A pair of solo lobbyists announced plans this week to team up and form a joint venture called Waypoint Strategies. According to a press release, the duo of Greg Black and Brian Jogerst have more than four decades of combined government affairs experience. The new venture is billed as “a full-service governmental consulting firm that offers personalized, expert lobbying solutions throughout state and local governments in Florida and assists clients with management of their U.S. multistate portfolios.”

“Brian and I have worked together, and against each other, on issues for a number of years,” said Black. “After many legislative battles, we both realized we enjoyed that collaboration and our skill-set and work styles complemented each other. It was the perfect synergy and natural next step for our firms.”

According to the release, the new firm “maintains an impressive client-base representing Fortune 500 companies and major associations with clients from the agriculture, health, technology, transportation, and business sectors.”

The announcement was made just a week before the kickoff of the 2020 Legislative Session in Tallahassee. The session is expected to last 60 days, and will culminate in the finalization of a state budget that will likely top $91 billion before it is sent to Governor Ron DeSantis for line-item review and approval. With that much money on the line, lobbying efforts typically don’t end until the governor has released his veto list in the months following session.

“We will continue to remain client-focused and provide that same excellent level of service our clients of 20+ years have enjoyed,” said Jogerst. “This collaboration allows us to combine our relationships and substantive knowledge to ensure we exceed our clients’ core needs and goals through a smart political and legislative strategy.”

Prior to forming Waypoint Strategies, Black founded Black Consulting after over a decade of experience in state government affairs in Florida with two statewide associations and within both a mid- and large-sized government relations firm. Jogerst was the Founder and President of BH & Associates and began his legislative career shortly after graduating from high school within the Florida Capitol and began his lobbying career in 1992 with the Florida Hospital Association before launching his own lobbying practice.