Mary Joanne Kripowicz

The culmination of MJ Capitol Consulting stems from Mary Jo Kripowicz’s deep Michigan roots and a government relations and public affairs career spanning more than two decades.

Mary Jo began her government relations career with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC). It is with both of these organizations that Mary Jo developed expertise in bringing the private sector and government together to work towards shared public policy goals.

Just four years after receiving her political science degree, Mary Jo became the director of government relations for the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce. Among other responsibilities, Mary Jo directed the annual Mackinac Leadership conference. By raising attendance 800% in just five years, her leadership helped transform the Mackinac Leadership conference into the “who’s who” political event it is today.

Following her experience at the Detroit Regional Chamber, Mary Jo joined Consumers Energy where she first served as assistant treasurer for the company’s foundation and community programs and later as the director of federal affairs. As the director of federal affairs, Mary Jo established energy coalitions and successfully lobbied Congress and the executive branch. Her success is best illustrated through the hundreds of millions of dollars she secured for Consumers Energy.

Knowing that her home is in Michigan, Mary Jo became the public affairs director for Consumers Energy, Southeast Michigan. Capitalizing on her coalition building experience, she managed local government affairs, community affairs and communications for Wayne, Macomb and Monroe counties.

With more than ten years of government relations experience with Consumers Energy, Mary Jo was tapped to be senior vice president for Strategic Federal Affairs – a Michigan-based federal lobbying firm. Here, Mary Jo lobbied Congress, managed governmental advocacy initiatives and funding strategies for clients with concentrations in healthcare, higher education, private companies and non-profits.

Today, Mary Jo Kripowicz is using her talents to found her own firm, MJ Capitol Consulting. Like Mary Jo, MJ Capitol Consulting is exclusively dedicated to furthering the interests of its Michigan clients by establishing agendas, securing federal dollars and providing a strong voice for advancing their policy concerns in Washington D.C.