Michael Houlihan | Founder & Principal
Mike founded Drexwood Partners LLC with the mission to merge government affairs with a business savvy approach. By drawing upon his over 15 years of experience in government and politics combined with 10 years of experience in finance and real estate, Mike is able to provide a unique perspective to his clients. As a registered lobbyist he works with government officials at the state, county and city level navigating the process to solve problems and achieve the desired results for his clients.
Prior to founding Drexwood, Mike served as executive vice president at All-Circo, Inc, a full service government affairs and lobbying firm. There he handled the needs of over 60 clients ranging from fortune 500 companies and small businesses to units of government, non-profits and associations across all sectors and issues. In addition to helping clients with their legislative and administrative goals, he provided counsel in regards to appropriations, regulation, procurement, and coalition development.
Mike was previously vice president at Chicago-based real estate development firm The Prime Group. Serving as a member of the capital markets group, he provided financial analysis, budgeting, and due diligence on real estate transactions as well as helped facilitate $400 million in financing for the JW Marriott mixed use development on LaSalle Street. He began his career in New York with Jefferies & Company on the institutional trading desk, providing sales trading coverage for corporate accounts and hedge funds.
Mike received a B.S. in Finance from Santa Clara University in 1998. He resides in Chicago with his wife, Liz, and two daughters.
Paul Ramey | VP, Government Affairs
Paul joined Drexwood Partners in 2019, bringing with him a decade of professional experience, including five years managing multi-state government affairs and overseeing U.S. government operations for a multinational corporation.
Skilled in navigating complex public policy landscapes, Paul’s early professional journey began as a litigation paralegal with multiple law firms, supplemented by his work as a field organizer for a national political campaign. Transitioning into government affairs, he spent time in Washington, D.C., working for a child welfare nonprofit, where he conducted policy research and organized advocacy initiatives.
Before becoming Vice President at Drexwood, Paul served as Director of Government Relations for a publicly traded company, where he led U.S. federal and state government affairs for various business segments. In this role, he executed federal and multi-state strategies that supported organizational goals across six businesses. His responsibilities included federal appropriations and jurisdictional committee advocacy, managing a comprehensive legislative tracking system across all fifty states, and overseeing direct and indirect lobbying efforts in several states. He also led the company's first global political risk assessment, prompted by international expansion, and restructured the government affairs approach to emphasize brand development for business segments seeking stronger engagement with government officials.
Paul’s extensive policy experience spans agriculture, education (P-20), child welfare, healthcare, financial services, and technology. This diverse background equips him to address new and complex challenges efficiently and effectively. He is passionate about all facets of government affairs, from lobbying and strategy development to advocacy, coalition building, and policy research.
Originally from mid-Missouri, Paul earned his M.A. in Political Science from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and a B.A. in Pre-Law/Legal Studies from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, with his wife and two sons.
