Cornerstone Expands South Carolina Team with Addition of Mark Harmon

COLUMBIA, SC-Cornerstone Government Affairs, an employee-owned, bipartisan government relations, public affairs and consulting firm, announced Thursday the addition of Mark Harmon to the firm's Columbia, South Carolina office. Harmon brings over 20 years of government affairs experience, with a proven track record in public policy and business lobbying efforts.

Prior to joining Cornerstone, Harmon served as Principal at The Harmon Consulting Group, LLC, where he provided contractual lobbying and consulting services by representing multiple clients before the legislative and executive branches of the South Carolina state government. Previously, Harmon worked at Maynard Nexsen, PC, formerly Nexsen Pruet, LLC, as Government Affairs Advisor, also providing contractual lobbying and consulting services at the state level.

"We are thrilled to welcome Mark to our South Carolina team," Cornerstone President Campbell Kaufman said. "Mark brings a wealth of experience and expertise that will be instrumental as we continue to expand our business and service our clients in Columbia."

Before shifting to contract lobbying and consulting, Harmon served as Executive Director of the America Petroleum Institute of South Carolina, advocating on behalf of the oil and natural gas industry before the state and federal government. In this role, Harmon also coordinated with state agencies to ensure oil and natural gas operators were able to get products into high-demand areas during hurricanes and natural disasters. Additionally, Harmon cultivated relationships with several of the state's Historically Black Colleges and Universities to promote STEM opportunities in oil and gas.

Prior to his work with the American Petroleum Institute, Harmon served as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy for the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Harmon represented the state's business community and led an internal team responsible for generating the Chamber's public policy agenda, implementation strategy and social media outreach.

Before his time with the Chamber of Commerce, Harmon served as the Executive Director of the South Carolina Senate Republican Caucus, where he organized campaigns, led ethics compliance and financial accounting and acted as liaison between Caucus supporters and senators to ensure all parties' interests were represented. As part of this role, Harmon served as the day-to-day policy advisor to Senate Republican Caucus members and organized legislative session events and annual retreats for members and contributors. During his tenure, the Caucus gained seats and expanded its majority.

"I'm delighted and honored to join Cornerstone's growing team in South Carolina," Harmon said. "I look forward to contributing my skills and expertise to the firm and working alongside these dedicated professionals to ensure successful outcomes for our clients."

In South Carolina, Harmon joins Daniel Boan, who launched the firm's presence in the statein August 2024.

Harmon received his Bachelor of Science in Ceramic and Materials Engineering from Clemson University.