NEXUS - Key Persons
Brian began working in Missouri politics at the age of 19. He worked for a Jefferson City lobbying firm for three years while attending the University of Missouri. Upon graduation, he went to work for Matt Blunt's gubernatorial campaign. He then served Governor Blunt as Policy Director at the Department of Economic Development. He left the Blunt Administration at the end of 2007 to begin his lobbying career. He served as a Principal for ten years at the global law firm, Dentons.
In 2018 Brian co-founded Nexus Group - a full-service government affairs firm headquartered in Jefferson City.
Brian is one of the most sought after and accomplished lobbyists in Missouri. He specializes in quarterbacking large, complex lobbying initiatives that span all facets of the Legislative and Executive branches. He also has an expertise in the creation and implementation of tax incentives for business development, job creation, and infrastructure development.
Job Titles:
- Fellow, Harvard University, State and Local Government Executive 's Program
Job Titles:
- Award, Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Foundation / President 's Award, Southern Christian Leadership Conference ( SCLC )
Kate began working in politics at the age of 20 when she led grassroots advocacy and lobbying at a non-profit in Washington, DC while finishing her undergraduate degree. In 2002, Kate worked for a successful congressional campaign in Maryland. Following graduation, Kate went back to work lobbying in Washington, DC. In 2005, Kate left D.C. to join Teach for America in Saint Louis.
When she finished her commitment to Teach for America, Kate began lobbying in Jefferson City on education reform issues. In 2014, she joined a boutique lobbying firm where she began lobbying successfully for dozens of clients in multiple industries.
In 2018 Kate co-founded Nexus Group - a full-service government affairs firm headquartered in Jefferson City. Nexus Group is one of the State's most sought-after firms with a reputation for tackling some of the toughest legislative and administrative issues facing state government.
Kate is one of the premier lobbyists in Missouri. She has tremendous experience in negotiating complicated and controversial issues for multiple stakeholders. As a result of her background in public service and lobbying, Kate has relationships with key legislators and regulatory officials which help her maximum advantage in advocating for her clients' interests.
Kate has her Bachelor of Art in Communication with a minor in Political Science. She also has a master's in teaching from Webster University. She lives in the Central West End neighborhood in Saint Louis, MO with her husband Martin and daughter Sophia.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Chairman of the Missouri Public Service Commission
- Commissioner of Administration
Kelvin has more than 25 years of experience in local and state government at the highest levels. Among the highlights of Kelvin's distinguished career in state government are appointments by three different Missouri Governors (Carnahan, Holden and Nixon) to some of the most prestigious cabinet positions and state posts. He served as Chairman and Commissioner of the Missouri Public Service Commission, Director of the Department of Economic Development and Commissioner of Administration in the Office of Administration. Kelvin was unanimously confirmed by the Missouri Senate on three separate occasions. He also served as a senior staff member in the Governor's Office.
At the local level, Kelvin was twice elected to the City Council in Kansas City, Missouri.
On the national stage, Kelvin served as a Missouri state political director for a successful national Presidential re-election campaign (Clinton) and served as a campaign director for a successful Congressional re-election campaign (Wheat).
Outside of government, Kelvin was a vice-president at Swope Health Services; the largest Federally Qualified Health Care Center (FQHC) in Missouri and Kansas. He was also President and CEO of Swope Community Builders; one of the largest Community Development Corporations in Missouri.
In 2012, Kelvin left state government to join the Global law firm Dentons where he served as a Principal in the Firm. At Dentons, Kelvin worked in the Public Policy and Regulation practice group where he specialized in Government relations, procurement development and lobbying services.
In 2018, Kelvin co-founded the Nexus Group - a full-service government affairs firm headquartered in Jefferson City.
Today, Kelvin focuses on local and state government procurement, M/WBE guidance and compliance, economic development incentives, regulatory compliance and government relations. His advice and counsel are highly sought after by some of the largest corporations, companies and organizations in the United States.
As Commissioner of Administration, Kelvin had executive branch oversight responsibility for the state's $23B and $5B ARRA budget (2009-2012). The state maintained a AAA credit rating every year during his tenure. Kelvin also had statutory and executive responsibility for the oversight of the state's procurement/contracts, accounting, real-estate, personnel, information technology & telecommunications, and general services divisions.
Rodney has a distinguished history of legal, public policy advisory and governmental relations consulting experience. He began his career two decades ago as a legislative assistant in the Missouri General Assembly, went on to serve as a clerk for the Missouri Supreme Court and spent twelve years as a partner in the Public Policy and Regulation's practice at Dentons, the world's largest law firm. He currently serves in a Senior Counsel capacity at Dentons.
In 2018 Rodney co-founded Nexus Group - a full-service government affairs firm headquartered in Jefferson City.
Rodney currently represents numerous private, public and nonprofit sector clients as their outside public policy counsel, government relations advisor, registered state lobbyist and legal public procurement consultant. He assists his clients with development and implementation regarding enactment or defeat of legislation or regulatory policies affecting their industries. He assists numerous clients with the procurement or retention of state and local government contracts. He helps clients develop meaningful diversity and equity initiatives, build and maintain strategic governmental relationships with elected official, lawmakers and state and local bureaucratic employees. He has an in-depth understanding of municipal government needs and policies as they interact at the state level. Rodney has extensive experience as a consultant in Missouri, Illinois and Texas. He also provides his services in various other cities and states.
Rodney regularly provides pro bono governmental relations consultation for various nonprofit organizations in the St. Louis region. In addition, he serves on a number of non-profit boards and commissions, including: State Historical Society of Missouri, The St. Louis Police Foundation, The St. Louis Art Museum Board of Trustees and Forest Park Forever Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Economic Development Advisor
Sallie began her career with the Missouri Department of Economic Development in 1993 assisting communities with their recovery from the Mississippi and Missouri River flooding that affected much of the Midwest. She spent 25 years at DED, working both small and large projects across the State in both urban and rural communities. Her work included negotiating the State's participation in business development attraction and existing business expansion; public infrastructure and community facilities; redevelopment- including historic preservation, downtown revitalization and brownfield remediation; and a variety of community service projects.
Sallie managed the Division of Business and Community Services, which housed many of the state's economic development programs. Her oversight of those programs allowed her to become proficient in their use and she became a valued partner to Missouri communities who were tackling complex finance issues with their development projects.
In December of 2018, Sallie left the Department and officially retired from State government. That move allowed her to re-join her former fellow employees (Brian Grace and Kelvin Simmons) and her former work colleagues (Kate Casas and Rodney Boyd) at Nexus to assist clientele with their development needs.
A native of St. Louis, Sallie is a proud graduate of the University of Colorado in Boulder. She resides on a small beef cattle farm in western Missouri.