421 N. Blount Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
910.988.5603
skouba@hsbadvantage.com
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Stephen Kouba
Government Relations Advisor
Stephen Kouba is a Government Relations Advisor for HSB Advantage and has extensive experience in state and local government affairs, legislative strategy and public policy advocacy. He works with clients to develop and execute legislative and regulatory strategies, monitor emerging policy trends, build relationships with elected officials and stakeholders, and navigate complex political and regulatory environments.
Prior to joining HSB Advantage, Stephen served as Manager of Government Affairs for Smithfield Foods, where he led state and local government affairs efforts across all 50 states. In that role, he directed advocacy initiatives on agriculture, environmental, tax, labor, trade and food safety policy, while managing a nationwide network of contract lobbyists. He also advised executive leadership on legislative and regulatory developments, cultivated relationships with elected officials and trade associations, and developed strategies for political action committee and corporate political contributions.
Before joining Smithfield Foods, Stephen worked with several government affairs and lobbying firms, advising clients across a broad range of industries on legislative and regulatory matters. Throughout his career in both the private and public sectors, he has experience developing and executing advocacy strategies, monitoring public policy developments, delivering legislative analysis and reporting, drafting legislative language, coordinating coalition-building and stakeholder engagement efforts and working closely with legislative and executive branch officials to advance client priorities on issues involving agriculture, commerce, energy, healthcare and public safety.
A North Carolina native, Stephen graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in political science and a minor in biology.