Patrick D. McWhorter is President and Owner of The
McWhorter Group, Incorporated, an Alabama based consulting firm representing
numerous state and national clients.
McWhorter has developed unique experience in both direct lobbying and
management of retained lobbyists at all levels of government, as well as
expertise in coalition building, development and operation of grassroots
programs.
He was named Southeastern Regional Manager for the
National Association of Independent Insurers in 1987, after staging his own
campaign for State Treasurer in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He was
responsible for opening a regional office and managing governmental affairs in
seven southeastern states for the member companies of NAII. In 1989, Mr. McWhorter joined the Tobacco
Institute, the trade association of major tobacco manufacturers. He held
progressively more responsible positions, the last being Southeastern Regional
Vice President. With the Tobacco Institute, McWhorter directed a comprehensive
governmental relations program including coordination of industry support
coalitions with an annual budget exceeding $500,000 per year. He analyzed,
planned and implemented a comprehensive strategic lobbying campaign that
resulted in the highly successful avoidance of restrictive and expensive taxes.
McWhorter was selected to direct a highly controversial lobbying effort in
California that involved intensive local government and business coalitions
contact and coordination, which successfully deferred or defeated numerous city
and county smoking bans, most notably the City of Los Angeles.
McWhorter organized grassroots support for two
successful gubernatorial campaigns and a number of other highly successful
political efforts. As Assistant
Insurance Commissioner, McWhorter had advisory responsibility for all state
regulatory procedures and a $3.2 million annual agency budget, chaired the
State Admissions Committee, direct responsibility for the Department’s
legislative package.
Mr. McWhorter also has direct experience in building
and managing a small business. He owned and managed two small financial service
companies with annual revenues exceeding $1.5 million. He coordinated marketing efforts for a major
excess and surplus lines insurance group, with annual writings of over $4
million. Education was obtained at the
University of Kentucky in Lexington and Samford University in Birmingham,
Alabama with an emphasis on business marketing.
McWhorter resides in Montgomery, Alabama with his
wife Natalie and three children: Dyer (1990), Carter (1992), and Hollan
(1996). He is an active member of
Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church.