Holly Salmons Kirby is a principal at JohnsonPossKirby with 25 years of experience on Tennessee Capitol Hill, where she serves as one of the state’s most influential lobbyists and trusted advocates on a wide range of issues, including education, advertising, the beverage industry, manufacturing, transportation, health care and insurance.

As a little girl, when other kids were playing doctor or teacher, young Holly would pretend she worked for Governor Lamar “Axselander,” so it’s no surprise she entered the political arena at an early age. She got her start in state government work in 2000 as an intern for the Senate Transportation Committee, working on key pieces of legislation including fiber optic right-of-way for the Intelligent Transportation System.

She moved into lobbying in 2002 at Smith Johnson & Carr, first as an intern and then as an associate working on issues ranging from outdoor advertising and railroads to manufacturing and alcoholic beverages. In 2006, she worked with key legislators and railroad representatives to pass legislation strengthening railroad trespassing laws.

In 2007, Holly joined then-new firm JohnsonPoss Government Relations as a senior associate, adding a variety of education issues to her existing portfolio. In 2010, she was named a principal making it JohnsonPossKirby. Her longstanding relationships with top legislators and decision-makers and her deep understanding of the inner workings of state government allow her to consistently deliver wins for her clients, setting them up for long-term success in Tennessee and beyond.

Holly is a Smyrna native who adores her home state, especially the mountains of East Tennessee.

She attended the University of Tennessee at Martin and graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Outside of work, Holly and her husband love to travel and spend time on the water with their two sons, as well as renovating and selling investment properties.