Experienced Leadership
for Meaningful Impact
Civitas Strategies brings decades of experience in Oklahoma—turning complex challenges into actionable solutions.
Leadership You Can Trust
Shawn Lepard
Partner
Shawn's work in policy and advocacy began in 1996 under the mentorship of Texas Agriculture Commissioner Rick Perry. There, Shawn honed his skills in public and legislative relations before transitioning to organizing grassroots campaigns during a presidential election campaign. This experience led him to a role with the Texas Senate Education Committee managing priority legislation for the Chair. Shawn then developed his public relations skills with a Texas-based PR agency before being tapped to lead an advocacy organization dedicated to advancing rural economic development across Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. He served in this role until 2004, when he founded his own government affairs consulting business. Shawn is an alumnus of Texas Tech University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Agriculture Communications. With his extensive experience and a proven track record of fostering positive change, Shawn is excited to continue providing strategic lobbying services that meet the needs of organizations at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
Jennifer Lepard
Partner
A native of Oklahoma, Jennifer brings 20 years of experience in shaping state policy to Lepard Group. Jennifer began her career as a bill drafter for the Oklahoma State Senate. Following her tenure on legislative staff, she transitioned to an advocacy role at the State Chamber of Oklahoma where she championed health care initiatives and oversaw policy development as Executive Director of the State Chamber Research Foundation. During the pandemic, Jennifer returned to public service as the Chief Operating Officer for the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Chief of Community Partnerships for the State Department of Education. Jennifer then returned to the private sector to form a lobbying and government relations firm in Oklahoma City. In this role, Jennifer is dedicated to advocating on behalf of organizations tackling some of Oklahoma’s most pressing problems. Jennifer holds a Doctorate in Public Health and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma, where she also serves as adjunct faculty in public policy.
Josh Cockroft
Partner
Josh Cockroft brings more than a decade of public service and leadership in Oklahoma government to Civitas Strategies. From 2010 to 2018, he represented House District 27 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, where he chaired the House Rules Committee, led two Special Investigative Committees, and served in numerous leadership roles under four Speakers. After leaving elected office, he became Senior Director of Government Affairs for the Oklahoma Association of REALTORS®, overseeing statewide lobbying efforts, political fundraising, and policy development. In 2022, Josh served as Political Director for Governor Kevin Stitt’s re-election campaign, managing grassroots operations and guiding strategy for a historic second-term victory. He later was appointed Oklahoma’s 39th Secretary of State and Chief Policy Advisor, where he collaborated with state leaders on major policy initiatives. Today, he applies his extensive experience in both legislative and executive arenas to advance clients’ interests and help shape effective, long-term policy solutions at the Capitol.
Our Approach:
We don’t just navigate government. We build relationships, shape strategy, and turn complex goals into measurable results.
Trusted by Industry Leaders
We’re proud to have represented organizations driving meaningful impact across Oklahoma.
