Message From the President
 

In 1986, two prominent Lansing lobbyists teamed up to create what would become one of the most successful multi-client lobbying firms in Michigan.  Ellen Hoekstra and Darrell Tennis formed Capitol Services, Inc. with an eye toward providing greater access to state government for organizations that – at that time – were often left out of the process.  Our earliest clients included small to medium-sized labor unions, not-for-profit organizations and professional associations who needed representation but who could not afford full-time, in-house legislative representation.  

Fast forward to 2016, and both the legislative landscape and Capitol Services have changed.  While we still hold true to our original mission of providing top-notch service to clients who might otherwise be shut out of the process, we have also grown to represent clients – both non-profit and for-profit – who collectively advocate on behalf of hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents.  Capitol Services is no longer a “niche” firm, and we count ourselves among the very best Lansing’s lobby corps has to offer.

We are proud that as we celebrate our 30th year, we still represent several clients who have been with us from the very beginning.  These include the Amalgamated Transit Union, the Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association, AFT - Michigan, and the Michigan State Utility Workers Council.  We have over a dozen clients whom we have represented for over 20 years, demonstrating our commitment to quality service and long-term relationships. 

As we look ahead, we hope to build on the solid foundation created by our founders and all those who have touched Capitol Services over the years.  We could not be more grateful that, after 30 years, the principles we were founded upon – integrity, hard work and trust – continue to help us grow and adapt to an ever changing political landscape.  

Here is to another 30 years!

Todd Tennis, President
Capitol Services, Inc.

Capitol Services, Inc. 30th Anniversary Charitable Giving Initiative

April 28th, 2016

All of us at Capitol Service, Inc. are proud and grateful to be a part of a business celebrating 30 years! As part of our year-long celebration, we are contributing to a select number of charities that speak to our firm’s mission and to our staff. Our first is the Michigan American Legion’s Heroes to Hometowns program.

Today, Capitol Services, Inc. is proud to donate to the Michigan American Legion Foundation's Heroes to Hometowns program. This program helps service members who are severely injured by finding secure housing, assisting with home or vehicle adaptations to accommodate their injuries, accessing counseling, and connecting with other community and family support.

There is an ever-growing need to "do something" for our veterans; especially those who come home with permanent injuries as a result of their service and sacrifice. A "thank you" is always welcome, but sometimes feels inadequate. The Heroes to Hometowns program gets to the very core of thanking our injured service members in meaningful ways: from building a sense of belonging and community to helping them live with and cope with their injuries. Our best thanks is to help make someone whole again.

You can find information about the Heroes to Hometowns program here, and all of the other - and many - wonderful programs the Michigan American Legion Foundation supports here.

CAPITOL SERVICES, Inc. 30TH ANNIVERSARY CHARITABLE GIVING INITIATIVE

July 26th, 2016

All of us at Capitol Service, Inc. are proud and grateful to be a part of a business celebrating 30 years! As part of our year-long celebration, we are contributing to a select number of charities that speak to our firm’s mission and to our staff. Our second charity is Crossing Water, a collaborative organization working with multiple community-based groups, churches, and community residents of Flint, MI, and a legion of volunteers from around the state, to ensure that ALL residents have access to safe drinking water, information on how to access and utilize resources available to them, and access to medical care.

Crossing Water has launched a new model for emergency response and crisis-intervention by deploying interdisciplinary units of social workers, EMTs, RNs, plumbers and other technicians, called “Rapid Response Service Teams” (RRST), to the hardest hit and most under-served neighborhoods and communities in Flint to ensure that the most vulnerable individuals and families get the critical assistance and relief they need in the shortest period of time possible.

To address the broad lack of information sharing, Crossing Water created over 22 billboards on display throughout the Flint area in English and Spanish, as well as PSAs for local radio and TV stations, and distributed 15,000 flyers in low-income neighborhoods to educate people about lead contamination and available resources.

Thanks to our client and friend, Allan Wachendorfer, LLMSW, Director of Public Policy for the National Association of Social Workers – Michigan Chapter, for bringing the folks at Crossing Water to our attention. As Allan says: “I can’t think of anyone more deserving right now. Crossing Water is a dedicated group of social worker volunteers doing true social ‘work’ in the Flint community in a time of dire need. When times got tough, they didn’t back down. When the news cameras went away, they stayed. To this day they are providing a level of service unmatched by anyone else.

To learn more about opportunities to help in the Flint crisis through Crossing Water, go to: http://crossingwater.org/#home

October 15, 2016

All of us at Capitol Services, Inc. are proud and grateful to be a part of a business celebrating 30 years!  As part of our year-long celebration, we are contributing to a select number of charities that speak to our firm’s mission and to our staff.  Our 3rd quarter charity is Save A Heart.  Save A Heart supports patients and families at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Congenital Heart Center, an international referral center for children with complex heart disease.

Save A Heart was formed by physicians at Mott to help families deal with the burdens of long-term and frequent hospital stays.  It helps with expenses not covered during hospital visits like travel, lodging and other needs.  In addition, it provides a Child Life Specialist position to help children emotionally prepare for surgery and other invasive procedures.  Save A Heart also provides funding for research.  Finally, it pays for heart kids to go to a special summer camp just for them, along with the biannual “We Got the Beat” Congenital Heart Center Reunion.

Congenital Heart Disease is the most common birth defect, affecting 1 in 110 live births, and it has challenged members of the Capitol Services, Inc. family.  We have chosen Save A Heart because we understand firsthand the challenges and difficulties that come with a broken heart; the sleepless nights, worry, and fear can be overwhelming.  We also understand how amazing these children and adults are; the courage, fight, and the will to live are inspiring and humbling.  Now we have an opportunity to give back and help those families who struggle with travel from all over our state and the world enjoy the best care available.  Now we can help researchers find new therapies and procedures.  Now we can help a kid go to camp and meet others who struggle daily with machines, prescriptions, therapy, and worry; and they can just be kids.  Watching a child struggle and suffer is hard enough, and it is even harder when parents have to worry about missing work, insurance coverage, travel expenses and other financial hardships.  Save A Heart is there to help share and lighten these burdens, and we are there to help Save A Heart.

To learn how you can support Save A Heart, please click here:  http://friends.umich.edu/site/TR?fr_id=1180&pg=entry

To learn more about the C.S. Mott Congenital Heart Center, please click here:  http://www.mottchildren.org/conditions-treatments/ped-heart