Meet the Team

At ConnectSouth, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter services like you’ll get from most large firms. We work with you from the very beginning to map out each step our team will take on your behalf. Then we get to work with the decision makers that impact you.

We provide the full range of public affairs services – from traditional “shoe-leather” lobbying, to coalition building, to executive agency compliance. And if we need to energize the public around a policy issue, our firm has valuable experience in public relations, earned media, grassroots and grasstops mobilization, and paid media campaigns.

Tony Simon, Partner

  • As the founder of ConnectSouth Public Affairs, Simon has helped lead the company’s growth efforts into a national model for comprehensive, ethical government affairs work.

    Tony currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Jessica, their two daughters and son, and is an active member of Christ Covenant Church.

Paul Bennecke, Partner

  • From 2007-2010, Paul served the Republican Governors Association (RGA) as Deputy Executive Director and Political Director where he managed RGA’s political operations including candidate recruitment, independent expenditures and candidate-committee coordination.

    From 2001-2006, Paul served as Executive Director of the Georgia Republican Party and Political Director for former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue’s successful gubernatorial campaign. He would later lead his cousin’s 2014 U.S. Senate race, David Perdue, who was successfully elected.

    Paul serves on the boards of Data Trust and Citizens for Free Enterprise.

    He is married to Jen Englert Bennecke who served as a special assistant to Georgia’s First Lady, ran a state agency for two governors, and now advises numerous charitable boards and ballot initiatives. They reside in Atlanta with their three sons.

Bo Moore, Partner

  • He regularly represents numerous Fortune 500 companies, hospitals, healthcare companies, trade associations, technology companies and other businesses that interact with State governments on a regular basis. He currently serves on the Republican Governor’s Association National Finance Committee and remains active in Georgia political and business circles.

    Bo was a member of U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell’s staff and served as Political Director for Coverdell’s campaign and political activities. He also served as a key strategist for Senator Phil Gramm’s Presidential campaign that was co-chaired by Senator Coverdell.

    Bo is a graduate of the University of Georgia Terry College of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He is a a graduate of Leadership Georgia (2006).  Bo currently resides in Atlanta with his wife Leah and two children Tripp and Lillie. He is an active member in the Northside Methodist Church, Buckhead Lions Club, the Burge Club, and Piedmont Driving Club.

Edens Davis, Partner

  • He used that experience as a springboard to work with the Republican Governors Association on races across the country. In 2010, he became a key member of then-Congressman Nathan Deal’s gubernatorial campaign. Upon Gov. Deal’s election to office, Davis served on the transition team and he served as a senior policy advisor for Gov. Deal, overseeing critical issues areas such as natural resources, transportation, economic development and agriculture. During his time in the Governor’s Office, Davis developed policy, helped shepherd bills through the legislative process and became a trusted liaison for agency heads in those respective policy areas.

    Edens graduated from Emory University with a bachelor of arts in Political Science. He and his wife, Kirsten and their sons are active at Capital City Club, Peachtree Presbyterian Church, and several other charitable organizations in Atlanta. When he is not influencing policy makers across the country, he enjoys hunting and fishing on his family’s pecan orchard in middle Georgia.

Bob Trammell, Senior Advisor

  • In addition to his role with Connect South, Bob practices law at The Trammell Firm which he f ounded in 2003 in his hometown of Luthersville. Trammell also served as County Attorney for Meriwether County for four years prior to serving in the State House providing him with a detailed and practical understanding of how local government works.

    Bob is a 1996 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia, majoring in English and Political Science. He obtained his law degree from The University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1999. Before returning home to practice, he started his legal career as a law clerk in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and subsequently practiced law at King & Spalding before starting his own firm in 2003.

    Bob and his wife Jenny reside in Luthersville with their three children, Mary, Virginia, and Bob.

Hampton Mills, Associate

  • Hampton currently resides in Atlanta and is a parishioner at the Cathedral of Christ the King. He enjoys hiking, hunting, and fly fishing in his spare time, as well as spending time with his wife, Erin, and their dog, Sadie.

Trey Moore, Partner, Tennessee

  • Trey’s policy and lobbying experience is broad and deep. He has significant experience in legislative and regulatory issues confronting entities in health care, energy, utilities, distilled spirits, financial services, and local government.

    Trey escapes the halls of the Capitol for the golf course when given the chance. A native of Gallatin, Tennessee and a graduate of Sewanee, Trey now resides in Nashville with his wife, Mary, and their daughter.

April Byrd, Partner, North Carolina

  • April attended the University of Georgia and has a BA in Economics. April is active in her community as a board member of the Lake Norman YMCA, member of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, and supporter of various charity organizations throughout the state, who provide support for women & children in crisis situations. April spends her free time in the great outdoors with her yellow labrador Faith and her partner Jay visiting National Parks, their favorite waterfall trails in NC, exploring the southeastern coast, or enjoying time on Lake Norman.