Why It Matters

Ohio is the third-largest manufacturing state by employment. The Ohio Manufacturers' Association filed a new lobbying registration disclosure on May 22 with federal authorities bringing on Shumaker Advisors LLC to represent its interests in Washington, a notable first-time federal registration for this group.

By the Numbers

The filing reflects a new client registration under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. No dollar amount is reported yet — that's typical for an initial registration. Five registered lobbyists from Shumaker Advisors are assigned to the account:

  • Jason Ouimet — Senior Vice President, Federal Affairs; previously worked with Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
  • Ryan Walker — Senior Vice President, Federal Affairs; previously worked with Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-OH-5)
  • Chris Salemme — Senior Vice President, Federal Affairs
  • Jodie Moxley-Ramos — Vice President, Federal Affairs
  • Mike Fedorchak — Vice President, Federal Affairs

The Ohio congressional connection through Walker is notable. The team is senior-heavy.

The Agenda

The disclosure lists Manufacturing (MAN) as the sole issue code. No specific bills, regulations, or policy issues are identified in the filing. The absence of specifics is common in initial registrations — more detail typically emerges in quarterly activity reports. There are relevant bills and active policy debates touching on manufacturing that could fall within this broad issue area.

Broader Context: A Lobbying Registration Disclosure Timed to a Turbulent Moment

The registration comes after a turbulent stretch for Ohio manufacturers. In December 2025, the Trump Administration froze funding for Ohio's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program — a move that drew sharp responses from Ohio's congressional delegation. Democratic members, including Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9) and Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), sent a formal letter to the Commerce Secretary demanding answers. The MEP program had served thousands of Ohio manufacturers for decades.

Separately, tariff policy has created uncertainty. Rep. Kaptur noted in February 2026 that tariffs had hit northwest Ohio's manufacturers particularly hard. These federal policy shifts give the Ohio Manufacturers' Association clear motivation to establish a direct Washington lobbying presence.

Between the Lines

Congressional activity around Ohio manufacturing has been significant in the past year. Key moments include:

There are relevant bills and congressional activities tied to manufacturing policy, workforce development, and federal funding programs that fall squarely within the issue area this new LDA filing covers.

Competitive Landscape

The report does not provide detail on other organizations lobbying on identical issue sets at this time. The National Association of Manufacturers operates at the national level on overlapping issues. Ohio members of Congress have engaged with both state and national manufacturing groups, but no direct competitive lobbying picture emerges from the available data.

The Bottom Line

The Ohio Manufacturers' Association's new lobbying registration disclosure is a straightforward entry into federal advocacy. The five-lobbyist team at Shumaker Advisors gives the organization solid Washington capacity. The broad Manufacturing issue code leaves the specific agenda undefined for now. Spending figures and issue specifics will become clearer in subsequent quarterly filings.