Meet Nial Patel
Occupation: Senior Vice President
Organization: Cornerstone Government Affairs
BRAC Involvement: 2018 Business Development Advisory Committee, Legislative Advisory Committee, FuturePAC Board of Directors, SoLa Super Region Committee
What does your organization do?
Cornerstone is a full-service, bipartisan consulting firm specializing in federal and state government relations, public affairs, and strategic communications. Utilizing a shared vision, philosophy, and complete team approach, Cornerstone – with 75 professionals across 11 offices – stands as one of the industry’s most effective and respected public affairs firms. We are proud of our professional standards and team culture that provide clients the full depth and breadth of our expertise, experience and relationships, resulting in meaningful and highly valuable partnerships. At our core, we are a professional services consulting firm that focuses on solving problems and creating opportunities for our clients.
What are some advantages of being located/doing business in the Capital Region?
Business involves interaction and engagement with government policymakers, and since Baton Rouge is Louisiana’s capital city, our location affords us the opportunity to stay informed and engaged with legislators, executive branch officials, and organizations that influence these key decision makers.
Why did you decide to invest in BRAC?
Joining BRAC was an easy decision. We wanted to make a tangible impact in our community by investing our time and money in a group of professionals working to improve the region. BRAC’s diverse membership presents an opportunity for our firm to engage with other companies in business development.
What would you say to companies contemplating joining BRAC?
If you want to have your voice heard and make a positive difference in our community, no other organization has such a winning team with proven results.
What do you anticipate for your company in the next five years? For the Capital Region?
Over the next five years, our firm will grow from a personnel perspective and adapt to the always changing political climate in local, state, and federal government. Because our elected leaders change as terms end, ideas and political trends evolve such that we must be malleable but principled to best serve our clients. We look forward to what the future brings in Baton Rouge. BRAC is an investor-driven organization leading economic development in the nine-parish Baton Rouge Area. BRAC’s investor base includes small businesses, midsize firms, large industry and entrepreneurial startups, as well as other individuals and organizations.
Each month, BRAC highlights one of its investors in the Investor Spotlight. To learn more about becoming an investor, visit the Join BRAC page or schedule a meeting with BRAC’s Investor Development and Relations team.