News Summary
Tom Apodaca, a well-known Raleigh lobbyist and founder of Vista Strategies, has formed a partnership with Kody Kinsley, the former North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services. This collaboration aims to enhance healthcare consulting services by combining Apodaca’s government relations expertise with Kinsley’s healthcare strategy knowledge. Kinsley will serve as a consultant, focusing on healthcare advisory services while ensuring compliance with lobbying regulations. This partnership illustrates the importance of integrating political experience with healthcare expertise in North Carolina’s evolving healthcare landscape.
Raleigh, North Carolina — Tom Apodaca, a prominent Raleigh-based lobbyist and founder of Vista Strategies, has announced a strategic partnership with Kody Kinsley, the former North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services, to enhance healthcare consulting services.
Partnership Details and Strategic Focus
The collaboration aims to leverage the combined expertise of Vista Strategies’ government relations capabilities with Kinsley’s deep knowledge of healthcare strategy and execution. Kinsley, who previously served as North Carolina’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, will operate as a consultant within this partnership, focusing on healthcare advisory services. This arrangement is intended to provide clients with comprehensive support that incorporates both government relations and healthcare strategy without increasing organizational complexity.
Background of the Key Players
Tom Apodaca has been a significant political figure in North Carolina, serving in the state Senate from 2003 to 2016, representing the Hendersonville area. Following his legislative tenure, he founded Vista Strategies in 2017, establishing a firm known for its influential role in government relations. During his time in office, Apodaca was recognized as one of the state’s most powerful lawmakers. His firm’s client list includes prominent health organizations such as UNC Health of Chapel Hill and Sentara Health based in Norfolk, Virginia, along with various non-healthcare clients.
Kody Kinsley, a Democrat, was appointed in 2022 by former Governor Roy Cooper to lead North Carolina’s health agency. Before his appointment, Kinsley played a key role in managing the state’s COVID-19 response as the operations chief. His reputation as a healthcare expert is well established, and he now has his own advisory business specializing in healthcare consulting.
Nature of the Partnership and Future Plans
The partnership is characterized by its emphasis on “relationships and complementary strengths,” enabling the provision of extensive healthcare and government relations services to clients. This collaboration is seen as a way to meet client needs more efficiently by combining Apodaca’s government relations strategy with Kinsley’s healthcare insights.
It is important to note that Kinsley will serve solely as a consultant within this arrangement and will not function as a lobbyist. This distinction maintains compliance with relevant regulations while allowing the partnership to capitalize on Kinsley’s healthcare expertise.
Similar Engagements and Broader Context
Vista Strategies has previously established similar consulting arrangements, notably with Dan Gerlach, former head of the Golden Leaf Foundation, who advises on economic development. These partnerships demonstrate Vista Strategies’ approach of collaborating with experienced experts across sectors to strengthen client services.
Implications and Significance
This partnership highlights ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare consulting in North Carolina by integrating government relations with healthcare strategy. It underscores the importance of combining political experience with healthcare expertise to better serve both public and private sector clients in a complex policy environment.
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Additional Resources
- Business North Carolina
- Wikipedia: Tom Apodaca
- Business North Carolina
- Google Search: Kody Kinsley
- Business North Carolina
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Healthcare System
- Business North Carolina
- Google News: North Carolina healthcare
- Business North Carolina
- Google Scholar: Healthcare Consulting
Author: STAFF HERE RALEIGH WRITER
RALEIGH STAFF WRITER The RALEIGH STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERERaleigh.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Raleigh, Wake County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the North Carolina State Fair, Raleigh Arts Festival, and the Hopscotch Music Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and Visit Raleigh, plus leading businesses in technology and education that power the local economy such as Red Hat and NC State University. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAsheville.com, HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, and HEREOBX.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.
