Marie Sanderson is currently Partner at 50 State, LLC, Founding Partner of GuidePost Strategies, a federal strategic communications and public affairs firm; Founding Principal of Cardinal Group Policy, a policy entity that works with policy makers, think tanks, candidates, and elected officials across the country; and a Senior Advisor at IMGE, a full-service digital marketing agency. In 2017, in addition to her professional roles, Marie was “Sherpa” for USUN Ambassador Nikki Haley, an unpaid position with the US Presidential Transition, preparing and guiding the current Ambassador for her nomination to be confirmed by the US Senate.

Marie was Policy Director for the Republican Governors Association (RGA) and the Republican Governors Public Policy Committee (RGPPC) for five years facilitating and advocating for best practices and good policy in both state and federal policy to governors, candidates, their staff, think tanks, Congress, the Administration, and other political organizations. In January 2006, Marie began working for Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour as a policy and budget advisor and Director of Federal Policy. Prior to her role in the state, served United States Senator and Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran in 2003 in Washington, DC, where she served as a Legislative Assistant and Deputy Press Secretary.

Marie was graduated summa cum laude from Mississippi State University. In 2002, she was awarded a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship to Brisbane, Australia, where she obtained her MBA from the University of Queensland. Marie serves on several boards and commissions, including the statewide Mississippi Arts Commission Board of Directors and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi Board of Directors.

In 2020, she and her husband, Brian, founded the MS 30 Day Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial support to Mississippi’s small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the form of forgivable loans.