over a decade of experience in and around the Texas Capitol.  Mrs. Keel has been with the Texas Lobby Group (Named #1 Top Lobby Team by the Texas Lobby Power Rankings by Capitol Inside in 2007) since its inception, representing interests of clients before state legislators, regulators, and Texas policy makers. (78th, 79th, 80th Session)

IMMEDIATE PAST POSITIONS: 

Former Lobbyist for the state’s largest business group, The Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce (TABCC).  Experience includes lobbying the Texas Legislature, Executive and State agencies, as well as U.S. Congress on critical employer issues.   As a Government Affairs Director, Lara directed TABCC’s Health Partners Task Force, a three-tiered campaign involving grassroots, communications and coalition building, as well as legislative activity and lobbying. (77th Session)

Texas Senate (75th and 76th Session)

Policy Analyst - Senate Interim Committee on Home Health and Assisted Living

Texas Senate Legislative Assistant - Healthcare and Insurance Issues

        Conference Committee Legislative Assistant for State Senator - General Appropriations Act-

        Lead Legislative Assistant for State Senator - Sunset Agency Review

74th Session

Special Projects Manager/Government Relations - Texas HMO Association

73rd Session

Government Relations Assistant - Texas Association of Realtors

EDUCATION:

B.A. in Political Science, Minor in History – Texas Tech University (1993)

Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Psi Chapter

CIVIC ACTIVITIES & ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS:

• “Rising Lobby Star to Watch” - Texas Lobby Power Rankings by Capitol Inside (2006, 2007)
• Board Member - Texas Conservative Coalition (2007-present)
• Board  Member - Texas Association of Business (2003- present)
• Texas Women’s Alliance (2005)
• Executive Committee Member - Texas Association of Business (2004)
• Member  - Professional Advocacy Association of Texas (2003 to present)
• Power Pipeline , A Leadership Texas Program (1999)
• Founder and Volunteer  - Grinch’s Gala (1994 – 2005)
• Volunteer  - Texans for Todd Staples (1995)
• Volunteer  - Texans for Rick Perry (1994)

Policy Initiatives and Agency Workgroups:

"Texas State Planning Grant” - Texas Department of Insurance.  (2002).           

"Making an Impact:  Reforming Health Care Services in Texas” - Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute, LIFT Task Force on Health and Human Services. (1999 and 2001).

"E-Texas Commission Report” - State Comptrollers Office.  (2000).

Long Term Care Planning Committee - Department of Human Services. (1999).

Newspaper and Magazine Comments about Lara Laneri Keel

• “A longtime politico in her own right, who, when she married, took one of the most recognizable names in Austin politics.” Pete Slover and Robert Garrett, Dallas Morning News, May 5, 2005.

• “Lara has worked every aspect of healthcare legislation and will be a positive asset to TABCC.  She knows the politics, the process and the issues that will make her very effective in promoting the TABCC message.”  Fort Worth Mayor and former State Senator Mike Moncrief, Texas Business Report, October 2000. 

• “The new firm (Texas Lobby Group) hired lobbyist Lara Laneri Keel away from the Texas Association of Business (TAB).”  Andrew Wheat, Texas Observer, October 2004.

• “In September 2000, lobbyist Lara Laneri Keel married John Keel, director of the Legislative Budget Board – the chief numbers czar for state budget writers…. Then she joined a powerhouse lobby firm, the Texas Lobby Group.”  Pete Slover and Robert Garrett, Dallas Morning News, May 5, 2005.

• “Lara Laneri Keel – a former Texas Association of Business governmental affairs manager who was an aide to Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief when he was a state senator- has been part of the group led by Mike Toomey and Bill Messer before she joined them in the new Texas Capitol Group.  Keel’s husband is State Auditor John Keel – the former executive director of the Legislative Budget Board”.  Capitol Inside, January 31, 2006.

• “Heading the list in 2004 was the Texas Lobby Group, a collection of four heavy hitters”.  Texas Observer, April 2005.