WHO WE ARE

Mapes & Mapes, Inc. was founded in 1950 by M.L.”Bud” Mapes, Louisiana’s first registered lobbyist. With Bud Mapes’ passing in 2005, his son, Joseph A. Mapes assumed the role as lead of the firm. The goal of the firm is to continue a legacy of experience, integrity, and ethics to create business and political opportunities for all its clients. The firm accomplishes these goals with their vast knowledge of the political, governmental, and legislative processes. Within that framework, the individual partners of the firm build and maintain strong relationships with key people attached to these processes.

MAPES & MAPES TEAM

Joseph A. Mapes, President

Joe Mapes is serving his 38th year as a Louisiana lobbyist having been elected President of Mapes & Mapes, Inc. in January of 1995 to succeed M.L. “Bud” Mapes. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Mapes is a Louisiana State University graduate. For the greater part of his life, Mapes has worked, in some capacity, in every Louisiana session since 1974 totaling over 100 legislative sessions in which Mapes has worked to draft legislation, lobby legislators and administrators, partner with other governmental relations firms, as well as work with Governors and their staff.

Mapes is married to the former Sandy Altazan of Port Allen, Louisiana, and has two beautiful step-daughters, Bilee Yelverton and Brittany Morvant, and six grandchildren Lennon, Grant, Luke, Andrew, William, and Crawford. Mapes and his wife are members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Brusly, Louisiana.

Sandy Mapes, Partner

Sandy Mapes founded the Louisiana Salon Owners Association in 1980. Her passion for the industry ultimately led to her becoming its President and lobbyist. Soon after, her interest for the Louisiana legislative process led to her career as a lobbyist. With her lobbying career spanning over 32 years, her experience as a business owner and entrepreneur has made Mrs. Mapes Louisiana’s most effective female lobbyist. This diverse background led to Mrs. Mapes’ participation in Louisiana’s political process and her affiliation with Mapes & Mapes where she remains as an integral part of the company.

George Sutton, Partner

George Sutton is the third partner of Mapes & Mapes, Inc. Sutton came to Louisiana from Tylertown, Mississippi in 1957 after a four year stint in the US Navy. He was quickly noticed by BellSouth who promoted him to Executive Director of Governmental Affairs in Louisiana. In 1995, after 30 years helping to shape the Louisiana telecommunications industry, George retired to pursue an independent consulting career. He is a principle in his own firm, G E Sutton & Associates, Inc. as well as an associate in the Mapes & Mapes firm.

Bilee Yelverton, Director of Communications

Bilee Yelverton is a recent addition to the Mapes & Mapes firm. Ms. Yelverton graduated from Louisiana State University in 2009. She has since been working with a Mapes & Mapes client, the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians, as the Membership Coordinator and Legislative Affairs liaison. Bilee is committed to the clients represented by Mapes & Mapes as well as the firm; she will prove to be a great asset to the team.

There are several principles that anchor Mapes & Mapes and provide for the firm’s effectiveness and great success. Honesty is the cornerstone principle on top of which all else is built. Diversity in its team approach is another key principle. Mapes & Mapes has had this diversity since its inception and will always maintain such diversity. Legislators and administrators trust the firm of Mapes & Mapes. Combined with the knowledge and integrity of the firm’s client base, a formula emerges. Here Mapes personnel organize political and governmental chaos. This allows Mapes clients’ voices to be heard to ultimately help shape policy that regulates their industry.

WHO WE SERVE

We strive to be a strategic partner with our clients by leveraging our expertise and experience to provide innovative, responsive solutions:

 Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Inc.

 The Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

 AT&T

 Entergy

 Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians

 Louisiana Ophthalmology Association

 Luxottica Group

 Louisiana Finance Association

 ACA International, The Association of Credit & Collection Professionals

 Louisiana Assessor’s Association

 Louisiana Life Safety & Security Association

 Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance Companies

 Louisiana Academy of Physicians Assistants

 This Week in Louisiana Agriculture

 NOBRA River Pilots

 Morrison Surveying, Inc.

 Catalyst Rx

 Citizens Commission on Human Rights Texas

 Louisiana Medical Clinic

 Friendly Builders

 YOUR NAME HERE 

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What we do at Mapes & Mapes

M.L. “Bud” Mapes was the father of Joe Mapes, the current owner and principal consultant for Mapes & Mapes, Inc. Born July 8, 1930 in Ozark, Missouri, Bud served his country in the Korean War from January 1951 until March 1955, then moved to Baton Rouge and began a distinguished 50-year career as the first registered lobbyist of Louisiana. Often referred to as the “Dean of Louisiana Lobbyists,” Bud Mapes worked with eight Louisiana governors during his career, beginning with Earl Long and ending with Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. Some of the clients he was proud to have represented included the Louisiana Farm Bureau, Southwestern Lumberman’s Association, Louisiana Finance Association, 3M Company, Entergy, Cole-National Corp., Louisiana Retailers Association, Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association and Louisiana Building Material Dealers Association.

Mr. Mapes founded Mapes & Associates which later became Mapes & Mapes, Inc. under the guidance of his son, Joe Mapes. Bud, who never retired, worked diligently for the people of Louisiana until his passing on December 1, 2005 and always practiced the motto, “What is the right thing to do?” It is this legacy which Joe Mapes and the professionals at Mapes and Mapes are proud to continue in their lobbying efforts today.

So valuable were Bud Mapes’ contributions to the state of Louisiana as a lobbyist and businessman, that the Louisiana Legislature drafted and passed two resolutions recognizing him: one to commend and congratulate his 50 years of work and the other to honor him on his passing.