MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Business Council of Alabama (BCA) is proud to announce the hiring of Caroline Franklin as BCA’s Director of Governmental Affairs and Executive Director of ProgressPAC and Paul Shashy with SR Communications as political strategist.

“The Business Council of Alabama is gearing up for another impactful legislative session by expanding our robust governmental affairs and public relations teams,” stated BCA President and CEO Helena Duncan. “BCA is the voice for Alabama businesses, representing nearly one million working Alabamians, and with the hiring of Caroline Franklin and SR Communications, that voice will become even stronger and more influential.”

Franklin will serve as Director of Governmental Affairs and Executive Director of ProgressPAC. “With Caroline’s leadership as Executive Director of BCA’s political affiliate, ProgressPAC, we will further strengthen our support of pro-business candidates in the executive, legislative and judicial branches,” said Duncan.

Caroline Franklin served as Communications Director for Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield before taking a role in Washington, D.C. with Representative Jodey Arrington, who now chairs the House Budget Committee. She is also an alum of the offices of Senator Richard Shelby and Congresswoman Martha Roby.

Paul Shashy, founder of SR Communications, has successfully managed two U.S. Senate campaigns (Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville) and has played an integral role in many of the state’s most impactful political campaigns and public affairs projects of the past decade. To name a few, Shashy’s portfolio includes the Rebuild Alabama Act and Connect Alabama initiative. SR Communications handles the public relations for a variety of clients including the Alabama Senate Republican Caucus and McPherson Oil Products.