The Ingram Group, a 28-year-old public affairs firm based in Nashville, announced that Kevin Botts joined the group as a Government Relations consultant and corporate strategist.
A Chattanooga native, Mr. Botts will serve as an integral part of the group’s lobbying team bringing over 15 years of experience in healthcare administration and finance. While Mr. Botts’ primary focus will be on government relations, he also brings significant depth to the firm’s strategic consulting practice.
This news follows the recent opening of a Washington, D.C., office, The FIRST Group. The word FIRST represents the partners in the DC office—all prominent former U.S. Senate chiefs of staff—Tom Ingram (former chief of staff to U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander), Bob Russell (former chief of staff to Senator Mark Pryor, D-Ar.), Kyle Simmons (former chief of staff to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.) and Bernie Toon (former chief to several U.S. senators including then-Senator and current Vice President Joe Biden, D-De., and Senator Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.). Together, they represent more than 60 years of top-level government experience on both sides of the political aisle and nearly 60 more years in the private sector. Among The FIRST Group’s many clients are Tennessee-based companies HCA and Eastman Chemical.
For the past three decades, The Ingram Group has provided businesses with unparalleled integrated strategic consulting services by helping clients solve problems and maximize opportunities in their markets. Tom Ingram, who first founded the firm in 1983, returned to the group in 2009 after serving a seven-year stint as Senator Lamar Alexander’s chief of staff. He continues to consult with Senator Alexander, along with other high profile clients such as Governor Bill Haslam, Senator Bob Corker, Gaylord Entertainment Co., Pilot Travel Centers LLC and National HealthCare Corporation.
Under the leadership of Mr. Ingram and Marcille Durham, a 25-year Ingram Group veteran, the firm recently made strategic additions to its team, reinforcing its position as the go-to firm in Tennessee for corporate consulting and government relations at the local, state and federal level.
“With key staff additions,” said Mr. Ingram, “The Ingram Group has not only enhanced our lobbying and strategic consulting capacity, but also added new skill sets and unique experience to our team.”
With the expansion of the firm’s government relations practice and the addition of Mr. Botts, Mr. Ingram said, “The Group’s ability to creatively and effectively advise our clients is stronger than ever.”