MEET OUR TEAM OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PROFESSIONALS

Our Team

Estie Harris

Estie Harris grew up in Memphis Tennessee and began lobbying by being in the right place at the right time!  It became the perfect career for her and she hasn’t left!  She has been working in or around the Tennessee General Assembly since the late 1980’s.

Harris' broad experience in both the executive and legislative branches of government has greatly benefited the clients she has served since joining the firm in 1994. She understands the inner-workings of state government and enjoys long-term friendships with and the respect of many state elected officials and their staff.

Clients and legislators appreciate Harris' knowledge, compassion, and attention to detail in the political process. She does her homework on clients’ issues and can switch gears rapidly. Legislators and peers consider Harris to be a subject matter expert in the state budget process and the unique needs of health care providers.  She has impacted issues as diverse as judicial selection, the Tennessee Lottery, special payments to hospitals, pay equity for those providing services to the intellectually disabled, and the needs of providers of behavioral health services.   

Outside of work, Harris serves on numerous middle Tennessee community boards and associations; participates in local charitable fundraising efforts, and is involved with her church, The Cathedral of the Incarnation.

Harris graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural economics. She is married and has two sons.

Meagan Frazier

Meagan Frazier, a Dickson County native, has a solid reputation for her hard work on hospital, health care, business and transportation issues. She is well known for her knowledge of the Tennessee General Assembly’s rules and procedures as well as her relationships within all three branches of state government. She has successfully guided her clients through complex issues such as prescription safety regulations, state funding needs and professional licensing requirements.

Frazier knew she wanted to be a professional lobbyist prior to her arrival to Capitol Hill in 2001 and set out to reach that goal by working for the Tennessee House of Representatives and the state Treasury Department. Frazier joined Harris Frazier in 2003 and became a partner in 2008.

Frazier is the current President of the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Lobbyist Association. She serves in leadership positions on numerous non-profit boards and co-founded CASA of Dickson County to advocate for abused and neglected children in her community.

A licensed attorney, Frazier is a graduate of the Nashville School of Law. She earned a B.S. in Public Relations at Middle Tennessee State University. Frazier is married and has three young daughters. She and her husband are members of the Walnut Street Church of Christ in Dickson.

Merle Franklin

Merle Franklin has over 20 years experience working in both the for-profit and not-for-profit arenas as a bookkeeper/accountant. She has been wearing the “green visor” and managing business affairs for us since January of 1998. She had previously worked for the Tennessee Alcohol & Drug Association (TADA) for 12 years. Still earlier, she worked for HCA for four years, starting as an accounts payable clerk and working her way up to a senior accounts payable position. Franklin manages all contracting and fiscal matters for our firm and is the “go to” person for vendors and for clients with billing or accounting questions. In addition, all financial questions that none of the rest of us can understand are referred to Franklin.

Franklin is originally from Sussex, England, but now calls Nashville home. The doting momma of five cats, she definitely qualifies as our resident eccentric.

McCasland Podlesney

McCasland (Mac) Podlesney grew up in the small town of Hadley, Michigan. McCasland attended Lipscomb University in Nashville beginning in 2019. During his time at Lipscomb, McCasland was selected to participate in the Tennessee Legislative Internship Program (TLIP) and served under the House Civil Justice Committee during the second session of the 112th General Assembly. During the following summer, McCasland interned for the Michigan Senate before returning to Tennessee for his final two semesters.

In January 2023, McCasland was hired as an intern at Harris Frazier for the first session of the 113 th General Assembly, During the following summer, McCasland interned for the Michigan Senate before returning to Tennessee for his final two semesters.

In January 2023, McCasland was hired as an intern at Harris Frazier for the first session of the 113 th General Assembly, gaining invaluable experience in the private sectors of government relations work in addition to his previous experiences in state legislatures. Working closely with seasoned professionals involved in a wide range of industries and issues, his role involved conducting extensive research, analyzing legislative proposals, and preparing comprehensive reports and briefs.

After graduating from Lipscomb in May of 2023, McCasland was offered the opportunity to participate in a full-time position with the firm, which he gladly accepted.