Cynthia Stern Lynch is one of the nation’s most sought-after experts in understanding how to navigate the often complex terrain of state attorneys general offices. As a government affairs specialist for CATALYST, she brings extensive experience working for and with attorneys general across the country and a uniquely informed viewpoint on how these offices work.

With over 20 years of experience in the public and government affairs arena, Cynthia has a deep reservoir of knowledge and relationships that provides CATALYST clients with an edge in helping shape public policies that impact their businesses and industries.

For the past 20 years, Cynthia has worked as a consultant and specialist in government affairs with a focus on attorneys general across the nation. Before joining Catalyst, she was a managing director for Eris Group where she focused on advocacy and public policy issues with national and state implications. Cynthia has represented associations with several hundred members from the National Beer Wholesalers to the Recording Industry of America to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.

Well acquainted with how public policy issues intersect with state attorneys general, Cynthia previously served as the legislative director for the Rhode Island Office of Attorney General. Her responsibilities included researching and drafting legislation, testifying, coordinating advocacy and managing day-to-day public relations. Her role also included the strategy and analysis of the constantly evolving political climate and how to maximize and promote the office of attorney general.

Cynthia maintains relationships that span across the political spectrum inside the associations that work directly with attorneys general. She continues to work closely with the National Association of Attorneys General, the Conference of Western Attorneys General and the Republican and Democratic Association of Attorneys General.

Cynthia’s experience includes public affairs consulting, a field in which she has specialized in strategy, analysis, advocacy, crisis communications, and re-branding. Her public affairs background includes serving as Vice President of Public Relations for a highly-regulated dining and entertainment venture where she successfully implemented a major re-brand for the project.

After her son, Max, was diagnosed as terminally ill, Cynthia started a Foundation in his memory at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Rhode Island to support families whose children have complex medical needs. She has raised more than $1 million for the hospital’s Palliative Care Program. It is the only Palliative Care Program in Rhode Island strictly for children. Stern was also instrumental in drafting and advocating for the Palliative Children’s Health Care Bill in 2003 while at the attorneys general office, which was the first of its kind in the nation.

Cynthia graduated from Simmons College in Boston with a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Management and earned her Master’s in Public Administration from Johnson and Wales University. A certified spin instructor who played tennis throughout college, she loves playing and watching sports, especially the NFL – guess which team. Her daughter, Zoe, is a rising senior at Bucknell University who is preparing for law school. Cynthia resides in Rhode Island with her husband, Patrick, and their two dogs Duncan, a Yellow Lab, and Daisy, a Labradoodle Mix.

Contact Cynthia at cynthia@csga.com