Meet Our Team

FOUNDER

Jay Morgan

Jay Morgan is known for building strong coalitions and advocating solutions on tough issues. In his role as a trusted advisor for some of the Fortune 500’s leading corporations and business organizations, he puts to use campaign experience and knowledge of public-sector practices to compliment J.L. Morgan clients’ business development objectives.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution described him as “uber connected” and noted his success no matter which party is in charge. Politicsmagazine.com has named him as a “Top 10 Georgia Influencer” and commented, “He is at the top of his game.”

For more than 30 years, Jay Morgan has provided corporations, coalitions, candidates, and business associations with solid strategic plans for execution of public affairs tactics. He has been recruited to work on lobbying teams for his ability to form coalitions on controversial issues such as healthcare cost containment, litigation reform, criminal justice reform, state tax credits, and financial transactions.

Jay’s list of client successes is a long one. He was heavily involved in video services legislation, which passed overwhelmingly, as well as telecommunications deregulation legislation at both the federal and state levels. He successfully quarterbacked tort reform legislation dealing with successor liability relief in Georgia and provided strategic and tactical leadership in passing legislation supporting public-private partnerships (P3) to address pressing infrastructure needs.

Jay was the lead strategist in passing tax legislation that secured what is now State Farm Arena, a top-rated concert and professional sports facility, for the city of Atlanta at no cost to the taxpayers. He has twice led efforts to pass legislation that improved access to “Epi-pens” for schools and organizations such as 4H camps.

Embracing the entrepreneurial spirit instilled in him by his father and grandfather, Jay established his own firm in 1997 after serving as Senior Vice President of the former firm of Edington, Wade, and Sanders. As a consultant to more than 25 state, federal, and local campaigns and as a regional director for the 1988 George H. W. Bush for President campaign, Jay’s experience in directing strategic campaigns is unparalleled among Georgia-based public affairs consultants. 

He was a senior strategist in each of the late U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s statewide campaigns and has performed key roles with former Gov. Nathan Deal (R-GA), former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA), former Gov. Pete Wilson (R-CA), the late Congresswoman Tillie Fowler (R-FL), the late Congressman Mac Collins (R-GA), and numerous state legislative leaders. In his first announcement as Governor-elect, Nathan Deal appointed Jay co-chairman of the 2011 Inaugural Committee and a senior advisor to his transition team. 

Jay is a board member of F.A.I.T.H. (Fight Abuse in the Home), providing free and confidential services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. As a college student, Jay worked as a counselor at Rock Eagle 4H Center and his commitment continues in service with the Georgia 4H Foundation. 

Jay has held several leadership positions with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, including as chairman of the Federal Affairs Committee and the Economic Development Committee, and service the executive committee of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Council. He is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, a premier state-based think tank. 

Tyler “T.J.” Kaplan has built a career applying his education and expertise to the world of public affairs and politics. Now a Principal of the J.L. Morgan Company, T.J. joined the team in 2011. As a strategic advisor to multiple Fortune 500 companies, he leverages his deep relationships with key state government decision makers, particularly in the areas of technology, healthcare, transportation, education, and utilities.

His recent work includes leadership roles in the completion of a multi-year campaign to pass tax-related legislation on behalf of heavy duty equipment rental companies; comprehensive updates to bicycle lane requirements in partnership with stakeholders representing varied perspectives; and overcoming stiff opposition to a coalition of data center companies’ effort to extend industry-related tax incentives.     

T.J. got an initial taste of politics working for former Congressman Tom Price in Washington, later joining the Georgia Tech Research Institute as a policy analyst supporting a Georgia Senate committee cataloguing the state’s technological assets and developing strategic recommendations for advancing science and technology in Georgia.

His work drew the attention of Senate President Pro Temp Butch Miller, who hired him as a legislative aide to manage relations with the governor’s staff and constituents seeking to influence legislation in the General Assembly. This expanded T.J.’s experience and reputation as a successful strategist and coalition builder.

T.J. also was as an Eben Tisdale Fellow with the Computing Research Association in Washington and studied at Georgetown University’s Institute on Business and Government Affairs. He is a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology.  

Managing director

Lauren Pollow

Lauren Pollow joined the J.L. Morgan Company in 2018, adding extensive experience in healthcare policy, community economic development, grassroots mobilization, and association leadership.

As Managing Director, Lauren’s policy work in public safety, human services, Medicaid, and transportation is a valuable asset for clients when putting their public-affairs objectives before the Georgia General Assembly and a myriad of state agencies.  

Her public affairs career began in New York, when she served as an aide for the 143rd district. Lauren helped the New York General Assembly’s Committee on Rural Resources focus on the community’s economic development and revitalization. Her work was a successful exercise in cross-sector collaboration focused on ways to bolster emerging industries through targeted tax credit programs. 

She later became a lobbyist and chief policy analyst for Whiteman, Osterman, & Hanna’s healthcare consulting group, concentrating on helping clients coordinate their work with the executive and legislative branches of New York State government. Her primary role during this time was to aid clients through the implementation of a major Medicaid redesign initiative.

Lauren also served as the Director of Governmental Affairs for the New York State Health Facilities Association/New York State Center for Assisted Living. Her time was spent defending against unfunded mandates, managing proposed reimbursement changes, and advocating for stable funding of programs for the more than 400 long-term-care members of the association.

Lauren is a graduate of University at Buffalo and holds a master’s in Public Policy and Healthcare Management. She currently serves on the board of the Georgia AIDS Coalition.