Dinsmore Fries Public Sector Advisors LLC
Dinsmore Fries Public Sector Advisors LLC, which is owned by Dinsmore & Shohl LLP and Tom Fries, Sr., is a comprehensive governmental and public sector consulting group specializing in vendor and advocacy representation throughout Ohio. The consulting group is located in Dinsmore & Shohl's Columbus office and provides the following services to clients:
- Advocacy & lobbying
- Vendor representation
- Political consulting
- Governmental relations
- Issue advocacy
- Communication and media relations
- Special activity and event planning
Dinsmore Fries Public Sector Advisors Team
Tom Fries, Sr.
President and Co-Owner
Columbus, OH
(614) 628-6937 | Phone
(614) 628-6890 | Fax
Tom Fries has been a public sector consultant since 1985 when he formed Tom Fries Associates following 14 years of service in the Ohio General Assembly's House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate. Mr. Fries focuses on vendor, agency and regulatory consulting with emphasis on advanced energy, healthcare, environmental issues and economic development at all levels of government. He has particular expertise in public and private sector synergies.
Mr. Fries left public service when he retired from the Ohio Senate in 1984. Prior to serving in the Senate, he was elected to and served six terms in the Ohio House of Representatives from the Dayton, Ohio (Montgomery County) area (1971 - 1983). While serving in the Ohio General Assembly, Mr. Fries chaired the Local Government (1973 - 1974), Natural Resources (1977 - 1978) and Financial Institutions (1979 - 1993) Committees and was Ohio House Majority Whip in 1975 and 1976. He spent his final two years in the Ohio Senate and was vice-chair of the Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee.
Pension fund reform, medical college creation, environmental safety and financial institution regulation and reform are examples of laws existing today as a result of his lead sponsorship. Governor Bob Taft appointed Mr. Fries to the board of the Ohio Building Authority in 2006, and he was most recently appointed to the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board by Governor Ted Strickland. He is also actively involved in philanthropic organizations such as the Children's Hunger Alliance, and the Columbus Baseball Club, all of which he serves on the boards. More recently, in August 2008, Mr. Fries was recognized by Governor Strickland for his business accomplishment, acumen, and leadership and inducted into The Executive Order of the Ohio Commodore.
Before entering public service, Mr. Fries was a Marketing Supervisor for Gulf Oil Corporation for five years and prior to that he played professional baseball for the Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins Baseball Clubs from 1960 to 1967.
Kari Hertel
Vice President
Columbus, OH
(614) 628-6938 | Phone
(614) 628-6890 | Fax
Kari B. Hertel spent 10 years in government service including for United States Senator George Voinovich and Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro and now consults and represents individuals and organizations on government contracting, economic development and administrative law.
After graduating from law and graduate school, Ms. Hertel clerked for the Honorable Judge Michael H. Watson. In 1998 she went to Washington DC and served as US Senator George Voinovich’s first legal counsel during the impeachment of President Clinton and managed the legislative issues of banking, insurance, securities, ethics and campaign finance. In 2000, she returned to Ohio and became Assistant Chief Legal Counsel to Auditor of State Jim Petro, and from 2002 to 2006 served as Senior Deputy Attorney General to Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro.
Since entering the private sector in late 2006, she has helped clients in both the legal and lobbying fields. She continues to practice in administrative, campaign finance and public contracts law, as well as advocating in both the legislative and executive branches on behalf of client interests. She serves on the City of Dublin’s Community Services Advisory Commission, is a volunteer at the YWCA and is active in the Thomas Elementary Parent/Teacher Organization.