Margaret Angela Franklin

Margaret brings considerable experience to her role with Michael Best Strategies. Prior to joining Strategies, Margaret served as Vice President at Fulcrum Public Affairs. Within this role, Margaret managed a diverse range of clients in industries including financial services and healthcare. She developed bipartisan relationships, particularly with Congressional offices sitting on the House Financial Services Committee, and provided financial services clients insight on the congressional landscape, schedule, and key hearings in the Senate Banking Committee and the House Financial Services Committee.

Margaret’s Expertise: Legislative Affairs, Community Outreach, Government Relations, Public Affairs, and Finance

Additionally, Margaret played a key role in securing speaking opportunities for clients, connecting them with platforms such as the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, Urban One Media, and the Congressional HBCU Caucus.

In her previous role as Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Al Lawson (D-FL), Margaret crafted legislative strategies for a freshman office. She introduced 14 bills, including three bipartisan, within just eight months. Additionally, Margaret managed Congressman Lawson’s financial services portfolio and played a pivotal role in launching the “Let’s Feed America” Campaign, addressing hunger and food insecurity within Florida’s 5th District and beyond, resulting in over 20 measures and initiatives.

ADDITIONAL KEY EXPERIENCE

During her time as Acting Legislative Director for U.S. Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D-NC), Margaret oversaw the financial services and small business portfolio, introducing legislative bills aimed at supporting small businesses, minority contractors, women-owned businesses, and small business incubators.

Margaret also served as a Legislative Assistant where she handled a diverse range of legislative portfolios including financial services, small business, housing, and economic development. She played a key role in supporting the Congresswoman across three committees and authored impactful bills, such as the Veteran Small Business Tax Credit Act of 2015 and the Small and Disadvantaged Business Enhancement Act of 2016.

Earlier, Margaret worked as a Legislative Aide for Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY) where she managed a legislative portfolio and made significant contributions to the Senator’s legislative efforts through research, analysis, and bill tracking.

In November 2019, Margaret made history by becoming the first African American woman to be elected to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. Throughout her time in office, she held several positions, including serving as the Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chair of the VRE Operations Board, Chair of PRTC/OmniRide, and Chair of the Economic and Workforce Development Committee for the Virginia Association of Counties.

EDUCATION

• Howard University, Master of Public Administration
• University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Bachelor of Science – Political Science