A ROSS Consulting Partner, Marla Mathews brings a wealth of experience to the clients she serves. For nearly two decades, Marla has assisted a variety of clients in issue management, message development, media relations and coalition building. Grasstops and grassroots development, particularly in the health care arena, remains a specialty.
Before forming her own consultancy, m2 Strategies, she was a Senior Associate for ROSS Communications, where she assisted major associations and Fortune 50 companies in their public affairs efforts at the state level. In particular, Ms. Mathews led the charge for developing strategy and advocacy-based coalition building for several health care clients of the firm.
Prior to ROSS, Ms. Mathews served as an Account Supervisor in the Public Affairs and Corporate practice area in the Texas office of GCI Group, an international public relations firm, where she was responsible for managing its legislative accounts on behalf of one of the nation’s leading electronic funds transfer networks and a Fortune 50 global systems and services company, as well as providing strategic support for a number of the firm’s other clients. Additionally, she was responsible for a statewide launch of a new cancer drug by a leading pharmaceutical company.
Ms. Mathews also worked for several state and national elected officials, either in their official capacity or on their political campaigns. She worked for Antonio Garza, then-Texas Secretary of State and later Texas Railroad Commissioner, from 1997 until his appointment as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico in November of 2002. During Mr. Garza’s campaign for the Texas Railroad Commission, she assisted with fundraising and grassroots operations, and then continued to serve as a Special Assistant during his tenure as Texas Railroad Commissioner.
Ms. Mathews also worked for state Representative Mary Denny during the 75th Texas Legislative Session, as well as in the Surrogate Division of Dole for President in Washington, D.C., where she helped to coordinate speaking and media events for dignitaries and celebrities speaking on behalf of the campaign.
A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Ms. Mathews holds a bachelor’s degree in government with a minor in business administration.
