Arika Pierce is a seasoned government relations professional whose career has crossed nearly every facet of the government relations industry for over fourteen years. Ms. Pierce served as Vice President of Federal and State Government Relations at HMS Holdings where she was charged with establishing the company’s presence in Washington, DC, building relationships with members of Congress and strategic business partners, and leading an integrated government relations program that was incorporated across business lines. Prior to joining HMS, Ms. Pierce worked as a lobbyist in the Federal Affairs Department of the American Academy of Pediatrics where she advocated child health issues before members of Congress and Federal agencies. Ms. Pierce’s government relations career began on Capitol Hill where she served as a Congressional Staffer for Senator John Breaux, the Senate Special Committee on Aging and the Senate Subcommittee on Permanent Investigations. Ms. Pierce holds a JD from the George Washington University Law School and an undergraduate degree in political science from Louisiana State University.