The Gaston Group has achieved countless positive legislative outcomes for its clients.
Read a few of our success stories.
Virginia Peninsula Area Association of REALTORS® and the Williamsburg Area Association of REALTORS®
The Gaston Group worked closely with each of these associations, whose combined memberships exceeds 2,000, building support by mobilizing member engagement. Grassroots and grasstops support is essential in effecting trade association public policy and legislative affairs. The following results were achieved through lobbying:
- Enhanced community character and community investment in James City County
- Creation of a fair and property-owners focused rental inspection program in the City of Hampton
- Development of increased housing options and access to housing in the City of Newport News
Omega Protein Corporation
Omega Protein Corporation, a century-old nutritional product company headquartered in Reedville, Virginia, develops, produces and delivers healthy products throughout the world to improve the nutritional integrity of foods, dietary supplements and animal feeds. For many years, the company endured legislative and regulatory attempts aimed at reducing fishing operations. The Gaston Group built coalitions by aligning politically diverse demographics — corporate management with union and labor support — as both desired the same outcome. The strange political bedfellows along with the broad-based support from management, stockholders, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Manufacturers Association, Virginia Seafood Council, United Food and Commercial Workers Union and the AFL-CIO have become a powerful coalition, successful at supporting legislative efforts that preserve jobs and commercial operations.
Lennar Corporation/US Homes
The nation’s largest homebuilder, Lennar Corporation, is a client of The Gaston Group that benefitted from the company’s longtime relationships with state regulatory bodies that include the Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Real Estate Board to local regulatory bodies that range from planning commissions to wetlands boards and economic development authorities. The Gaston Group —in conjunction with Dominion Energy, Newport News Shipbuilding, the Chickahominy Tribe and Charles City County — led a broad coalition to successfully secure required approvals and permits from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to construct an electric transmission line and accompanying switching station. This effort spanned nearly seven years and achieved success from immense grassroots and grasstops actions, input from members of the General Assembly, local appointed and elected officials’ actions and a coordinated cohesive media strategy — all elements that The Gaston Group tailors to its clients.
