6-26-2025 The Morning Meeting with Lisa Dodge and Allison Lawlor

The Morning Meeting is Groundwork Ohio’s virtual platform to engage, mobilize, and inform advocates for young children in Ohio. Whether you’re a policy-maker, community leader, or parent—The Morning Meeting is your space to grow Ohio’s commitment to young children. This Morning's Meeting features Lisa Dodge and Allison Lawlor from The Statehouse Impact Group with a post-budget season analysis.

Lisa Dodge has been a valued member of Statehouse Impact Group since 2005. She is known throughout Ohio as a guru on state budgeting and finance. Clients rely on Lisa to guide their interests through the high-stakes state budget process. Similarly, clients look to her for insight and counsel on procurement opportunities.

Prior to joining Statehouse Impact Group, Lisa served as President of the State Controlling Board and Deputy Director of the Office of Budget and Management. The State Controlling Board provides legislative oversight over certain capital and operating expenditures by state agencies – including all large unbid state contracts – and has approval authority over other state fiscal activities. Her experience there makes her an industry expert on state procurement matters. Additionally, as Deputy Director at OBM, Lisa worked extensively on the state capital and operating budgets.

From January 1999 to November 2001, Lisa played a pivotal role in the Taft administration as Director of Legislative Affairs for Ohio Governor Bob Taft. In this position, she oversaw and managed the Governor’s legislative department and advocated on behalf of the Governor’s views and legislative agenda to members of the General Assembly and their staff, along with agency directors and personnel. Additionally, she provided strategic counsel and support to the Governor and his staff on the status and intent of pending legislation.

Lisa was Director of Government Affairs for the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) from 1994 to 1999, and was involved with advocacy and representation on behalf of Ohio’s hospitals. She developed public policy positions, wrote testimony and talking points for hospital members interested in communicating with the Administration, General Assembly, and Congress, and provided legislative briefings to OHA committees and external organizations. Lisa’s professional career also includes positions as a Legislative Aide to a State Senate Finance Chairman and Legislative Services Commission fellow.

Lisa received her Bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University with a double major in Politics and Government and Sociology/Anthropology. She serves as an Advisory Board member for the Children's Hunger Alliance. In addition, Lisa was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine to serve as a public member of the Ohio Speech and Hearing Professionals Board.

Allison Lawlor joined Statehouse Impact Group in March 2021, after serving as a Senior Legislative Aide in the Ohio Senate to Senator Andrew Brenner, Chair of the Primary and Secondary Education Committee. This experience gave Allison a deep education policy background, which she deploys on behalf of the firm's K-12 and higher education clients.

Prior to her time in the Ohio Senate, Allison served as a Legislative Aide in the Ohio House of Representatives, both for then-State Representative Brenner and former State Representative Margaret Conditt. In both roles, she managed their respective offices, assisted in developing legislation, and clerked the Education and Career Readiness Committee. Working for two very different legislators has given her insight into the unique experiences and goals each member has upon entering the Ohio Legislature. Having experienced both legislative processes in the Ohio House and Senate, Allison is acutely aware of the benefits and challenges each chamber presents.

Allison received a bachelor's degree in Linguistics from the Miami University in 2015. She is an avid reader and traveler and enjoys making jewelry and other craft goods as gifts for family and friends. Originally from Cincinnati, Allison is a die-hard Cincinnati sports fan and currently resides in Millersport with her husband.