Our People
Marianne Radcliff
Marianne Radcliff represents clients before the Commonwealth’s executive and legislative branch agencies, boards and commissions, as well as the Virginia General Assembly. Her practice centers on transportation, economic development, procurement, regulatory, and state budget issues.
Marianne has more than 25-years of private sector experience. While with the Commonwealth of Virginia she served in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation and as the Legislative Liaison for the Transportation Secretariat during the successive administrations of Governors George Allen and James S. Gilmore. Marianne also served in the Office of the Director at the Virginia Department of Aviation. During her tenure, she worked with federal, state and local legislative and regulatory officials to develop and further Virginia transportation policy.
In 2017 Governor-elect Ralph S. Northam appointed Marianne as the Director of his Transition and Chair of his Transition Committee. She worked pro bono from Election Day through Inauguration recruiting administration personnel and developing an initial policy agenda.
Marianne was appointed by Governor Ralph S. Northam to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in July 2019 and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Board of Directors in July 2020. She was appointed to Longwood University Board of Visitors in July 2011 by Governor Robert F. McDonnell and reappointed by Governor Terence R. McAuliffe. She served as rector of the board for two separate two-year terms. She served as the Vice-Chairman of the Virginia Aviation Board to which she was appointed by Governor Mark R. Warner in July 2003 and reappointed by Governor Timothy M. Kaine in July 2007. She has also served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations.
Marianne earned her Master of Public Administration degree with a specialization in public law from Bowling Green State University and is a graduate of Longwood University. She is a 1998 graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia.
Marianne has been to all 50 United States and all 13 Presidential Museums of the National Archives. She enjoys reading and listening to audiobooks, especially biographies. Marianne lives in Richmond with her husband Matthew and their rescue mutt, Skipper.
Fred Helm
Fred Helm’s practice focuses on lobbying the General Assembly and state government procurement. Fred provides successful procurement strategies in technology, health care, insurance, contracting and other areas. He advises clients concerning state agency priorities, the State Corporation Commission, regulatory matters, and effective business approaches.
He testifies before the General Assembly and communicates well with the executive branch, using strong relationships developed over 30 years of private sector experience. Fred served as an in-house legal and procurement counsel and lead lobbyist in a large state agency.
Prior to his state government practice, Fred was a commercial litigation attorney at a large law firm. He also served as a law clerk for a federal judge and as a legislative assistant to a member of Congress.
Fred served as Chair of the Lottery Board and formerly served on the Board of Directors of the National Council for Adoption. He is recognized in Virginia’s Legal Elite and Best Lawyers in Virginia. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Shenandoah University. Fred graduated from the University of Virginia and obtained his law degree from William & Mary. Fred lives in Richmond, VA with his wife and in his free time enjoys camping and fishing.
Michael Edwards
Mike Edwards has over 30-years of state and local government relations experience in Virginia. Mike has extensive experience in the state budget and finance issues as well as in transportation, public safety, and local government matters.
Prior to joining Kemper Consulting in 2010, Mike was Deputy Director of one of the largest associations in Virginia, the Virginia Association of Counties. He previously served as Deputy Executive Director of the Virginia Municipal League (the National League of Cities’ Virginia chapter). Mike also served as the Legislative Liaison for Arlington County.
Mike is a former member of the gubernatorial administrations of Baliles and Wilder where he served in the cabinet as a transportation policy assistant. Before joining the cabinet, he was the legislative aide to a former senior state Senator.
Mike assisted the gubernatorial transition teams of Governors Ralph S. Northam, Terence R. “Terry” McAuliffe, Timothy M. Kaine, Mark R. Warner, and L. Douglas Wilder. He previously was an adjunct professor of public policy at the College of William and Mary and is a graduate of the Virginia Executive Institute.
Mike received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Administration degrees from James Madison University. He is a former member of the Hanover County Community Services Board, and in his spare time follows the Baltimore Orioles, and plays a little golf.
Joel Andrus
Joel Andrus has over 20-years of state government relations experience and represents clients before the Virginia General Assembly, legislative and executive branch agencies and boards and commissions. Joel’s practice includes education, manufacturing, energy, and healthcare, including helping Kemper Consulting’s healthcare clients prepare applications and navigate Virginia’s Certificate of Public Need process.
Prior to joining the firm, Joel worked with the City of Suffolk Economic Development Department, where he mainly focused on new business development and retention in the downtown area. While with the City of Suffolk, he developed and implemented marking strategies for attracting new businesses, helped local businesses understand and take advantage of the Virginia Enterprise Zone, and acted as a liaison between downtown businesses and historic preservation societies.
Joel graduated with distinction from the Virginia Military Institute. Currently, he is active in the VMI Alumni Association, serving on the Board of Directors. He is also a 2010 graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, a 2015 graduate of LEAD Hampton Roads, and a 2016 graduate of the CIVIC Leadership Institute.
Martha Trapani
Martha Trapani provides clients with constant communication both during the General Assembly Session and during the interim. Martha provides regular legislative updates during the legislative session and routine event participation throughout the year. She also administers all firm-sponsored events and political contribution disbursements.
Martha manages all firm annual disclosures and registrations with the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council. Prior to joining Kemper Consulting, Martha served as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Norfolk Academy. She is a graduate of Randolph-Macon College, with a bachelor’s in English.
She is a lifelong resident of the 757 who enjoys skiing.
Emily O’Brion
Emily O’Brion has 20 years of state and federal government relations experience and represents clients before the Virginia General Assembly, legislative and executive branch agencies and boards and commissions. Her practice includes education, infrastructure and budgetary matters.
Prior to joining Kemper in 2021, she was the Director of Government Relations at Longwood University for six years, where she helped develop and advocate for the university’s budget, policy, and legislative priorities and served as Longwood’s liaison to the executive and legislative branches, state agencies, and congressional offices. She previously worked for McGuireWoods Consulting, advising clients on matters related to higher education, capital projects, and the state budget.
Emily began her career in Washington, DC, working in Arnold & Porter’s public policy and legislative practice group and for the American Hospital Association’s political affairs and grassroots advocacy team.
Emily graduated from Lafayette College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Law. A Pennsylvania native, she is an avid college basketball fan and is active in the PTA at her children’s Henrico County elementary school.
Ross Grogg
Ross Grogg has over fifteen years of state government experience in Virginia and represents clients before the Virginia General Assembly, legislative and executive branch agencies, boards, and commissions. His practice includes education, healthcare, alcohol, maritime, utilities, economic development, and budgetary issues. Ross also helps clients manage their political action committees including all necessary filings with the Virginia Department of Elections, the State Corporation Commission, the Federal Election Commission, and the Internal Revenue Service.
Ross started his full-time career in politics serving as Political Director on the successful state senate campaign for Jeff McWaters in 2009. In 2010 he was named to Aristotle’s Campaign Dream Team for his work on the McWaters campaign. Ross went on to serve as the Senator’s legislative aide and then campaign manager during his reelection in 2011.
A College of William and Mary graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Government, Ross also graduated from the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia and the CIVIC Leadership Institute. He is a New York native and a die-hard Rangers fan. Ross serves as Chair of the Virginia Public Access Project and lives in Richmond, VA with his wife and two kids.
