Experienced State Government Relations Professional Dustin “Dusty” Brighton Joins The 51 Group
Dusty Brighton’s Background Aligns Perfectly With The 51 Group’s Focus on Government Affairs Solutions, Coast to Coast
February 4, 2026 — The 51 Group, which leads with a fresh bipartisan approach to combining federal and state lobbying, has added Dustin “Dusty” Brighton to its growing team.
Dusty brings over two decades of consulting, advocacy, public sector sales, trade association management, and administrative management experience. He has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Arkansas Gas Association and has held senior executive roles with Microsoft, Walmart, eBay, Internet Association, and the Arkansas Grocers and Retail Merchants Association.
In each capacity, Dusty has excelled at partnering with federal and state policymakers, staff, Attorneys General, and Governors on behalf of his employers. His focus includes consulting with companies and non-profit organizations as they advocate for policies that preserve consumer choice.
“It’s exciting to join The 51 Group, which shares my commitment to helping clients succeed with experienced team members and a foothold across the country,” says Dusty. “The 51 Group has effectively shown its ability to be a valuable partner in providing a one-stop shop for national and state government relations to a wide variety of clients, and I look forward to adding to its success.”
Scott Frein, founder and managing partner of The 51 Group, says, “Dusty is well known on our national circuit for experience, knowledge, and likability among policymakers and clients. His connections and insights at the national, federal, and state levels will be invaluable as we continue to grow our firm and the many sectors we are involved in. We are really excited about Dusty’s addition to our team.”
Dusty holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Arkansas and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
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The 51 Group is a national, bipartisan consulting firm with decades of experience at the federal, state, and local levels. Our name, The 51 Group, comes from our unique capability to work with clients across all 50 state governments and the federal government in Washington, D.C. We are a valuable partner in providing one-stop, national government relations to a wide variety of clients.
