Ann Aquillo

Ann Aquillo is a public policy expert with over twenty-five years of experience in developing government relations strategies that create competitive advantage for both the public and private sectors. Having served two governors (from different political parties) and over fifteen years leading corporate affairs for a highly regulated F1000 company, Ann is recognized for her expertise in helping organizations navigate the complex legislative and regulatory landscape, advocate for policy changes, mitigate risk and develop strategic solutions to adapt and thrive amidst the dynamic public policy environment. She also brings a deep background in board governance through her extensive experience serving on nonprofit, governor-appointed, and industry boards at the federal, state and local levels.

Currently, Ann is the Owner of Ann Aquillo Consulting, LLC, a boutique government relations firm where she provides counsel to businesses, business groups, federal and state trade associations and nonprofits on how to strategically advance the public policy objectives of their organizations. She advises on the strategy and implementation of advocacy plans, establishes consensus-building processes to achieve public policy goals for organizations and builds coalitions to support organizations and their policy objectives.

For the previous fifteen years, Ann was the Vice President of Corporate Affairs at The ScottsMiracle-Gro Company. During her tenure there, she built the company’s first dedicated approach to government relations. She built a team of managers and consultants in more than twenty states and ran an aggressive, hands-on approach to managing relationships with elected and appointed officials. Ann improved the company’s representation in DC and led the advocacy effort to successfully deregulate the company’s first federal application for a genetically modified turf product. Ann also professionalized the company’s Political Action Committee (PAC) operations and quadrupled participation by associates.

Ann’s work expanded several times during the course of her tenure at ScottsMiracle-Gro. When the company launched its subsidiary, she helped craft the initial legislative strategy for this effort. She assumed administration of The ScottsMiracle-Gro Foundation and oversaw more than twenty partnerships with national, state and local environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

Ann’s twelve year career in the public sector culminated in serving on the leadership teams for Ohio Governors Bob Taft and Ted Strickland. During her service with the government, she directed committees, led legislative initiatives for departments and the administration, and served as the liaison between the Governor’s Office and multiple business and regulatory agencies.

Ann has served on the boards of the national Household and Commercial Products Association, Responsible Industry for a Sound Government (Government Relations Chair) and Community Improvement Corporation of Union County. Appointed by Governor John Kasich to the Ohio State Dental Board, Ann was asked to serve to provide her public sector management expertise on the board’s operations and then led the effort to recruit and hire a new Executive Director for this state regulatory agency.

Ann received her Bachelor of Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude, from Mount Union College. She has completed The ScottsMiracle-Gro Company’s Accelerated Leadership Program at The Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. She is a graduate of the JoAnn Davidson Leadership Institute and the Public Affairs Council Executive Leadership Program.