Dodie Renfer has been working in politics and public policy since 1993. She began her career in the Washington, D.C. office of Congressman Cass Ballenger (NC-10) where she served as a Lyndon Baines Johnson Congressional Intern. This experience would lead to a future position with the junior Senator from North Carolina, Lauch Faircloth. During her time in Washington, Dodie also served as a legislative aide to Congressman Todd Tiahrt (KS-4) and a clerk in the Office of Public Disclosure at the Federal Election Commission.
In 1996, Dodie was given the opportunity to return home to North Carolina when she accepted the role of Scheduler for Richard Vinroot during his first campaign for Governor. Over the next seven years, she would broaden her experience by working alongside policy experts at the John Locke Foundation in Raleigh, advocating for victims of violent crimes on behalf of the Wake County District Attorney’s Office, and developing the “E.A. Morris Fellowship for Emerging Leaders” as Vice-President of CCEG (Center for Citizenship, Enterprise and Government).
Between 2005 and 2013, Dodie worked for many of the top elected officials and political organizations in North Carolina, including State Senator Fred Smith in his bid for NC Governor, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole during her Senate re-election campaign, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (then NC House Speaker) as Director of Operations, Congressman David Rouzer as Political Director during his first Congressional run, and Congressman George Holding as in-state Finance Director following his first Congressional victory. She also served as Political Director for the North Carolina Republican Party in the time leading up to and during the pivotal election in 2010 when the GOP regained majorities in both the NC House and Senate for the first time in over 100 years.
In 2013, Dodie joined Cansler Collaborative Resources (CCR), a consulting firm founded by former NC Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Lanier Cansler, as liaison to the state legislature. Five years later, in December of 2018, she left CCR to join the government relations practice at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in Raleigh, where she served as Senior Government Relations Consultant for over four years. During her tenure at Nelson Mullins, Dodie was the lead on numerous client accounts spanning across a wide range of industries, including healthcare/behavioral health, economic development, broadband/IT, higher education, county and local government, transportation, infrastructure and regulatory reform.
In November of 2022, Dodie joined public policy and government relations firm, ConnectSouth, as a Partner in their North Carolina office. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, ConnectSouth is a boutique firm entirely dedicated to policy and government relations.
After more than 30 years of political and policy experience, Dodie decided the time was right to hang her own shingle. On February 9, 2024, Electus Governmental Affairs was officially incorporated with Dodie as President. The same clients she represented during her time at Nelson Mullins are still with her today, which is one of the highest compliments of her professional career.
Dodie is a graduate of Mars Hill University (B.S. in Political Science) and The George Washington University – Graduate School of Political Management (M.A. Political & Campaign Management). She and her husband live in Clayton, NC, and their daughter is a senior at East Carolina University. Dodie serves on the NC Institute of Political Leadership (IOPL) Board of Directors and the Methodist Home for Children – Dream Big Gala Planning Committee.