Our Team.
Marie Sanderson
Marie Sanderson is currently Founding Principal of Cardinal Group Policy, a policy entity that works with policy makers, think tanks, candidates, and elected officials across the country; Founding Partner of GuidePost Strategies, a federal government affairs firm; Founding Partner of Pathway Public Affairs, a bipartisan network of communications and public affairs experts; a Senior Advisor and Partner at IMGE, a full service digital marketing agency; and a Partner at 50 State, LLC, a bipartisan, strategic state-based government relations firm. In 2020, Marie co-founded N2 America, an organization committed to promoting and supporting center-right policies and ideas that better the lives of suburban Americans.
In 2017, in addition to her professional roles, Marie was “Sherpa” for USUN Ambassador Nikki Haley, an unpaid position with the US Presidential Transition, preparing and guiding the current Ambassador for her nomination to be confirmed by the US Senate.
Marie was Policy Director for the Republican Governors Association (RGA) and the Republican Governors Public Policy Committee (RGPPC) for five years facilitating and advocating for best practices and good policy in both state and federal policy to governors, candidates, their staff, think tanks, Congress, the Administration, and other political organizations.
In January 2006, Marie began working for Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour as a policy and budget advisor and Director of Federal Policy. Prior to her role in the state, served United States Senator and Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran in 2003 in Washington, DC, where she served as a Legislative Assistant and Deputy Press Secretary.
Marie graduated summa cum laude from Mississippi State University. In 2002, she was awarded a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship to Brisbane, Australia, where she obtained her MBA from the University of Queensland. Marie has served as Executive Director of Bully Bloc, the Political Action Committee (PAC) advocating for Mississippi State University, as well as on several boards. Marie is PTO President of her children’s school and currently serves on the board of directors of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi and the board of the Mississippi Arts Commission, an appointment by Governor Phil Bryant.
She and her husband Brian founded the MS 30 Day Fund in 2020 which provides forgivable small business loans to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Brian and Marie have two sons and one daughter.