Vice President of Legislative Affairs
Nicole Wilbourn has a unique understanding of legislative and administrative processes, policies, client/stakeholder needs and interests, and has demonstrated an ability to develop consensus to get things done in – and by – state government. Nicole comes to ERG Partners with fourteen years of experience in both the public and private sectors. She brings a broad network of professional relationships with government officials and staff, varied interest groups and constituencies, and a complete understanding of the pressure points in the processes that benefit our clients.
Most recently, Nicole worked in legislative and regulatory affairs at a Harrisburg-based firm as a contract lobbyist, with a focus on healthcare, energy, pharmaceutical and insurance related issues.
Prior to her work as a contract lobbyist, Wilbourn served as Senior Government Affairs Representative for Highmark, Inc., where she was responsible for providing government relations services for the parent corporation, Highmark Health, and its many divisions, including Highmark Health Plan, Allegheny Health Network, Highmark’s Medicaid program, CHIP and the company’s diversified business subsidiaries. She helped coordinate the company’s government relations efforts and policies in Pennsylvania and three other states.
Before joining Highmark, Inc., Nicole was responsible for guiding policy and drafting legislation as a Senior Research Analyst for the Insurance Committee in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. In that role, she was instrumental in creating the state’s Pennie.com health insurance exchange program.
For several years, Wilbourn advised the Insurance Committee Chair, the Majority Caucus and members on policy matters, and met with a broad array of stakeholders both inside and outside of state government. In the House, Nicole worked on complicated issues and collaborated with representatives, senators, legislative and administration staff, and coordinated issues with grassroots organizations, statewide trade associations and advocacy groups
Nicole holds a B.A. in Political Science from the Pennsylvania State University and attended Widener University Commonwealth Law School. She was a 2010 Legislative Fellow in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.