Lobbyit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Industry | Federal lobbying |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Paul Kanitra |
| Headquarters | 430 New Jersey Ave, SE, Washington, DC |
| Website | www |
Lobbyit is a bipartisan lobbying firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded as a one-man shop in 2009 by company president Paul Kanitra.[1] By 2014, Lobbyit had grown to seven employees and projected $1 million in annual revenue.[1] The firm is known for its pricing structure, which is “unique”[2] among DC lobbying firms: it offers its clients set monthly prices based on a tier system with retainers that are much lower than traditional lobbying firms and month-to-month contracts.[1][3][4]
Lobbyit was founded in 2009 by Paul Kanitra, who began his lobbying career working on behalf of the Associated Locksmiths of America and the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.[2] He later moved onto governmental relations at Carfax, where he worked for five years until deciding to open his own lobbying firm.[2][5]
In 2013, Lobbyit partnered with Salsa Labs, the developers of an online-based organization software platform to offer clients new grassroots advocacy options. With the partnership finalized, Lobbyit announced that it would be rolling out its new Tier 4 service, which combined Lobbyit's lobbying services with Salsa Labs’ advocacy platform.[6] Later that year, Lobbyit was featured in a Voice of America China video report entitled “China: Democracy in America: Right to Petition” that examined the federal lobbying industry and its role in American democracy.[2][7]
In 2014, Lobbyit was one of InTheCapital's annual 50 on Fire, which “celebrates visionary individuals and companies across DC's top industries.”[8] Corporate Vision Magazine named Lobbyit Best Lobbying Firm & Government Affairs Consultancy in the United States.[9][10]
Operations
Unlike many other federal lobbying firms which charge tens of thousands of dollars monthly for their services, Lobbyit charges lower prices and offers month-to-month contracts.[3][11] In 2014, its most expensive service offering cost $4,999 monthly and all of its clients paid less than $60,000 per year.[1] Company founder and president Kanitra has said the inspiration for the company's pricing structure came from companies such as McDonald's, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.com.[5]
Staff
- Paul Kanitra, founder and president
- Max Perkins, senior vice president
- Jason Ortega, vice president
- Justin Lewis, government relations manager