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Carol McGarah

2014 and 2023 Speaker

Host | Power Leaks: Communicating Effectively to Create Impact & Influence

CAROL MCGARAH is CEO of Blackridge, a Texas government relations firm. She has worked in the Texas political arena since 1991. Her extensive background, proven work ethic, and respected relationships position her as a valuable asset to companies, associations, individuals, and public entities needing governmental and regulatory counsel. McGarah is widely recognized as an expert in environmental policy and law, stemming from her work as the director of the powerful Senate Natural Resources Committee from 1991 through 2001. In this position, she gained valuable knowledge working on legislation involving air, water, waste, oil and gas, and agriculture. She was instrumental in the conception, development, and passage of groundbreaking water and air-emission legislation. Ten years of Capitol experience provided her the expertise necessary to successfully maneuver the nuanced legislative and regulatory process. Since starting her lobby career in 2001, McGarah has expanded her areas of expertise to include economic development, education, energy, finance, transportation, insurance, retail operations, municipal government, and real estate development. Often tapped to develop and lead strategic legislative and regulatory campaigns, McGarah brings a successful track record to her wide variety of clients.