Bolton becomes Cox’s Director of Public Affairs

BCox Communications has announced Michelle Bolton as its new director of public affairs for Cox Phoenix. Bolton will develop and coordinate the company’s Arizona legislative strategy and manage the Cox government relations team’s day-to-day interaction with local and state agencies. She’ll also direct and manage Cox’s social media engagement on public affairs issues.

Before coming to Cox, Bolton served as vice president of public affairs and economic development for the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. As principle public policy advocate and legislative spokesperson for Arizona’s largest chamber, she advanced the political agenda of the organization at the state and local levels.  She also managed the Chamber’s Super PAC and built and executed its business retention and expansion programs to promoting economic development efforts in the Greater Phoenix region.

“Michelle has been an influential government affairs advocate and well-respected professional at the Arizona State Legislature, in Arizona state government and on the local scene for the past 13 years. We are very excited to have Michelle join our team!” said Susan Anable, Cox vice president of public affairs southwest region.

Bolton also spent 10 years as Arizona state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, where she was the bridge between the organization’s 10,000 small business members and lawmakers, state agencies and the community. Her work with legislators and stakeholders led to meaningful legislation in health care, regulatory reform and unemployment insurance reform.

Her 17-year career in legislative affairs includes grassroots efforts on behalf of the American Land Title Association; strategy, fundraising and media planning for the Associated Builders and Contractors; two years as government affairs director for the REALTORS Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh (PA); and a year as an aide to U.S. Representative (and later Senator) Rick Santorum.

Bolton is a graduate of Arizona State University and earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Arizona.