Mary F. Birch

As Lathrop & Gage’s government relations coordinator and chair of the firm’s government relations practice area, Mary Birch tracks issues and developments that may affect businesses on the local, state and national levels, and consults with clients as to how they may participate in the decision-making process. Ms. Birch also consults with clients who have obstacles in administrative and regulatory affairs.

During her time with the Chamber, Ms. Birch facilitated the government relations efforts for the organization and its members at the local, regional, state and federal level. She has established relationships with elected officials and staff at various levels and worked primarily in the area of strategic issue management.

Ms. Birch has nearly two decades of experience in government relations and consulting, particularly at the local level. From 1984 to 2002, she served as president of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce, where she directed efforts to attract an unprecedented level of business to the city. During her tenure, 62,000 jobs and 4,000 new companies were created in Overland Park. In 2002, she was named “Johnson Countian of the Year” by Johnson County Community College.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Government Relations
• Economic Development Packaging
• Issues Management
• Lathrop & Gage Federal PAC
• Community Involvement
• Political Intelligence/Involvement
• Strategic Planning Facilitation
• Special Projects
• Leadership Development & Training
• Business Development/Marketing

SPECIAL PROJECTS

• Facilitator Kansas City Tomorrow Leadership Program
• 1999 Kansas Transportation Plan
• Overland Park Convention Center
• Nordstrom to Oak Park Mall
• Sprint Campus
• Johnson County Education Research Triangle
• 2010 Kansas Transportation Plan

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Community Foundation of Johnson County, Vice Chair
• Johnson County Community College Foundation Board, Executive Committee/Treasurer
• KU Advancement Board, Chair-Elect
• KU Edwards Campus Business Advisory Board
• Shawnee Mission Committee for Excellence
• Local Chambers of Commerce
• United Community Services Board of Advisors
• Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Johnson County Council
• MOCSA Johnson County Advisory Council, Chair
• TLC Advisory Board
• Prairie Fire Museum Foundation Board

HONORS

• Pearl Award, Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri, 2012
• OPEDC Ben Craig Award, 2011
• R&D Magnet Award, Kansas Bioscience Organization, 2009
• Honorary Chair, Books & Boutiques Event, St. Luke’s South Foundation, 2009
• Kansas City Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business, 2006
• American Chamber of Commerce Executives’ Life Member Award, 2005
• Certified Chamber Executive, 1989 
• ACCE Chairman’s Award
• Rotary Distinguished Service Award
• Paul Harris Fellow
• Johnson Countian of the Year, 2002
• 2010 OPCVB “Ed Eilert Converge Award” Recipient

PREVIOUS AFFILIATIONS/INVOLVEMENT

• MOCSA Board of Directors
• Heart of America Boy Scouts Trailhead District Committee
• Chairman of City of Overland Park 50th Anniversary Celebration
• AIA Kansas City Board of Directors
• Speaking of Women's Health Committee
• American Chamber of Commerce Executives, chair
• Kansas Chamber of Commerce Executives, chair
• U.S. Chamber Institutes for Organization Management, chair
• Colorado Institute, chair
• Mid-America Regional Council Transportation Forecast Committee, chair
• Shawnee Mission School Superintendent Search Committee, chair
• Midwest Governor’s Conference, chair
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce, board member
• United Community Services, board member
• (Johnson) County Economic Research Institute, board member
• Union Station Assistance Corporation, board member
• Kansas Chamber of Commerce & Industry, board member
• Johnson County Enterprise Center, board member
• Johnson County Community Foundation, board member
• University of Kansas Edwards Campus Business Advisory Board, board member
• Overland Park Convention and Visitors Bureau, board member
• U.S. Chamber Local Chamber Committee, member
• Overland Park Rotary Club, member
• Kansas Industrial Developers Association, member
• SafeHome Board of Advisors, member
• Shawnee Mission Education Foundation, member
• Blue Valley Education Foundation, member
• Johnson County Chamber Presidents’ Council, member
• Governor’s 2000 Transportation Task Force, member
• Governor’s Insurance Advisory Task Force, member
• Highway 69 Association, member
• U.S. Chamber Institutes for Organization Management, instructor; courses taught: Government Relations 101, Advanced Government Relations, Future Trends in Chambers, Non-Dues Income, Community-Wide Visioning, Leadership Development Programs, Professional Ethics
• Safe Home Capital Campaign
• Candidate for Kansas Lt. Governor - 2002
• Community Foundation of Johnson County Board
• Johnson County Community College Foundation Board
• KU Advancement Board
• KU Edwards Campus Business Advisory Board
• Heart of America Boy Scouts Trailhead District Committee
• Shawnee Mission Committee for Excellence
• Several Local Chambers of Commerce
• KDOT Transportation Economic Impact Group

Prior to joining Lathrop & Gage, Ms. Birch served as an independent consultant to local and national chambers of commerce and other not-for-profit organizations.

Events