Class of 18 Casey Nickel: Leveraging Connections

Leveraging Connections

Casey Nickel ’18 has a passion for public policy dating back to her high school days when she was a page in the Iowa Senate. And as a Culver Center Fellow at Simpson, she took advantage of abundant opportunities to gain invaluable exposure to the inner workings of national and state politics. That experience included serving as an intern in the Iowa State Senate and participating in the Harvard Institute of Politics National Campaign Conference.

Indeed, Simpson put her on the fast track to success.

“I was able to compete my undergrad degree in two and a half years while having multiple internships and being active in various extracurriculars,” said Nickel. “Graduating that quickly allowed me to get a head start on my career.”

After graduating from Simpson, Nickel moved to Washington, D.C., to work for U.S. Senator Joni Ernst. Upon returning to Iowa, she has worked at the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Nyemaster Goode Law Firm, where she assisted the firm’s government affairs practice as director of Nyemaster Strategies.

Life of Lobbying

After leaving Myemaster, Nickel founded Cupola Consulting, LLC, where she serves as president to provide lobbyists with a comprehensive legislative management package. The firm provides bill tracking and analysis, legislative communications, political action committee consulting, and political event planning to enable government affairs professionals with more tools to effectively advocate.

Cupola provides services to lobbying firms representing nearly 70 clients. Cupola also offers direct lobbying services, having partnered with the CWL Group to directly represent 29 clients. Nickel says Simpson made a huge difference in shaping the professional and person she is today.

“Simpson encouraged me to think outside the box and pursue additional opportunities outside the classroom. The people I met there helped me grow exponentially and develop the necessary skills and connections to be successful.”