WASHINGTON, May 1, 2026 – SMI is pleased to announce that Matt Pearce, a seasoned legislative and advocacy professional who has been the architect of industry coalitions with proven results across sectors is joining the firm as vice president.
Pearce, co-founder of government affairs firm Cannon Pearce, has worked with SMI on several high-impact initiatives, including helping spearhead the 2024 launch of the Battery Advocacy for Technology Transition, or BATT Coalition, a growing and influential alliance of innovators that are building a robust domestic battery supply chain.
“Matt is a client leader who knows how to craft a legislative and policy strategy and implement it to maximize a client’s success,” said CEO Bill McCann. “After successfully co-founding Cannon Pearce and attracting great clients who will transition over to SMI, I am thrilled that Matt is now part of our team. He’s been an integral part of the success of the BATT Coalition and consistently demonstrated both policy lobbying and coalition-building expertise. As SMI continues to grow, a critical part of that strategy is attracting seasoned leaders like Matt.”
“I’m excited to be joining such a talented, dedicated team at SMI,” said Pearce. “I have seen firsthand over the past few years how they deliver for their clients. I am eager to get to work refining and combining the elements – technological, policy, and budgetary – that will help advance the nation’s industrial and economic goals and make us more secure.”
In his previous roles, Pearce was senior vice president at Venn Strategies and served as a legislative assistant for Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, where he also gained expertise in financial services and tax policy.
Pearce holds a BA in Social Behavioral Sciences and an MBA from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Founded in 1993, SMI has been the premier choice in Washington for companies, universities, nonprofits, and industry associations for federal marketing and lobbying services focused on national security, defense, clean energy, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and research and development.
