Meet the Lobbyist Team for the Iowa Academy
Lobbyists are essential to advancing the Iowa Academy’s policy priorities related to the dietetics profession and the communities we serve. Our Public Policy volunteers do not have the time, capacity, and relationships at the Capitol that are necessary for successful advocacy. Our lobbyists support our advocacy by:
Using their collective expertise, knowledge, and relationships with legislators to guide us in an effective advocacy strategy
Maintaining relationships with key legislators
Providing frequent policy updates, allowing our policy team to be responsive during short windows of opportunity
Tracking and monitoring the often complex and confusing policy process
Being present at the Capitol every day during session, having conversations with legislators and the Governor’s Office on behalf of the organization
Coordinating meetings with key legislators during our annual Day on the Hill event
Lending their experience with compact legislation
Matt Eide- Partner (Lobbyist since 1993)
Matt Eide, a fifth generation Iowan, is a native of Fort Dodge. He has been a lobbyist in Des Moines since 1993. He represents clients before the Iowa Legislature, Governor's Office, Executive Branch agencies, and city councils across Iowa. Matt limits his practice to legislative and regulatory law.
Matt graduated cum laude from Drake University in 1988 and from Drake University Law School in 1993. He lobbied for the Iowa Association of Realtors (1993-1995), the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (1995 - 2000), and was a partner in the lobbying firm Fitzgerald & Eide before establishing Eide & Heisinger in 2003. Matt and Kate Walton formed Eide • Walton in 2019. Prior to lobbying in Des Moines, Matt served as a legislative assistant to former Congressman Jim Lightfoot in Washington, D.C. for two years and as finance director for Jim’s 1988 congressional campaign.
Matt lives in West Des Moines with his wife Sara and five children. In his spare time, Matt enjoys spending time with his kids and watching their many activities. Matt recently retired after a 27-year career as a high school, college, and arena football official. Matt currently serves as Chair of the St. Augustin Parish Council.
Kate Walton- Partner (Lobbyist since 2001)
Kate grew up in Indianola, Iowa and has more than 20 years of experience in government relations, advocacy, strategic guidance and public policy. Kate has expertise in health care policy and compact legislation.
Kate's past advocacy experience includes being Director of State Government Relations with UnityPoint Health, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Iowa Medical Society, Policy Director for former Iowa Governor Chet Culver, Legislative Liaison for the Iowa Department of Human Services and a member of Senator Tom Harkin's staff in Iowa and Washington, DC.
Kate has a Master's in Education and Human Development and a Bachelor of Science in Family Social Science, both from the University of Minnesota.
Kate lives in Indianola with her husband, John Moorlach, and daughters Ava and Amelia. In her spare time she loves to run, cook and cheer her kids on at swim meets. Kate serves on the City of Indianola Parks & Recreation Board and Chairs the Indianola Park Friends Board.
Maddy Bradley- Associate
Maddy started working with Eide • Walton in 2020 as our Legislative Associate. Maddy is a registered lobbyist for the firm's clients.
Maddy is a native of Johnston, Iowa. She graduated With Distinction from the University of Iowa where she received Bachelors of Science degrees in both Environmental Science and Public Health.
Maddy worked for four years as a research supervisor for the Iowa Public Policy Center. She has been involved in other policy work including being appointed to the Iowa City Climate Action Commission, and writing for the Iowa Policy Research Organization. She was also chosen as a representative to work with the Iowa Environmental Council, where she attended board meetings and served on the policy subcommittee.
In her spare time Maddy loves to run, go hiking, and travel. She frequently travels to the United Kingdom to visit family and recently spent some time exploring New Zealand.
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