Lee Hughes, Partner

Lee began his career at the State Capitol in 1986 as a bill reader and data clerk, learning the legislative process from the inside.  In 1989 he joined State Senator Pierre Howard’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor, handling a wide range of duties and traveling the state with the candidate.  After the candidate emerged victorious from a field of 15 candidates, Lee was named to the Lt. Governor’s staff where he helped to manage the day-to-day operation of the Senate as well as coordinating his environmental legislation. 

In 1993, Lee left the Capitol and Atlanta to become Regional Public Affairs Manager for what is now Georgia-Pacific Corporation. Lee handled local and state government affairs in as many as 8 eastern states, including Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas and the Virginias.  Working in the state and local government affairs arenas, Lee successfully focused on tax relief and tax incentive initiatives, employment law and environmental policy.  He has served in several leadership positions in his professional life including as President of the Georgia Pulp and Paper Association, Vice President of the Georgia Industry Association and on the Board of Directors for The Georgia Chamber of Commerce.  He is a 1998 graduate of Leadership Georgia, and was named to Georgia Trend Magazine’s prestigious 40 Under 40 list in the Year 2000. 

After almost ten years with the company, Lee left Georgia-Pacific in 2003 to create Hughes Public Affairs.  After 20 years of working with state and local governments in various roles, Lee maintains his reputation as a resourceful, effective and trustworthy individual that is extremely familiar with the process. 

A native of Savannah, Georgia, Lee earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History at Furman University, graduating in 1986.  In recent years he has continued his education through programs like Leadership Georgia, SpeechWorks and the Savannah Chamber of Commerce Political Institute.  Lee lives on the Isle of Hope, near Savannah, with his wife Amy and their three sons, Jennings, William and Harrison.  Lee spends much of his free time coaching his sons’ sports teams.  He also enjoys golf and running.

 View Lee Hughes' Resume


Amy Haywood Hughes, Partner

In July 0f 2007, Amy and Lee Hughes joined together to form the partnership of Hughes Public Affairs combining their joint interests in sound governmental policy and their 37 years of experience working with Georgia government.  Current clients of the firm include:  Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah College of Art & Design, Memorial Health, Chatham County, CSX, Waste Management, Herty Advanced Materials Development, the Matthew Reardon Center, The Beehive Foundation and Underground Atlanta.

Prior to joining Hughes Public Affairs, Amy served as Vice President of Government Affairs for Memorial Health where she had worked for eight years.  Amy served as the voice of Memorial Health to local, state and federal elected officials providing them with information to make informed decisions about legislative and regulatory health care issues.  She also started a comprehensive arts initiative called Gallery One to fill the walls and the halls of the hospital with colorful, multicultural works of art.  

Amy is active in a number of national, state and local professional organizations including the American Hospital Association Government Affairs Section, Georgia Hospital Association Legislative Advisory Committee and HosPAC Executive Committee, the National Association of Children's Hospitals Government Affairs Section, the American Association of Medical Colleges Government Relations Officers Network, Premier Federal Affairs Network, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Council, and the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Council.     

Georgia Trend magazine named Amy as one of Georgia’s 40 Under 40 Best and Brightest Georgians in 2007.  Amy was named one of Savannah’s 40 Under 40 by the Business Report and Journal and she participated in both Leadership Georgia and Leadership Savannah. Amy is involved in a number of community groups.  She serves as the Secretary of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Coastal Georgia Affiliate raising funds for breast cancer screening, research, treatment and education.  She also serves on the Bethesda Home for Boys Board of Governors and the Georgia Regional Hospital Advisory Council.  She served as 2005 President of the Rape Crisis Center. Through Chatham-Savannah Citizen Advocacy, Amy served as a citizen advocate for a person named Brackie Hall with whom she worked for 8 years.  Amy is a Rotarian and a long-time member of the League of Women Voters.  She has served on United Way Allocations Panels for six years and has taught a Junior Achievement course for 5th graders.  She has chaired and co-chaired a number of fundraising efforts such as the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce Total Resource Campaign and the Citizen Advocacy annual giving drive.  She enjoys teaching Children’s Church at the Isle of Hope Methodist Church.  

Prior to joining the Memorial Health team, Amy served as the Vice President of Existing Industry and Government Affairs for the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.  At the Chamber, she handled legislative advocacy for the business community and served as Executive Director of the Savannah Area Manufacturers Council.  She was also a former statewide Chairperson of Georgians for Manufacturing.  Before moving to Savannah in 1994, Amy worked for a number of years at the State Capitol as a lobbyist, a reporter and Assistant Press Secretary to Lt. Governor Pierre Howard. 

Amy represented the South Georgia Rotary District on a Group Study Team to Poland and The Ukraine visiting businesses and health care facilities to develop relationships and partnerships.  Previously, she traveled as an Ambassador to the former Soviet Republic of Georgia on a similar Good Will exchange initiative. 

Amy graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors from the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Georgia with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.  She will graduate in December of 2007 from Mercer University with an MBA. 

Amy and her husband Lee reside on Isle of Hope with their three sons Jennings, William and Harrison.  When not attending her sons’ sporting events, Amy enjoys sewing curtains, gardening, and baking pies, cakes and cookies.

 View Amy Hughes' Resume