Margaret Vaughn

Margaret Vaughn's career was recently featured on the front page of the Chicago Tribune, which named her their "Remarkable Woman" and dubbed her the "Professional Persuader" for her effective track record in passing over 90 state laws in the brutal world of Illinois politics.  

After a brief stint interning for the House of Representatives and Senate staffs and finding herself out of work after an election, at the age of 25, Margaret defied the odds and launched her own lobbying firm in an industry dominated by 50 year old men. 

Margaret has gone on to represent over a diverse client base of over 30 different industries and professions including including: 

• Association of Surgical Technologists
• Chicago and Downstate Roofing Contractors Association 
• Illinois Association of Agriculutral Fairs
• Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants
• Illinois Council of Code Officials 
• Illinois Firefighters Association 
• Illinois State Auctioneers Association 
• Illinois State Dental Society
• Genetic Task Force of Illinois
• Outdoor Amusement Business Association 
• Thompson Elevator Inspections, Inc.

She also serves as Executive Director of the Illinois Rural Health Association as well as the Illinois Coalition of Community Blood Centers and Illinois Surgical Assistant Association, both of which she founded. 

Hightlights of Margaret's legislative accomplishments include the following:

• Passed legislation to require all cigarettes sold in Illinois to be self-extinguishing
• Restoried full funding for Cornerstone Program, which trains 13,000 firefighters annually;
• Obtained $5 million in state funds earmarked to medically underserved areas of the state;
• Passrd legislation which granted physician assistants prescriptive authority in Illinois;•
• Passed mental health parity legislation
•  Passed legislation to license electrologists
•  Passed legislation to license the fireworks industry;
• Passed legislation making the Illinois the first state in the nation to regulate surgical assistants and surgical technologists;
• Passed legislation which created the Arsonist Registration Act;
• Saved the Fire Prevention Fund from a $20 million raid;
• Passed legislation to require the sale of self-extinguishing cigarettes in Illinois;
• Passed legislation to require fire sprinklers in all Illinois dorms and Greek Housing;
• Passed legislation to license tattoo and body piercing establishments by the state;
• Passed legislation to completely overhaul the Elevator Safety and Regulation Act.

Margaret testifies on a regular basis at legislative hearings and press conferences and has been a keynote speaker at national conferences, state conventions and universities. 

Let Margaret enlighten your audience on the profression of lobbying which few understand but yet impacts our everyday lives. Learn the effective strategies Margaret has used to overcome obstacles and turn her dream job into a rewarding career. Margaret Vaughn is available for professional speaking engagements on the following topics:

• Team Building Persuasion Workshops
• Insider Look at how Lobbyists Shape Policies (that Impact Your Everyday Life)
• Selling Complex Concepts in Laymen's Terms
• Effective Lobbying Tips to use in your everyday life
• How to Succeed in a Male Dominated Industry
• Succeeding in Business As A Single Mom 

Margaret holds a Bachelor's Degree from Millikin Univeristy in Political Science and a Master's Degree in Political Studies from the University of Illinois. She studied politics in Ireland at the University College of Galway under Michael D. Higgins, who is the current president of Ireland. She is a single mom to two boys who were adopted from Eastern Europe.