By Hayley McGhee
WASHINGTON – One may not be able to point out Lisa Spies, an influential political fundraiser and socialite in the nation’s capital, but one can definitely hear her.
Spies political career started, whether she knew it or not, when she walked by the College Republican booth at the student union at the University of Kansas where she attended college. From an internship with a governor in her hometown, to a job at the College Republican National Committee in Washington and a completed United Leaders fellowship program at Harvard University, Spies paved her way to her promising political future at a young age.
Lisa Gable, a friend of Spies’ since 2002, was astonished by Spies when they met at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Gable was impressed that Spies’, at such a young age, was already organizing sophisticated concepts like a woman funders group with the wives of two senators. Obviously since then, she has tremendously grown into “one of the most successful fundraisers in the country and one of the most admirable,” Gable said.
Spies is considered one of the most successful fundraisers because of her big clientele and the abundance of money that she’s raised. Her past clients include Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., former Sen. David Vitter, R-La., former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., then Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah.
However, her work for Romney was a big eye opener in her career. “When I got involved with Mitt I realized that if I truly believed and respected the candidate I would work much harder for them - and in turn, be more successful,” Spies said. Her success and relationship with the Romneys has only grown since then.
People that have gotten the opportunity to meet Spies agree that her laugh is infectious. Her “glowing personality” as Kenneth Carroll, her former assistant, put it, is one of her strongest traits. She is the master of the craft of networking and can control the mood and speed of a room like no one else.
Her ability to light up a room and unite people sets her apart from others. Gable explained that she observed the wide array of people that attended Spies’ events. Spies is “constantly mixing and matching individuals that can not only benefit her candidate or cause but also due to Lisa’s belief that we are all better off working together than against each other.”
Having a keen eye for mixing and matching people allows Spies’ to apply her matchmaking skills to interpersonal relationships too. She has set up a lot of people, but five of them have gotten married and are still going strong. Spies said: “When I meet someone who is single, I will usually get a feeling right away if I have someone for them or not. When I do get the feeling it usually works out!” Since she’s so good at it and enjoys playing matchmaker, she believes she should start a business out of it.
However, that’s not in her official future plans. Spies’ hopes to retire in the next five years while still being involved in Republican politics. Simply being involved in politics would be much more enjoyable for Spies’ since the pressure of deadlines and funds wouldn’t be on her shoulders.
Until then, Spies’ will continue to frequent The Trump International Hotel with the popular Bell of Congress cocktail in hand. She is a huge fan of the hotel and the people that join her there as well. She has hosted many luncheons for notable women, including the former White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders, and American television producer, Lara Trump. The luncheons provide an opportunity for a group of successful and powerful women to come together to network and celebrate women in power.
Mallie McNeel, a former intern at High Cotton Consulting, attended the Sanders lunch in June and has joined Spies at the hotel on multiple occasions. McNeel said she feels lucky to have met Spies. “I am lucky to have met Lisa, her big personality is contagious and serious work ethic inspires me to work just as hard,” McNeel said.
When she’s not being the light in the room full of politicians or socializing at the hotel, Spies is at home with her husband, Charlie Spies, and her two cats, a British Shorthair named Winston, after Winston Churchil, and an American Shorthair named Teddy, after Theodore Roosevelt. Even when Spies’ wants to escape the world of politics at home, Winston and Teddy are always there to greet her at every door.
Lisa Spies is a successful political fundraiser for the Republican party in Washington D.C. She has raised millions of dollars for campaigns and organizations.