MVA Public Affairs consists of attorneys and lobbyists as well as communications, media relations and event management professionals. Our group’s collective skills and knowledge allow us to offer a comprehensive approach to public affairs. From customized services to strategic campaigns, we help drive value and results for our clients.
Our team members’ previous experience includes senior executive, staff and counsel positions for:
Government affairs and communications for several prominent financial institutions and Fortune 50 companies
United States Senate and House of Representatives
North Carolina Speaker of the House of Representatives
North Carolina Department of Revenue
Charlotte Mayor
Charlotte City Manager
North Carolina Public Schools districts
Professional Hall of Fame athlete and champion
Our Team
-
Managing Director & Head of Public Affairs
Head of Moore & Van Allen’s Public Affairs practice group, Walter Price has over 20 years of professional, executive-level experience in public affairs and government relations at federal, state and local levels. Walter is particularly well-versed in strategic public affairs counsel, corporate reputation risk management, corporate image promotion among key stakeholders, and government relations grassroots and advocacy programs. Walter has served in similar roles for some of the nation’s largest financial institutions.
Walter works within Moore & Van Allen’s Public Affairs group to communicate clients’ positions at all levels of government in the Southeast and senior policymakers in Washington D.C.
Of Note
- PRSA Pegasus Award winner, 2018
- Selected to Charlotte Business Journal‘s “40 Under 40”, 2002
- Foundation of the Carolinas Impact Fund Graduate, 2001
State/Local:
- Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Foundation, Board Member
- 2021 President’s Cup at Quail Hollow, Executive Committee
- Charlotte 2020 Host Committee, Co-Chair
- Discovery Place, Board Member
- Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Board Member, 2010-Present
- Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee and Chairman, Public Policy Division, 2007-2009 & 2014-2017
- Boy Scouts of America, Mecklenburg County Council, Board Member
- 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, Government Relations Committee, Co-Chair
- Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Chairman, Washington Delegation Visits, 2003-2006
- The May 20th Society, Past Board Member
- Dilworth Little League, Past Board Member
- Child Care Resources, Past Board Member
- U.S. National Whitewater Center, Past Board Member
- Charlotte Regional Partnership, Past Board Member
- North Carolina Military Foundation, Past Board Member
- The Nature Conservancy – North Carolina Chapter, Past Board Member
- Eagle Scout, Mecklenburg County Council, 1989
National:
- American Bankers Association Legislative Advisory Committee, Past Chairman
- American Bankers Association National Bank PAC Board, Past Member
Education
- B.A., Davidson College
-
Member
Nancy Smith is a leading member of Moore & Van Allen’s Public Affairs team, where she delivers policy and legal counsel to her clients.
Nancy counsels clients on political activity and campaign finance matters. She has designed political participation strategies for clients combining legal and practical advice for effective engagement. She counsels on permissible activities for executives and organizations and compliance by political action committees under federal, state and local laws. Nancy advises clients on proper lobbying registration and reporting requirements and government ethics compliance.
Nancy has managed public policy campaigns in more than 30 states on complex environmental, energy, health care and business issues. She has executed strategic communication efforts and grassroots constituency-building campaigns and managed large educational and media events across the country to support policy initiatives.
Nancy also leads Moore & Van Allen’s Marketing Department.
Of Note
- Member, 1991 and 1992 National Championship Women’s Soccer Team, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Committee Member, Charlotte Latin School Parents’ Council on Diversity and Inclusion
- Volunteer Assistant Coach, Charlotte Latin girls’ varsity soccer team
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- North Carolina Bar Association
Education
- J.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
-
Director of Public Affairs & Special Projects
Maggie is director of public affairs and event management for Moore & Van Allen’s Public Affairs group. She brings nearly 18 years of project management and event implementation experience ranging from corporate events, public forums, seminars, and panels, to entertainment, hospitality and sponsorship. She has honed her skills with a variety of employers, including an international law firm, top ranked bank and an advertising agency.
With MVA Public Affairs, Maggie has planned and executed a variety of events ranging from public events at the grassroots level to events for corporate executives. Of note, Maggie has managed events announcing some of the largest economic development projects in the Carolinas, and she produced over 20 events in four days for the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.
From event conception to execution, she manages the entire process inclusive of recommendations on date, time, location, key invitees, format, security, vendor management, and VIP guest and speaker considerations. She also brings a broad public relations background with expertise in social media, writing, and project management.
Maggie brings a range of skills to projects and events, with attention to detail and organization and a focus on client service.
Professional Affiliations
- Charlotte Irish Association, Board Member
- Legal Marketing Association Steering Committee, Chair
- Junior Achievement, Action Board Executive Committee Member
- Girl Scouts Hornet’s Nest, Women of Distinction Committee Member
- “Vote Yes for School Bonds” Campaign, Committee Member
- Mitchell’s Fund, Member
- University of South Carolina Alumni Association, Member
- Junior League of Charlotte, Past Member
- Bechtler Museum of Art Young Visionaries, Past Member
Education
- B.A., University of South Carolina
-
Director of Public Affairs
Steven Allison serves as director of public affairs and brings over 10 years of grassroots and communications experience to the Moore & Van Allen Public Affairs practice group. He creates statewide outreach plans and leads effective grassroots campaigns, engaging local officials, community leaders, business groups, and other organizations to promote client objectives. Attentive to the Charlotte region’s economic development and political landscapes, Steven regularly attends public hearings and civic meetings, maintaining relationships with local leaders and influencers and offers analysis of current trends in the public sector.
Steven also works with the MVA Public Affairs team to provide clients with communications and public relations solutions including helping manage corporate events such as town hall meetings, groundbreakings, grand openings, and economic development announcements.
Before joining MVA, Steven served as a marketing communications consultant with a health care marketing company.
Affiliations
- Leadership Charlotte, Class 42 (2021)
- “Vote Yes for School Bonds” Campaign, Committee Member
- Encounter Charlotte, Spring Class 2017
- Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, Advocacy Committee, Member
- Sustain Charlotte, Member
- Learn to Ride, Volunteer
- Eagle Scout, Mecklenburg County Council
Education
- B.S., Appalachian State University
-
Counsel
Canaan Huie is a member of Moore & Van Allen’s Public Affairs team. A former general counsel for the North Carolina Department of Revenue, Canaan is an experienced public sector attorney with extensive knowledge of government interactions, the legislative process, agency management, and tax and economic policy.
While with the Department of Revenue, Canaan assumed primary responsibility for all legal matters affecting the Department. He advised Secretary David W. Hoyle and other senior Department management on overall operations, strategic focus, and issues related to tax policy and law. He specifically focused on developing policy with respect to emerging industries, and applying existing law to unique factual situations.
Prior to joining the Department of Revenue, Canaan worked at the North Carolina General Assembly for 12 years. He has extensive experience drafting legislation and managing the committee process. Canaan focused on tax and economic development and was heavily involved in the creation or modification of every major economic development program over the past decade. He was a recognized leader in this field and presented at several national conferences.
With Moore & Van Allen, Canaan concentrates on representing clients before the North Carolina General Assembly and various North Carolina state agencies. He also works closely with clients on compliance with laws and regulations with respect to campaign finance and government ethics.
Canaan has published articles on local sales tax distribution and transportation funding.
- Yours, Mine, and Ours: North Carolina Sales Tax Allocations, State Tax Notes
- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?, State Tax Notes
Of Note
- Triangle Business Journal “40 Under 40” winner for 2010
- Lawyers Weekly “In-House Leaders in the Law” winner for 2010
- Deacons Council, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church
- Chair, 2016
- Alliance of AIDS Services – Carolina
- Board of Directors, 2006-2010
- Chair, 2009-2010
- Vice-Chair, 2007-2009
- Equality North Carolina, Board of Directors, 2011-2012
- Equality North Carolina PAC, Board of Directors, 2011-2012
Education
- J.D., Duke University School of Law
- M.B.A., Duke University Fuqua School of Business
- B.S., Wake Forest University, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
-
Director of Public Affairs
Towers Mingledorff is director of public affairs for the Public Affairs practice group. Towers comes to the Public Affairs group from CLT Host 2020, Inc. where he served as Chief Operating Officer for the §501(c)(3) not-for-profit economic development organization that worked with leaders in Charlotte and throughout the region. Prior to CLT Host 2020, Inc., Towers held a variety of public policy roles at the federal and state levels within offices representing North Carolina.
Towers focused on agriculture, environmental, and natural resources policy when staffing the North Carolina Senate Committee on Appropriations on Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources; Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources Committee; Environmental Review Commission; and the Agriculture and Forestry Awareness Study Commission.
While staff to members of the North Carolina federal delegation in both the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate, Towers worked on a variety of issues. Areas of focus included agriculture, natural resources, economic development, education, telecommunications, housing, technology, intellectual property and monetary policy. He also supported constituencies in the areas of financial services, banking, and taxes; science; commerce, small business and entrepreneurship; manufacturing and exports; and appropriations, where he helped secure funding after the devastation of Hurricane Matthew.
EDUCATION
- B.A., The George Washington University
-
Director of Communications & Media Relations
Amy Murphy Curlis serves as director of communications and media relations for the Moore & Van Allen Public Affairs practice group. She is a senior strategic communications leader with a passion for making a long-term, significant impact. She has a strong comprehension of strategic planning and has continuously demonstrated success when advising CEOs, presidents, clients, boards, physician leaders and elected officials. Her career has spanned corporate communications, public policy, national and local thought leadership, issues management, media strategy, strategic marketing and brand positioning.
She has executive-level experience, having led large marketing, communications and community engagement teams for multi-state companies with more than 60,000 employees. Amy also has public relations agency experience, having provided strategic counsel and issues management for high-profile clients across the country. She has also led communications efforts for a national trade association in Washington, D.C. and worked for a Member of the United States Congress on Capitol Hill.
OF NOTE
- The Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Award, 2021
AFFILIATIONS
- Leadership North Carolina Class XXVI
- Board of Directors for the YWCA of Central Carolinas
EDUCATION
- B.A., Lambuth University
- M.A., The Johns Hopkins University
-
Director of Public Relations
Ashley Simmons serves as director of public relations for the Moore & Van Allen Public Affairs practice group. Ashley provides clients with senior level strategic communications and media relations counsel. She develops and manages public relations campaigns, crafts strategic messaging, arranges stakeholder meetings, plans for crisis communication needs and creates content for various communications channels.
Ashley brings over 10 years of communications and public sector leadership experience. Before joining MVA Public Affairs, she held communications roles with the City of Charlotte, where she led public relations and engagement efforts for the city manager’s office and mayor’s office. Prior to working in city government, Ashley held various communications positions for three North Carolina public school districts including Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools, Richmond County Schools and Durham Public Schools.
- Chair, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, PRSA Charlotte
- Member, PRSA Charlotte Board of Directors
- Member, Central Piedmont Community College Foundation Board of Directors
- Member, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Media and Journalism Alumni and Friends
EDUCATION
- B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- M.P.A., University of North Carolina at Pembroke
-
Director of Public Affairs
Bradford Sneeden, former legislative counsel to the North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and policy advisor to the Governor of North Carolina, is an attorney that brings over a decade of extensive policy and government affairs experience to his clients.
While with the Department of Justice, Bradford was responsible for representing the Attorney General’s legislative agenda, the Attorney General, and the Department of Justice before the North Carolina General Assembly. In his role as legislative counsel, Bradford successfully drafted and shepherded significant pieces of legislation through the North Carolina General Assembly. Bradford also was responsible for advising the Attorney General and the Department of Justice on legislative matters affecting key policy areas such as consumer protection, public safety, criminal justice, law enforcement training, the opioid crisis, and the national opioid settlement.
Prior to joining the Attorney General, Bradford clerked for the North Carolina Court of Appeals and was a policy advisor to the Governor of North Carolina.
As policy advisor to the Governor, Bradford developed policy proposals while initiating and overseeing working relationships with executive branch officials, agency directors, elected officials, legislative staff, business leaders, and community groups. In addition, he counseled the Governor on alignment of initiatives with the administration’s mission, goals, and priorities. His areas of policy focus were commerce, transportation, information technology, revenue, and education.
AFFILIATIONS
- Served as Legislative Counsel to the North Carolina Governor’s Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice
- Attorney General’s Representative as Member of North Carolina’s Child Fatality Task Force, 2019-2022
EDUCATION
- J.D., North Carolina University School of Law
- B.S., North Carolina State University
-
Creative Services Manager
-
Marketing Coordinator
-
Marketing Coordinator
-
Marketing Manager