Our Team
Our Team
Mapes & Mapes is committed to the highest level of client service. Our diverse team of professionals brings a depth of experience that comes from years of both government and private sector service. We use that experience and the relationships we have with lawmakers to bring you, and your issues, to the table. Lobbying is all about participation, which is why we at Mapes & Mapes ensure our clients are involved in the legislative process until we all get the job done.
Joseph Mapes, President
Joseph A. Mapes has served for 40 years as a Louisiana lobbyist, and was elected president of Mapes & Mapes, Inc. in January of 1995 to succeed M.L. “Bud” Mapes.
He has worked, in some capacity, in every special, regular, and fiscal session since 1974 -- that's more than 100 legislative sessions in which Mapes has drafted legislation, lobbied legislators and administrators, and worked in alliance with other governmental relations firms, Governors and their staffMapes has worked on issues related to almost every industry and profession, earning him the respect of Louisiana’s business and political communities.
He is married to the former Sandy Altazan of Port Allen, Louisiana, and has two beautiful step-daughters, Bilee Yelverton and Brittany Morvant, and six grandchildren Lennon, Grant, Luke, Andrew, William, and Crawford. Mapes and his wife are members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Brusly, Louisiana.
Sandy Mapes, Legislative Director Emeritus
Sandy Mapes founded the Louisiana Salon Owners Association in 1980. Her passion for the industry ultimately led to her becoming its president and lobbyist. Soon after, her interest in the legislative process segued into her career as a lobbyist.
With her lobbying career spanning over 32 years, Mrs. Mapes' experience as a business owner and entrepreneur has made her Louisiana’s most effective female lobbyist. Her diverse background led to Mrs. Mapes’ participation in Louisiana’s political process and her affiliation with Mapes & Mapes, where she remains as an integral part of the company.
Maxine Cormier, Lobbyist and Business Development Consultant
Maxine Cormier is a governmental and legislative lobbyist and business development consultant. With nearly 25 years of experience in this industry, she is well respected and influential among legislators and governmental decision-makers.
Cormier received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and a Master of Arts in Public Administration and Management from Webster College. To further her professional development, she completed additional studies at Northwestern Louisiana University, Natchitoches, Louisiana and Howard University, Washington, D.C..
Her keen interest in Louisiana politics began with coordinating state and local campaigns for parish and statewide races. Her professional experience also includes serving as a supervisor with the Office of Consumer Information Services and Marketing with Central Louisiana Electric Company (CLECO), Assistant to the Secretary with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, and as Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Minority Business Enterprises.
Michael R. Thibodaux, Lobbyist, Legislative and Local Government
Michael R. Thibodeaux has been lobbying the Louisiana State Legislature for more than 30 years, beginning in 1982 when he began his career in public service as an Alderman for the City of Opelousas Louisiana. In 1994, after twelve years of actively working as a team member overseeing the continued improvement and growth of the city of Opelousas, Thibodeaux was elected Mayor of Opelousas serving a term that ended in 1998. Afterward, he began a career as a legislative and local government lobbyist and governmental service consultant.
Thibodeaux’ present and former clients include Mapes & Mapes, Central Louisiana Electric Company (CLECO), Greater Krotz Spring Port Commission, DARE, Michael R. Thibodeaux & Associates, L.L.C., St. Landry Parish Government, St. Landry Parish Airport Authority, Speech Pathologist and Audiologist in Louisiana Schools.
Thibodeaux is married, wife Eula with one daughter Michelle and three grandson’s Devon, JaMarcus and Jayme. Thibodeaux and his wife belong to Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Opelousas Louisiana. He is also a United States Army Veteran, Vietnam Era.
Bilee Yelverton, Lobbyist and Communications Director
Bilee Yelverton is also a fighting tiger, having graduated from Louisiana State University in 2009. She is the daughter of Sandy Mapes, thus helping to perpetuate the family tradition of governmental relations in the deep South. She always swore she would never follow in her parents' footsteps, having had to hear excruciating detail of the profession nightly at the dinner table from birth until November of 2012. That's when she lost the battle and succumbed to the forces that are Mapes & Mapes and the Louisiana political and governmental community.
Prior to joining the firm, Bilee lent her expertise to the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians. She now leads that account for Mapes & Mapes, as well as the Louisiana Ophthalmology Association account. Her affinity toward helping people made her a natural for heading up the health care component of the firm's client list. Having been raised in the business of Louisiana politics, Bilee is well-steeped in all facets of that arena and is ready to meet any and all challenges presented to her to help promote and protect all the clients of Mapes & Mapes.
George Sutton, Analyst
George Sutton came to Louisiana from Tylertown, Mississippi in 1957 after a four-year stint in the U.S. Navy. He was quickly noticed by BellSouth, which promoted him to Executive Director of Governmental Affairs in Louisiana.
In 1995, after more than 30 years helping to shape the Louisiana telecommunications industry, George retired to pursue an independent consulting career. He is a principle in his own firm, G E Sutton & Associates, Inc., as well as an associate in the Mapes & Mapes firm. The clients which Mapes and Mapes serve are fortunate Mr. Sutton decided to ally himself with the organization.